The sad reason why Three 6 Mafia split up
Comprised of DJ Paul, Koopsta Knicca, Crunchy Black, Lord Infamous, Juicy J, and Gangsta Boo, Three 6 Mafia put their city on the city of Memphis map and put a new spin on hip-hop. Formed in the early 1990s, the clique released some incredible songs such as ‘Tear Up The Club’ and ‘Stay Fly’. However, there were some issues behind the scenes.
As part of Three 6 Mafia, Juicy J received extensive exposure and shared many accolades with his Memphis peers. His 2002 debut album, Chronicles of the Juice Man, wasn’t commercially successful but is considered a Tennessee hip-hop classic. Undeniably, it’s still an epic body of work featuring appearances from Crunchy Black and Lord Infamous.
That said, he started as a member of Three 6 Mafia. During an interview, the lyricist revealed that the group’s downfall was mainly due to its drug abuse issues. According to him, that greatly impacted morale and music quality towards the end of the group’s existence.
Speaking to Nas and Miss Info on The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip Hop, the Memphis native explained what happened, stating, “Drugs really broke Three 6 Mafia up…from heroin to meth to cocaine, all kinds of pills.”
He continued, “A lot of drugs were consumed during the times we were together. When everybody was sober and shit, everybody was on the same page. But when cocaine’s involved, things change. But I’m not pointing a finger at nobody.”
Juicy J isn’t the only former member of Three 6 Mafia who has emphasised the collective’s extreme drug problem. Speaking to DJ Vlad on Vlad TV, Crunchy Black recalled, “People wasn’t showing up in the studio… business was crazy, everything’s folding… it was the drugs.”
He continued, adding, “I had to bust up in Lord Infamous room before and I was almost in tears! I thought the n—a was dead at first. So I had to go get the keys because he wouldn’t answer the phone. I was banging on his door. So I had to bust up in his room and had to pretty much beat him [with a pillow] to wake him up.”
Although Three 6 Mafia’s disbandment was tragic, the split led to even more problems and further drug use. That said, last year, Gangsta Boo was found unresponsive at her Memphis home. It was then revealed that the cause of death was an accidental overdose, with fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol (alcohol) found in her system.