In 1995, the Memphis underground rap group, then named "Triple 6 Mafia", released its first official album, Mystic Stylez. It had recorded this album by using the profits from its highly successful underground tape Smoked Out, Loced Out. The members then changed the group's name to "Three 6 Mafia" (or sometimes "3-6 Mafia") and now use the Triple-6 name on the compilations of reissued tracks from their underground tapes. They did this because radio stations supposedly refused to play the songs of a group whose name included a reference to the number 666. There are also rumors that the name was changed because of copyright reasons due to a falling out with others in the Memphis rap scene. The group has had a number of disputes with former allies, namely Playa Fly, Gangsta Blac, and Skinny Pimp. In fact, some say that the group was originally named "Three Six Mafia" (all words spelled out), then switched to "Triple Six" for similar reasons.
On the 1995 single "Live By Yo Rep", the group had accused Cleveland group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony of stealing its style (a mix of quasi-harmonic rapping and blatant references to the occult). The track "All Original" on Bone's Art of War album is thought to be a dis of Three Six (this issue has apparently been settled, however). The problems between the two groups were eventually settled in family court in June 1996.
Eventually, Three 6 Mafia moved towards the "crunk" style of rap - repetitive chanting aimed at hyping a crowd (e.g.— "tear the club up, nigga, tear the club up!"). This direction (exemplified by songs like "Sippin' on Syrup" with Houston rappers UGK) helped them reach number 6 on the Billboard album chart in 2000 with their CD 6661: When the Smoke Clears.
Three 6 has expanded its operations considerably. Its stable of affiliated rappers is called "Hypnotize Minds" or the "Hypnotize Camp Posse" (HCP). Aside from many of the individual members releasing solo albums, they have also released material from "Tear Da Club Up Thugs" (a side project) and "Three Six Mafia Presents: Hypnotize Camp Posse" (a Memphis rap compilation). Unfortunately, Three 6 Mafia has also lost many members. Koopsta Knicca left due to a monetary dispute, while La Chat is currently pursuing a solo career. Gangsta Boo is rumored to have converted to Christianity and is interested in gospel music (which she denies, saying that it's a rumor started by her former label mates). Lord Infamous is likely in prison and very possibly under 24-hour lockdown, although Juicy J has said he's on "vacation." T-Rock has parted ways with Three 6 Mafia, and has publicly dissed the entire clique and accused them of shady business dealings in interviews and on his track "Mr. Big Man." Project Pat recently served time in prison for a parole violation, but was released in July 2005.
In 2003, Three 6 Mafia released the album Da Unbreakables, which features collaborations with Lil' Flip, Pimp C, (from UGK), Lil' Wyte, Frayser Boy, Hank Williams, Jr., and Project Pat. The album produced the hit "Ridin' Spinnerz," which featured Lil' Flip.
In 2005, Three 6 Mafia released their highly anticipated new album “Most Known Unknown.” It was notable that Lord Infamous was missing from this album. The generally accepted reason was that he had been incarcerated; however, Three 6 Mafia claim he is on "holiday.” He has since officially returned to Three 6 Mafia recently. The group is said to be associated with the crip gang. They diss the bloods in many of their lyrics.
Three 6 Mafia has always been known for their controversial and sometimes misunderstood lyrics. For example, in the song "Knock the Black Off Yo Ass", they reference the DC Area Sniper Shootings in multiple lines in the song. "I think they better call Bush, 'cause it's a national disaster, when I unleash my pistol-grip Bushmaster." "You can't hide, you can't run. I'm a sniper, ridin' in a blue Chevy, a trunk full of guns, man you hoes ain't ready."
“Stay Fly” was the first single off of The Most Unknown album. The next single released off of the album was "Poppin’ My Collar," which premiered around mid January 2006.
Their song "Late Nite Tip" is favoured by car audio enthusiasts for its deep, rolling bassline and is a stalwart of testing ones sound system also it is known that they sampled many Willie Hutch songs on their album Most Known Unknown
In January of 2006, Three 6 Mafia made history as they became the first African-American hip-hop act to be nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Achievement In Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song). The group was nominated for the song It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp off of the Hustle & Flow soundtrack. The first hip-hop act to actually be nominated for an Academy Award in this category was Eminem in 2002 for the song Lose Yourself off the 8 Mile soundtrack and he also won the award. Three 6 Mafia was credited by their real names in the nomination and not by their group name. Jordan Houston (Juicy J), Cedric Coleman (Crunchy Black), and Paul Beauregard (DJ Paul) were named in the nomination. Terrance Howard, who performed the song in the movie, refuses to perform it at the Academy Awards possibly because it reinforces stereotypes that all black males are pimps.
On March 5, 2006, Three 6 Mafia won the Academy Award they were nominated for, becoming the first African American Hip-Hop group to win an Oscar.
During May Crunchy Black left Three 6 Mafia to go on his own. He is releasing 4 mixtapes and 4 dvds in the near future.
Origin: Memphis, Tennessee
Year Formed: 1991
Skit 1
Three 6 Mafia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One very dead brotha, five gun shot wounds, four to the chest. Name was Tim or
Sumin, recognize it from the neighborhood. Drug related.
Holding anything?
Found what appears to be 20 oz on him.
Kills him, but leaves the drugs.
Wasn't about tha drugs. Someone's sendin a message.
9mm.
Yeah, too close for comfort.
Hey I'm headin back to the house, you want me to book those narcotics for ya?
That's fine by me.
You start tryin to get statements from these people here, see if you can get an
Eyewitness.
Ok.
The lyrics to Three 6 Mafia's song Skit 1 offer a glimpse into a crime scene investigation where a dead man with five gunshot wounds - four of them to his chest - is found. The victim's name is believed to be "Tim or Sumin" and is recognized by the investigator as someone from the neighborhood in a drug-related case. What's interesting about the situation is that the killer left the drugs on the victim and only killed him to send a message. The investigators determine that the weapon of choice was a 9mm and that the crime could have only taken place at close range, which makes it even more unsettling. At the end of the lyrics, one of the investigators offers to book the narcotics for the other while the other tries to get statements from the witnesses in the neighborhood.
These lyrics paint a vivid picture of a gruesome and senseless crime and offer a commentary on the world of drugs and violence. The fact that the killer left the drugs on the victim suggests that drugs weren't the motive behind the murder, but merely a tool to send a message to someone else. The investigators also seem to be familiar with the victim as they recognize him from the neighborhood. The lyrics also highlight the fact that the use of firearms in violent crimes is prevalent in some communities, and the investigators are all too familiar with the 9mm as a weapon of choice.
Line by Line Meaning
What do we have here?
Upon discovering a dead body, the singer questions what they have stumbled upon.
One very dead brotha, five gun shot wounds, four to the chest. Name was Tim or Sumin, recognize it from the neighborhood. Drug related.
The individual found dead, assumed to be named Tim or something similar, had been shot five times, with four of these shots hitting his chest. The singer recognized him from the surrounding area and assumes it was drug-related.
Holding anything?
The singer questions if the victim was carrying anything on them.
Found what appears to be 20 oz on him.
A bag of drugs weighing around 20 ounces was discovered on the victim.
Kills him, but leaves the drugs.
The killer took the life of the victim but left the bag of drugs undisturbed.
Wasn't about tha drugs. Someone's sendin a message.
The singer believes that the murder was not related to the drugs, but rather a message being sent.
9mm.
The weapon used to commit the crime was a 9mm firearm.
Weapon of choice. Close range.
The 9mm firearm was the preferred weapon and was used at close range.
Yeah, too close for comfort.
The proximity of the shooting was too uncomfortable for the artist.
Hey I'm headin back to the house, you want me to book those narcotics for ya?
The artist is offering to take the bag of drugs found on the victim and book them into evidence at the station.
That's fine by me.
The other speaker doesn't object to the offer of taking the drugs into evidence.
You start tryin to get statements from these people here, see if you can get an Eyewitness.
The other speaker is instructed to try to obtain witness statements from anyone in the vicinity of the crime scene.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jordan Houston, Paul Beauregard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
isaiah turner
on Smokin On Da Dro
this son dope as heck very good