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.β "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 βMost Known Unknown.β 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.β 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."
βStay Flyβ was the first single off of The Most Unknown album. The next single released off of the album was "Poppinβ 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 Itβs 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
We
Three 6 Mafia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kill that nigga, kill that nigga
Kill that nigga, kill that nigga
Kill that nigga, kill that nigga
Kill that nigga, kill that nigga
We been waiting, killing you bad boys
Three 6 Mafia, carry them big toys
To yo motherfucking head boy
DJ Paul king of this cronk shit
Took a bunk of that powder now I'm cronk bitch
Hit ya ass so hard, fall in the crowd screaming shit
We been waiting on ya to hit the door
DJ Paul knock ya ass to the floor
Knock 'em down
Knock 'em down
Knock 'em down
The lyrics to Three 6 Mafia's song "We Are Waiting" are incredibly violent and aggressive, and it can be easy to dismiss them as just meaningless shock tactics. However, upon deeper analysis, the lyrics reveal a commentary on the gang violence and drug culture that permeates many urban communities. The repeated refrain "Kill that nigga" is not an encouragement of violence, but a reflection of the cycle of retribution that often exists in these environments. It's a sad reality that people are so desensitized to violence that they casually call for it in their music. The lines "We been waiting, killing you bad boys / Three 6 Mafia, carry them big toys" speak to the idea that violence is a means of asserting power and establishing dominance. The reference to "big toys" implies that the group is armed and dangerous, and they are not afraid to use their weapons.
The second verse is where the song really delves into the drug culture aspect. The line "DJ Paul king of this cronk shit / Took a bunk of that powder now I'm cronk bitch" is a reference to the drug "crunk," which is a combination of cocaine and marijuana. The fact that DJ Paul is referred to as the "king" of this drug suggests that drug use is common among the members of Three 6 Mafia, and possibly the community as a whole. The violent imagery continues with the line "Hit ya ass so hard, fall in the crowd screaming shit," which suggests that the high from the drugs is so intense that it can cause physical reactions.
Ultimately, "We Are Waiting" is a commentary on the destructive nature of violence and drug use, and the damaging effects they have on individuals and communities as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Fuck this shit ho
Disregard and reject this situation, person, or thing
Kill that nigga, kill that nigga
Asserting dominance and threatening violence towards specific individuals
We been waiting, killing you bad boys
Anticipating and executing violence towards perceived enemies
Three 6 Mafia, carry them big toys
The group is well equipped and capable of carrying out violent actions
Automatic, automatic, automatic, automatic
Referring to the use of automatic weapons as a means of violence
To yo motherfucking head boy
The intended target of the violence
DJ Paul king of this cronk shit
DJ Paul is the leader and pioneer of this style of music
Took a bunk of that powder now I'm cronk bitch
DJ Paul consumed cocaine and is now feeling high and energized
Hit ya ass so hard, fall in the crowd screaming shit
Assaulting the target with great force and causing chaos
We been waiting on ya to hit the door
Prepared and looking forward to carrying out violence against the target
DJ Paul knock ya ass to the floor
DJ Paul himself will personally cause harm to the target
Knock 'em down
Continuation of the call to violence and aggression
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: CEDRIC COLEMAN, JORDAN HOUSTON, PATRICK LANSHAW, PAUL BEAUREGARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Travis Mccoy
I'm up at 2:42 am slamming this shit to the maxxxxxxxxx
fucut00b
That beats so fucking cold man DJ Paul and Juicy J two of the greatest producers there will ever be.
Clint Mullins
They are
Mike Lussier
fuckenayz!!!! illest shit in redlake Minnesota..b.o.t mob gang..
James Stewart
Totally Agree!!! Great Producers!!!
Jack Mehoff
until Katy perry
Salvador Perez
hell yeah..I think Mannie fresh was dops as hell also but Paul and juicy were super producers.. can rap and turn the tables
Real Mccoy
This shit so hard!!! I remember buying this cd in high school. Listening to it now what makes it so dope is everybody verse had a different style. All these rappers sound the same today.
B-rock 251
Got this cd in the truck also
j b
2020 quarantine. Still going strong