#three 6 mafia

We’ve all heard the songs, and the many remakes. With suggestive lyrics and hard-hitting rhythms, Three 6 Mafia has solidified their position as southern hip hop cultural icons with a career that spans well over 20 years.

The Memphis based collective originally included Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo, Lord Infamous, Koopsta Knicca, Juicy J, and DJ Paul; now the group consists of the latter two. Often, they are described as part of the horror core rap sub-genre, alluding to the fact that their lyrics involve anything graphic and slightly on the darker side. (However, that might not be much of a shocker considering their group name). This is a very important staple in their catalog because it was not very common then for a rap group to talk about things people usually would expect a heavy metal band to write about.

Most notably, they won an Academy Award for their work on the movie “Hustle & Flow” (2005) for the song, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”. Also, arguably the best southern body of work, “International Players Anthem”, performed by UGK, and Outkast, is produced by Three 6 Mafia and David Banner. Since then, they have had an MTV show and continue to make music both individually, and as a group.

Music is a vehicle for culture. Often times, southern rappers are portrayed as underdogs of hip hop to outsiders. But for those who are willing to listen, it becomes apparent how much sway there is in our music. Their influence is present in the underground scene in groups like Raider Klan, and also in the mainstream with artists like Cardi B and A$AP Mob. In the big picture, we all like to feel good and flex to some degree, and that’s ultimately the tone of their music. Three 6 Mafia’s ability to adapt and stay relevant is a testament to how far you can get when you just be yourself. Check out the Youtube video below and tell us some of your favorite artists!

Written by: Arie