THREE 6 MAFIA
WORDS: JACLYN MARINESE
IMAGES: KYLE BATTEN

After winning an Oscar for Best Song in 2006, Three 6 Mafia automatically became a household name across the country. Even though they’ve been in the music game since 1993, it was their track “It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp”, featured in the Hustle & Flow soundtrack, that took their fame to the next level. This award marked only the second time that a hip-hop act was nominated and won, following Eminem.

Known largely as the originators of the “crunk” sound, members Jordan Houston (Juicy J) and Paul Beauregard (DJ Paul) are modest, noting that they were part of the circle of people who were there at the beginning of the movement. Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, the group currently has two core members, down from the six it once had.

In 1997, Three 6 Mafia signed to Relativity Records, where they released their third album and first major record release: Chapter 2: World Domination. Since then, they have put out five others, including hit singles like “Tear Da Club Up ‘97”, “Sippin On Some Syrup” and “Stay Fly”. These days, the group is traveling and working on their next album, set for a Spring release, entitled Last 2 Walk. ’SUP caught up with DJ Paul and Juicy J in NYC to talk about the success that more than a decade in the game has brought to them.

After your first major-label album in 1997, Three 6 Mafia went from a more underground name into the mainstream. What was that transition like for you?
DJ Paul: It was cool man you know. We were trying to get a deal for the longest to where we got to the point where we had said, ‘Fuck it. Just put it out independent on our own.’ Once our CD started doing good independently, we weren’t really looking for a major deal at that point. Eventually our style was so unique - you know the crunk, get buck style - that we knew we had to try to get a deal. We didn’t want anyone else to come out with the same sound and then no one else would have known we even did it. So we brought out another CD, which was our second independent release called The End, and that’s when the record labels started calling us. That’s when we did the deal with Relativity Records and made our first video, “Tear Da Club Up ’97”, and it was on from there.

You guys were the first group from Memphis to go platinum. What was the response like at home for you?
Juicy J: A lot changed. A lot of parties and kickin’ it. We still throwin’ parties and kickin’ it.
DJ Paul: Yeah it was crazy. We still celebrating that.

It is said that you guys are largely responsible for the crunk genre. Do you think that’s true? What’s that mean to you?
DJ Paul: I mean we’ve been doing it for a long time. I ain’t gonna say we didn’t create it. All I know is we’ve been doing this since like ‘89/90, so we’ve been doing this a long time you know.
Juicy J: We was a big part of it.
DJ Paul: Yeah we was a big part of it. But there was a lot of people that helped make it. Lil Jon, 8 Ball and MJG. So a lot of people helped make it hot. Master P. But yeah, we was in that circle.

The group went from six people kinda down to two members right?
DJ Paul: Yeah it went from six, to four, to three, two, one, action. There’s two in the group now.

Was that transitioning tough?
DJ Paul: No actually it wasn’t tough because me and Juicy always wrote the majority of the songs and made all the beats. We ran the label, we did everything so it really wasn’t a problem. If anything, we make more money now because there was a bunch of money getting thrown out the window back then.

I read somewhere that after the Oscar win you felt like all of America all of a sudden knew your names. What was the aftermath of that win like for you?
DJ Paul: It was a blessing man. We woke up different people. The next morning I noticed that my facial hair stopped growing. My whole body changed. Like, I don’t have to do number two anymore. I’m an incredible person now. I got super powers. I don’t have to do number two and I don’t grow facial hairs [laughs]. I’m serious. It was cool. We’ve been doing it for so long, it was cool. We was ready. We ready for a billion more. Come one, come all.

What is the exact recipe of Sizurp?
DJ Paul: There really ain’t no recipe. Whatever you like. It started in Texas but it’s been going on since the ‘70s in the South and probably New York and other places too.

With Bin Laden Weed, what is the difference between that and other types to you?
DJ Paul: Bin Laden Weed is stronger than regular weed. It’s killer. It’s not the strongest but it was the strongest at the time we made that song. That actually started in Chicago, that’s the first place we got introduced to it.
Juicy J: [in a singing hum] uuuummm hmmmmmm.

Were you making music with Paris Hilton?
DJ Paul: We did a track together but it never came out. We appeared on her show called The Simple Life.

What was she like?
DJ Paul: She’s cool man. She loves kickin’ it and hangin’ out man. We been to a lot of cool parties with her.

Tell us about the new album that’s coming out.
DJ Paul: Oh yeah, its called Last 2 Walk. It will be dropping in late May or somewhere around there and its jammin’. It’s got the single “Doe Boy Fresh”. It’s jammin’ featuring Chamillionaire, Lyfe Jennings, Al Kapone, Paul Wall, Lil Keke. The album is jammin’ man. Everybody that know Three 6 Mafia know we keep it the same. Ain’t nothing changed. Still gangster, gully, street music.

How do you choose your features?
DJ Paul: Most of our features be our real friends. People we kick it with for real.

Is there anyone on these you hadn’t worked with before?
DJ Paul: We never worked with Lil Keke before but I always been a fan of Lil Keke’s. I wanted to do that. But everybody else we already worked with before. We hung out, and drank ahhhhh…
Juicy J: [points to the bottle of Sierra Mist on the table in front of him] a lot of Sierra Mist.
DJ Paul: Uh, yeah Sierra Mist.

You’ve been hanging out in NYC a lot. What’s your favorite spot?
Juicy J: Thomassos. Our favorite Italian restaurant out here. Thanks guys.
DJ Paul: That’s it? You got another question on there I know you didn’t ask us. Something about Timberlake or something?

Oh yeah, is Justin Timberlake going to be on your album? I read that somewhere.
DJ Paul: Oh we ain’t through yet. He’s on the road a lot but we’re going to try to make that happen when he gets a chance. I’d love to do that.

Is Lupe Fiasco on it?
DJ Paul: Nah he ain’t on it. He needs to be on it though. Can you get me in touch with him? Nah, I actually got a number on him myself.
Juicy J: Yeah we know him he’s cool.

Any last words?
DJ Paul: Send my regards to the UK! I gotta get out there. I hear there’s some hot ladies out there.

Website: three6-mafia.com