Three 6 Mafia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Three 6 Mafia
DJ Paul, Koopsta Knicca, Crunchy Black, Lord Infamous, Juicy J, and Gangsta Boo
Background information
Also known as	Triple Six Mafia Tear Da Club Up Thugs Backyard Posse Da Mafia 6ix
Origin	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Southern hip hop Memphis rap gangsta rap dirty rap horrorcore crunk trap
Years active	1991–2012 2019–present
Labels	Hypnotize Minds Prophet Columbia Sony Sony Urban Loud Relativity
Associated acts	8Ball & MJG Fiend Frayser Boy Indo G Insane Clown Posse The Kaze La Chat Lil Wyte Project Pat UGK
Members	DJ Paul Juicy J Crunchy Black
Past members	Lord Infamous (deceased) Koopsta Knicca (deceased) Gangsta Boo (deceased)

Three 6 Mafia is a famous American hip hop group from Memphis, Tennessee. They started making music in 1991. The group began with a unique, dark style of underground hip hop. Over time, they became very popular and successful.

Their first album, Mystic Stylez, came out in 1995. It became a very important album for many fans. Three 6 Mafia has released music through their own record labels, like Prophet Entertainment and Hypnotize Minds. They also worked with bigger labels such as Relativity, Loud, and Columbia Records.

Two of their albums have sold over a million copies each. These are When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 (released in 2000) and Most Known Unknown (released in 2005). The album Most Known Unknown included their huge hit song "Stay Fly". Their last studio album, Last 2 Walk, was released in 2008. By 2016, Three 6 Mafia had sold 5.5 million albums around the world.

The Story of Three 6 Mafia

Early Days: How the Group Started (1988–1990)

The founding members of Three 6 Mafia started making music when they were very young. In 1988, DJ Paul, who was 13, took piano lessons. His older half-brother, Lord Infamous, then 15, played bass and electric guitar and sang. They often wrote songs together. Paul would play piano and drums, while Infamous played guitar and sang.

At the same time, in North Memphis, Juicy J, also 13, was learning to be a DJ and a rapper. He first wanted to be a singer. But in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he loved a popular style of rap music. Like his future bandmates, he wanted to make music like famous artists such as N.W.A and Geto Boys.

In 1989, DJ Paul and Lord Infamous formed a duo called "Da Serial Killaz". They made their own music tapes and shared them at school. Lord Infamous began rapping with his special fast style. Juicy J was also making his own music mixes then, but he wasn't rapping on tapes yet.

The Beginning of the Group (1991–1992)

By 1991, DJ Paul was becoming well-known in the local hip hop scene. He DJed at clubs like Club 380 Beale, where he first performed. His music tapes, which slowly included more original songs by "Da Serial Killaz," also helped spread the word about his talent. The hip hop scene in Memphis was still new, but early music by artists like DJ Spanish Fly hinted at what was to come. Lord Infamous kept rapping and improving his style. In North Memphis, Juicy J also started to get noticed. He was now making his own songs and sharing them on his music tapes. He also DJed at local clubs with his mentor.

That same year, DJ Paul and Juicy J met for the first time. Juicy J looked for Paul in 1991 to get help making beats. They quickly liked each other's music styles. They then teamed up with Lord Infamous to form a group called "The Backyard Posse." DJ Paul and Lord Infamous still worked as "Da Serial Killaz" on their own. In 1992, they released their first official original recording, "Portrait of a Serial Killa." This tape had dark beats by Paul and rap lyrics from Lord Infamous and DJ Paul. It is seen as an early example of a certain style of hip hop. Juicy J also released his first official music tape, Volume 5, that year. He also released his important song "Slob on My Knob" in its first version.

First Albums and New Members (1993–1996)

Around this time, Paul's "DJ Paul Volume 12" music tape was also released. In the same year, while recording music for "The Backyard Posse," Lord Infamous rapped a line calling his group the "Triple Six Mafia." The group later used this name because it fit the dark style of their music better.

Juicy J had not yet released a major work of his own. But in 1994, that changed with Vol. 9: It's On and Vol. 10: Chronicles of the Juice Manne. Like Paul and Infamous's music from the year before, these tapes included ideas for future hit songs.

Also in 1994, the group added its fourth official member, rapper Koopsta Knicca (Robert Cooper Phillips). This year was also a big step for the group. Paul and Juicy, with local business person Nick Scarfo, started their first record label, Prophet. Through this label, they created the Prophet Posse. This was a larger group of local Memphis rappers who worked closely with Paul and Juicy J. They signed to the label but were not official members of Triple 6 Mafia. Around this time, Juicy J's older brother, Project Pat, released his first music, Solo Tape.

In 1995, the group became complete when they officially added rappers Crunchy Black and Gangsta Boo. Later that year, the group changed its name to Three 6 Mafia. They released their first album, Mystic Stylez, on their Prophet label. This album made them well-known locally and in the southern hip hop scene. Because of this, Prophet got a deal to distribute their music with Select-O-Hits. The group's first song played on the radio was "Da Summa."

Three 6 Mafia's logo, seen on every album since Chapter 1: The End

In 1996, the group released Chapter 1: The End. This was their first album that was not recorded with a simple, low-quality sound. At the end of 1996, DJ Paul and Juicy J had a disagreement with Nick Scarfo. A long legal case followed over the Prophet label. At this time, Paul and Juicy started their own independent label, Hypnotize Minds. This label would become very important for Three 6 Mafia's music. In 1997, Three 6 Mafia and Hypnotize Minds signed a distribution deal with Relativity.

Growing Success and New Albums (1997–2000)

In 1997, after starting Hypnotize Minds, the group signed a deal with Sony. They began working on what would become their first album to sell over 500,000 copies, Chapter 2: World Domination. They made their dark sound smoother for a wider audience, but still kept their original style. Chapter 2: World Domination sold over 800,000 copies in the United States. The album reached number 40 on the Billboard Top 200 music chart. It included the popular club song "Tear Da Club Up." At this point, DJ Paul and Juicy J started to expand their brand and focus on growing Hypnotize Minds. They brought several artists from Prophet to Hypnotize Minds, creating the Hypnotize Camp Posse. This group was the next version of the Prophet Posse. Over the next few years, the new label released many albums.

In 1999, Tear da Club up Thugz, a smaller group made of DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Lord Infamous, released CrazyNDaLazDayz. This album is known as one of the first albums made entirely in the "crunk" music style. The album included Juicy J's solo song "Slob On My Knob" and sold over 500,000 copies. CrazyNDaLazDayz reached number 18 on the Billboard Top 200 music chart. Later that year, group member Koopsta Knicca's first album, Da Devil's Playground: Underground Solo, was released independently. However, like all Hypnotize Minds albums, it was still produced by DJ Paul and Juicy J.

In 2000, the group became even more successful in the crunk music style. This was thanks to their most successful album, When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1. The album sold over a million copies, which was a first for the group. It also produced the hit song "Sippin' on Some Syrup", which featured the group UGK.

The year 2000 was a difficult one for the group. The Prophet Posse, which had been working closely with Hypnotize Minds, broke up. Its members who had not joined Hypnotize Minds stopped making music with Three 6 Mafia. Also, Koopsta Knicca had to leave Three 6 Mafia because of legal problems. He was put in jail for robbery, which ended his contract with Sony. This meant he could not record with the group. Koopsta Knicca was not on the album cover of When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6 Sixty 1 or in its music videos because he was in jail, even though he was still a group member when the album came out.

New Directions and More Success (2001–2004)

Even after Koopsta Knicca left and they officially ended ties with Prophet, Three 6 Mafia and Hypnotize Minds were still successful. In 2001, the group released the soundtrack for the movie Choices, which DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Hypnotize Minds produced. The soundtrack, released as a studio album (Choices: The Album), helped the Three 6 name and Hypnotize Minds brand grow. Also, Juicy and Paul helped Project Pat become the new star of Hypnotize Minds. His 2001 album Mista Don't Play: Everythangs Workin reached number 4 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 500,000 copies. He was the only Three 6 Mafia related artist to have a solo album sell that many copies. In 2001, Gangsta Boo also left Three 6 Mafia after Choices: The Album was released. She had several reasons, including group issues, her beliefs, and wanting to start a solo career.

In 2002, Juicy J and DJ Paul re-released updated versions of their "Vol. 10" and "Vol. 16" albums. These were called Chronicles of the Juice Man and Underground Volume 16: For da Summa. These albums were their first solo studio albums. They also marked the end of their older sound, fully moving towards the Crunk style.

In 2003, the latest version of Three 6 Mafia, with DJ Paul, Juicy J, Lord Infamous, and Crunchy Black, released their album Da Unbreakables. It had hit songs like "Ridin' Spinners" and "Testin' My Gangsta." The album was a success, selling over 500,000 copies. In 2004, Three 6 Mafia started to plan for even bigger success in hip hop. They were working on a sequel to their 2001 movie, along with another studio album. DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Hypnotize Minds's Frayser Boy were also about to sign a deal with the directors of Hustle & Flow. This deal was to write a song for the movie, which would later lead to the group winning an Oscar.

Winning an Oscar and More Hits (2005–2006)

By 2005, some members, including Lord Infamous, had left. But other artists like Project Pat and Frayser Boy became successful, keeping the group moving forward. This progress reached its peak in 2005–06 for Three 6 Mafia, as they became huge hip hop stars. First, they released the sequel to their Choices movie, Choices II: The Setup, and a studio album with it that sold 400,000 copies. Second, they released their most successful album, Most Known Unknown. This album reached number 3 on the Top 200 chart and sold 1.6 million copies in the United States. It was their second album to sell over a million copies and their best-selling album overall. The album had three successful songs: "Side 2 Side", "Poppin' My Collar", and "Stay Fly". "Stay Fly" is Three 6 Mafia's most successful song, selling over two million copies. The song featured 8Ball & MJG and Young Buck. It also reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 music charts. "Poppin' My Collar," the remix with Project Pat, sold over a million copies and reached number 21 on the Billboard Top 100. Also in 2005, they released another movie, the comedy Clean Up Men.

Three 6 Mafia made history by winning an Oscar for Best Original Song for "It's Hard out Here for a ..." from the movie Hustle & Flow. They were the first hip hop group to perform at the Oscar ceremony. They performed with Hustle & Flow actress Taraji P. Henson. Right before the winner was announced, presenter Queen Latifah sang a part of the song. The excitement from DJ Paul, Juicy J, Crunchy Black, and Frayser Boy during their acceptance speech was amazing. The Oscar host that year even joked about how excited they were.

New TV Shows and Albums (2007–2011)

On June 7, 2007, Sony announced that Crunchy Black had left the group. He said he left to make a solo album that DJ Paul and Juicy J had supposedly delayed for years. Much of the music he wanted for his solo album was used for Most Known Unknown. Crunchy also later mentioned being unhappy about how money was managed. After this, Three 6 Mafia officially consisted of only DJ Paul and Juicy J.

The two were featured with Timbaland on fellow Memphis artist Justin Timberlake's song, "Chop Me Up." This song was from Timberlake's 2007 album FutureSex/LoveSounds.

Juicy J (front) and DJ Paul (back) performing in late 2007

In 2007, DJ Paul and Juicy J got their own reality television show on MTV called Adventures in Hollyhood. The show followed the pair as they balanced fun and studio work after their Oscar win. Project Pat and friends Big Triece & Computer also appeared on the show. It started on April 5, 2007, and ran for one season.

Three 6 Mafia released their ninth studio album, Last 2 Walk, on June 24, 2008, after several delays. The album featured collaborations with artists like Akon, Good Charlotte, Lyfe Jennings, UGK, and 8Ball & MJG.

After leaving Three 6 Mafia in 2005, Lord Infamous was featured on DJ Paul's second solo album, Scale-A-Ton, released on May 5, 2009. Lord Infamous appeared on eight songs. Juicy J's second solo album, Hustle Till I Die, was released on June 16, 2009. This album featured Project Pat and other rappers like V-Slash, Gucci Mane, Webbie, and Gorilla Zoe.

In 2011, DJ Paul and Juicy J starred in VH1's cooking show Famous Food. They were with seven other celebrities and eventually won first place. In an interview published in July 2011, DJ Paul clarified some issues from the show.

In December 2011, Juicy J confirmed he had joined Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang. He became an A&R (Artists and Repertoire) and co-owner.

Solo Work and New Group (2012–2018)

By the end of 2012, Juicy J had fully moved away from Three 6 Mafia work to focus on his solo career. During this time, he released several solo music tapes. He also started working often with Wiz Khalifa, appearing on many of his tapes.

After releasing several music tapes, DJ Paul released his third solo studio album, A Person of Interest, on October 22, 2012. He said the album mixed different rap styles and also included influences from electronic dance music. The album featured past collaborator Gucci Mane. It also came with a bonus DVD that included a short movie, music videos, and behind-the-scenes footage.

On November 26, 2013, DJ Paul released Volume 16: The Original Masters. This was a new version of his 1994 music tape 4 Da Summer of '94. After releasing several hit songs, including "Bandz a Make Her Dance" which featured 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne, Juicy J released his third solo studio album, Stay Trippy. This album came out on August 27, 2013. Juicy J has said he would still "love to" be part of a Three 6 Mafia album in the future.

In 2013, it was announced that five of the six original members of Three 6 Mafia – DJ Paul, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca, Lord Infamous, and Gangsta Boo – were getting back together. They formed a new group called Da Mafia 6ix. They planned to release an album in March 2014. When Da Mafia 6ix was formed, DJ Paul explained that it was "not a Three 6 Mafia reunion." He called it "a totally new group." The new group went back to their original style, focusing on the dark foundations of their early music. Recording began in Las Vegas in late 2013. On November 12, 2013, Da Mafia 6ix released their first music tape, 6iX Commandments. Juicy J and Project Pat also appeared as surprise guests on the song "Body Parts." The music tape was supported by the main song "Go Hard." It was also sold in stores and reached number 34 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The group was managed by DJ Paul's team, TBA Worldwide.

On December 20, 2013, Lord Infamous passed away from a heart attack at his home in Memphis.

Gangsta Boo left Da Mafia 6ix in May 2014. DJ Paul explained it by saying, "It was what we thought was going to be best for everybody. It just happened. Nobody forced nobody. It was a gut feeling." The reunited group's first album, Watch What U Wish..., featured the three remaining members. Lord Infamous also appeared on some songs, using verses he had recorded before he passed away. The album was released on March 17, 2015. Crunchy Black was later sentenced to 7 months in prison due to a legal issue.

On October 9, 2015, Koopsta Knicca passed away after several days in the hospital following a stroke.

Reunion and Recent Events (2019–Present)

In August 2019, group leaders DJ Paul and Juicy J announced they would bring Three 6 Mafia back together for performances. This was the first time they would perform together in several years. The shows started on October 12, 2019, at the Landers Center near their hometown of Memphis. The performance included many of the group's biggest hits. It also featured the other two living original members, Crunchy Black and Gangsta Boo. Three other members of the Hypnotize Camp Posse, Project Pat and La Chat, who were often thought to be official members, also joined. The series of performances, mostly in the Southeastern United States, continued into 2020. They were so successful that DJ Paul and Juicy announced on February 12 that an official reunion tour across the United States would begin the next month. In April, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the rest of the tour to be postponed.

The reunion performances and tour have made people wonder if Three 6 Mafia will release new music or a tenth studio album. However, no date has been announced yet.

On December 2, 2021, Three 6 Mafia competed in a Verzuz battle against the group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. DJ Paul, Juicy J, Crunchy Black, and Gangsta Boo represented Three 6 Mafia. All five members of Bone Thugs also took part. Juicy J and Bizzy Bone had a verbal argument during the event. Bizzy threw a bottle at Juicy J and was briefly taken off stage. He later returned and apologized, and the show continued without further problems. The event was highly praised as one of the best in the series. It was seen more as a celebration of old-school hip hop than a competition.

Gangsta Boo was found deceased at her mother's home on January 1, 2023, at the age of 43. DJ Paul confirmed her passing on Instagram.

Group Members

Current Members

• DJ Paul (1991–2012, 2019–present)
• Juicy J (1991–2012, 2019–present)
• Crunchy Black (1991–2006, 2019–present)

Past Members

• Lord Infamous (1991–2005; passed away 2013)
• Koopsta Knicca (1994–2000; passed away 2015)
• Gangsta Boo (1994–2001, 2019–2023; passed away 2023)

Timeline of Members

Associated Artists (Posse)

Three 6 Mafia always had six main members. However, they also had a larger group of artists who worked with them. This group was first known as Prophet Posse and later as Hypnotize Camp Posse. These names came from the record labels Three 6 Mafia created, Prophet and then Hypnotize Minds.

Prophet Posse and Hypnotize Camp Posse are known for their "posse songs." These are songs where many different artists rap together. These songs were on almost every album released by Prophet and Hypnotize Minds from 1995 to 2005.

• Grandaddy Souf (2004–2006)
• Project Pat (1994–2012)
• La Chat (1994–1995, 1999–2003)
• M.C. Mack (1994–2000)
• Scan Man (1994–2000)
• The Kaze (1994–2000)
• K-Rock (1994–1998; passed away 2018)
• Lil Pat (1994–2000)
• T-Rock (1997–2001)
• M-Child (1996–1999)
• Chrome (2005–2008)
• Indo G (1996–1998)
• Gangsta Blac (1994–1996)
• Lil Fly (1994–1995)
• Mr. Del (1999–2000)
• Droopy Drew Dog (1997–1998)

Music Albums (Discography)

Studio Albums

• Mystic Stylez (1995)
• Chapter 1: The End (1996)
• Chapter 2: World Domination (1997)
• When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 (2000)
• Choices (2001)
• Da Unbreakables (2003)
• Choices II: The Setup (2005)
• Most Known Unknown (2005)
• Last 2 Walk (2008)

Albums by Subgroups

• CrazyNDaLazDayz as Tear Da Club Up Thugs (1999)
• Watch What U Wish... as Da Mafia 6ix (2015)

Albums with Posse Members

• Body Parts as Prophet Posse (1998)
• Hypnotize Camp Posse as Hypnotize Camp Posse (2000)

Collaborative Albums

• Dat's How It Happen to'M with Fiend as Da Headbussaz (2002)
• Reindeer Games with Insane Clown Posse as The Killjoy Club (2014)

Movies and TV Shows (Filmography)

Feature Films

• Choices: The Movie (2001)
• Choices II: The Setup (2005)
• Clean Up Men (2005)

Film Appearances

• Jackass 2 (2006) – they appeared in the movie.
• Rocky Balboa (2006) – their song "It's a Fight" is on the movie's official soundtrack.
• Jackass 2.5 (2007)
• The Campaign (2012) – their song "Azz and Tittiez" is on the movie's official soundtrack.

Television Series

• Adventures in Hollyhood (2007)
• Famous Food (2011)

Television Appearances

• Jackass (2002)
• Rap City (2003)
• Wildboyz Deep South (2005) – episode 307
• Flavor of Love (2006)
• MTV's Jamie Kennedy's Blowin' Up (2006) – this episode was removed after it first aired.
• The Simple Life (2006)
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006) – episode: "Pilot" – they were musical guests on a fictional TV show within Studio 60.
• WWE Friday Night SmackDown (2006) – they performed "Some Bodies Gonna Get It" live. This song was made for WWE Wrestler Mark Henry. Henry still uses the song for his entrance music.
• Entourage (2006) – in the episode "What about Bob?"
• My Super Sweet 16 (2006) – Three 6 Mafia performed at a party.
• MTV Cribs (2006) – season 12, episode 7
• 1 vs. 100 (2006)
• Criss Angel Mindfreak (2006) – episode: "Celebrity Séance"
• Rob & Big (2006) – Three 6 Mafia rapped at a party on episode 1 of season 1.
• Punk'd (2006) – Juicy J played a prank on DJ Paul.
• MTV Spring Break (2007)
• Wrestling Society X (2007) – episode 2
• Wild 'n Out (2007) – Spring Break edition
• The Andy Milonakis Show (2007)
• Mind of Mencia (2007) – season 3, episode 2
• Beauty and the Geek (2007) – episode 2 – DJ Paul and Juicy J were judges in a rapping contest.
• Numb3rs (2008) – Juicy J and DJ Paul performed "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)" on the CBS drama.
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2008) – Juicy J and DJ Paul performed "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)".
• Paris Hilton's My New BFF (2009) – season 2, episode: "Learn From Your Mistakes" – Three 6 Mafia interviewed Paris Hilton's potential new friends.
• Los Twiins (2010) – episode 4
• Verzuz (2021) – They had a music battle with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.

DVDs

• Choices: The Movie (2001)
• Choices II: The Setup (2005)
• Clean Up Men (2005)
• Ultimate Video Collection (2006)

Music in Video Games

• Saint's Row – "Who I Iz"
• Fight Night Round 4 – "Shove It (Three 6 Mafia Remix)" (Santigold featuring Project Pat)
• WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, WWE '12, WWE '13, WWE 2K14, WWE 2K15, WWE 2K16, WWE 2K17 and WWE 2K18 for Mark Henry's theme music – "Some Bodies Gonna Get It"

Awards and Nominations