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Three 6 Mafia
Background information
Also known as	Triple 6 Mafia Tear Da Club Up Thugs Da Headbussaz
Origin	Memphis, Tennessee
Genre(s)	Southern hip hop, Horrorcore (early works), crunk, gangsta rap
Years active	1991 – present
Label(s)	Hypnotize Minds, Prophet Entertainment
Associated acts	Project Pat, Lil' Wyte, Lil' Flip, 8 Ball & Mjg, Bow Wow, David Banner, Frayser Boy, La Chat, Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid
Website	three6-mafia.com
Members
DJ Paul Juicy J
Former members
Lord Infamous Koopsta Knicca Gangsta Boo Crunchy Black

Three 6 Mafia (formerly Triple 6 Mafia or Triple Six Mafia) is an Academy-Award winning American rap group originating from Memphis, Tennessee. Formed in 1991 by DJ Paul, Lord Infamous, and Juicy J, they shortly thereafter recruited fellow Memphian rappers Koopsta Knicca, Gangsta Boo, and Crunchy Black. The group also frequently collaborates with Project Pat (the brother of Juicy J). Their 2005 song, "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp", won Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards.

The group released their horrorcore debut underground album Smoked Out, Loced Out in 1994 through Prophet Entertainment, a record label they created but have since relinquished control over. Their musical style—which initially featured dark, menacing beats with equally gritty lyrics—has since moved to a more mainstream sound. Nonetheless, they have cultivated a sizeable and diverse cult following that has only increased since their Oscar win. They have recently released their ninth studio album Last 2 Walk, which hit shelves June 24, 2008. They recently promoted their album at SOBE Live an infamous hip hop club located in the heart of South Beach.

Controversy

Satanic imagery controversy

Three 6 Mafia's name has been a topic of controversy because of some people's belief that their name refers to the Number of the Beast (supported by their former name "Triple Six Mafia"). They are known to have mentioned the occult in song topics and this, with their name, has potentially affected their amount of television and radio play (until their success with "Stay Fly"). In their first full length horrorcore LP, Mystic Stylez, the groups references to the occult reached its climax. The most notable example of the group's occult references can be found in the song "Fuckin wit Dis Click." Lord Infamous states "No I'm not a Christian," and DJ Paul's verse is filled with blatant Satanic lyrics, such as "I'm on a cross, Lucifer, please cut me free," and "A mind for murder but the barrel couldn't tell you half about this antichrist; Look into my eyes tell me what you see; The demonic man about scarecrowism; Saints can you feel me." Also on the track "Murder On My Mind," the distorted voice of DJ Paul identifies "Lucifer" as "the leader of the Three 6 Mafia." However the group has never claimed to worship Satan, and in their acceptance speech at the 2006 Academy Awards group member Juicy J thanked Jesus for their nomination and win for Best Song in a motion picture.¹ The name's meaning is attributed to the fact that "it started with three people in the group, [and] ended up with six; Three 6 Mafia" according to an interview with Juicy J.²

Their 2005 single, "Stay Fly," was also referenced in the argument of Three 6 Mafia's satanic "shoutouts" for the high pitched, almost female voice, in the background at the beginning of the song. The voice was assumed, by at least some, to be saying "You're My God, "You're My King" You're My Father". Some also thought it repeadily said "Lucifer". However, the track was actually derived from the classic song "Tell Me Why Has Our Love Turned Cold" by funk/soul singer, Willie Hutch. The actual track says "You're my pride, you're my dream, you're my dar-ling."

Juicy J and DJ Paul recently conducted an interview with Chris Loos in which they were again asked about allegations regarding the "Stay Fly"'s lyrical content, with Juicy J maintaining that Three 6 Mafia were not devil worshippers, mentioning that his father is a preacher - also referenced in the song "Father Houston" - and that if he ever did worship Satan, his father would "kill him".

In an issue of Entertainment Weekly^{citation needed}, Juicy J defended the group, saying that the group's name was decided for entertainment purposes: "Back then in the '90s, nobody knew who we were. We had to get ourselves out there and be known; put something that would draw attention, and it did."

Dispute with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

While many will argue the origin of the original dispute with the group, the initial beef was spurred when Bone referred to the entire city of Memphis as a "bunk ass town" in the February 1995 edition of Vibe Magazine. This infuriated not only Three 6 Mafia but other local rappers and citizens in Memphis.

As a form of retaliation; several Memphis artists struck back lyrically and musically: Tommy Wright III recorded and released "Thuggish Ruggish Busters" while Kingpin Skinny Pimp, Lord Infamous, and Koopsta Knicca recorded a song called "Lay It Down" with where Kingpin Skinny Pimp says "So fuck you Bone, biting our fuckin' style".

On the 1995 single Live by Yo Rep (song), Three 6 Mafia accused Cleveland group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony of stealing its style (a mix of quasi-harmonic rapping and blatant references to the occult). A rebuttal from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony came on the track "All Original" and "U Ain't Bone" as well as making a few remarks about them on "Look Into My Eyes" on their album, The Art of War, that speaks critically of Three 6 Mafia. Bone continued to insult them on the song "Notorious Thugs", with The Notorious B.I.G..

The dispute is over now. Krayzie Bone has been featured on a Project Pat album and in the video for Lil Jon's "I Don't Give A Fuck", you can see Juicy J, DJ Paul, and La Chat standing next to Krayzie Bone as he begins his verse. DJ Paul & Juicy J have also produced a song for Bone called "We Workin" for their latest album Strength & Loyalty, however it did not make the final cut for the album.

Discography

Main article: Three 6 Mafia discography

• Smoked Out, Loced Out (1994)
• Mystic Stylez (1995)
• Chapter 1: The End (1996)
• Chapter 2: World Domination (1997)
• When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 (2000)
• Choices: The Album (2001)
• Da Unbreakables (2003)
• Choices II: The Setup (2005)
• Most Known Unknown (2005)
• Last 2 Walk (2008)

Filmography

Feature films

• Hustle & Flow (2005)
• Jackass Number Two (2006)
• Rocky Balboa (2006) – "It's a Fight" is on the official soundtrack to the movie and in the movie.
• Jackass 2.5(2007)

Television series

• Jackass (2002)
• Wildboyz Deep South (Ep. 307) (2005)
• Flavor of Love (2006)
• MTV's Jamie Kennedy's Blowin' Up (2006) – episode was banned due to controversy after the first time it aired
• The Simple Life (2006)
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006) – episode: "Pilot" – musical guest on the fictional sketch comedy show within Studio 60
• WWE SmackDown! (2006) - performed Some Bodies Gonna Get It (a song they made for WWE Wrestler Mark Henry from the album WWE Wreckless Intent) live when Mark Henry wrestled Chris Benoit in May 2006, Henry continues to use the song as his entrance music
• Entourage (2006)
• My Super Sweet Sixteen (2006) Three 6 Mafia was the musical performance at the party
• Criss Angel Mindfreak (2006) – episode: "Celebrity Séance"
• Wrestling Society X (2007) – episode #2
• Rob & Big (2006) – Three 6 Mafia rapped at a party on an episode
• Wild 'n Out (2007) – Spring Break edition
• Mind of Mencia (2007) – Season 3, Episode 2
• Adventures in Hollyhood (2007)
• The Girls Next Door (2006)
• Beauty and the Geek (2007) episode 2 DJ Paul and Juicy J are judges in a rapping contest between the geeks
• NUMB3RS (2008) Juicy J and DJ Paul perform "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)" on the CBS drama
• Punk'd (2006) Juicy J sets up DJ Paul
• The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (2008) Juicy J and DJ Paul perform "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)"
• The Andy Milonakis Show (2007)

DVDs

• Choices: The Movie (2001)
• Choices II (2005)
• Clean Up Men (2005)
• Ultimate Video Collection (2006)
• Adventures in Hollyhood (2007)
• Streets of Memphis (2008)
• Choices III: The Return of Big Pat (2009)

Original television series

• Adventures in Hollyhood (2007)
• Three 6 Mafia's Adventures in Spring Break (2007)

Video Games

• Saint's Row "Who I Iz"
• NFL Street "Who Gives a What Where U From" (Radio Edit)
• WWE SmackDown vs RAW (2007,2008,2009) "Some Bodies Gonna Get It"

References

External links

• Official website
• Three 6 Mafia at MySpace
• Three 6 Mafia at the Internet Movie Database
• Three 6 Mafia, Nuevos ´Ålbums - Billboard en Español
• Sept 2008 Interview with L.A. Record
• Triple 6 vkontakte