If you only know Three 6 Mafia because you saw a couple of guys in tuxedos thanking George Clooney at the 2006 Oscars, honestly, you’re missing the real story. That night was surreal. Surreal because a group that started in the dark, humid basements of Memphis, Tennessee—rapping about things that would make a horror movie director blush—suddenly became the darlings of the Academy. But the "group" isn’t just a static list of names on a Wikipedia sidebar. The roster of members of Three 6 Mafia has been a revolving door of genius, tragedy, and some of the most intense internal friction in hip-hop history.
Most people think of them as a duo now because DJ Paul and Juicy J are the ones who stayed in the spotlight. But to understand why their sound still haunts every trap beat you hear on the radio in 2026, you have to look at the full, messy picture. It wasn't just a band; it was a movement called the Hypnotize Camp Posse.
The Founding Fathers: DJ Paul and Juicy J
Basically, none of this happens without Paul Beauregard and Jordan Houston. They weren't just rappers; they were the architects. Back in the early '90s, they were DJs on the Memphis club circuit. They met in 1991 and realized they both had a thing for dark, eerie, bass-heavy production.
DJ Paul brought the "horrorcore" vibe. He loved horror movies, and you can hear it in those early lo-fi tapes. Juicy J was the hustler with the infectious energy. Together, they built an empire. They even had a system where they’d fine members for being late or being too messed up on drugs to work. Crunchy Black once joked that Juicy J was like the "father" of the group because he’d "fine the f*** out of you" if you overdid it.
The Dark Poet: Lord Infamous
Ricky Dunigan, better known as Lord Infamous, was DJ Paul’s half-brother and a founding member. If Three 6 Mafia had a "scary" soul, it was him. His flow was hypnotic—often called the "triple-time" flow—and his lyrics were obsessed with the occult and the macabre.
✨ Don't miss: Do You Believe in Love: The Song That Almost Ended Huey Lewis and the News
Tragically, he’s one of the reasons the group's history is so bittersweet. He suffered a stroke in 2010 and eventually died of a heart attack in 2013 at his mother’s house. His passing was a massive blow. He wasn't just a member; he was the primary reason the group was called "Triple Six" in the first place.
Why the Lineup Kept Changing
The "classic" lineup most fans point to includes six people: DJ Paul, Juicy J, Lord Infamous, Koopsta Knicca, Gangsta Boo, and Crunchy Black. But that lineup didn't even last a decade. Why? Because when you mix massive egos, different artistic visions, and, as Juicy J famously admitted later, a "staggering amount of drugs," things fall apart.
Juicy J has been pretty open recently about how cocaine, meth, and pills basically tore the group's unity to shreds. When everyone was sober, they were a machine. When the drugs took over, the communication stopped.
The Queen of Memphis: Gangsta Boo
Lola Mitchell joined the crew when she was only 14. Think about that. A teenager holding her own in a room full of grown men rapping about the darkest parts of life. She wasn't just "the girl in the group." She was a titan.
She left in 2001, right as the group was hitting a new level of mainstream fame. Some say it was a religious shift; others say it was financial disputes. She went by "Lady Boo" for a minute, trying to distance herself from the "Gangsta" moniker, but the streets wouldn't let her. She eventually reunited with some of the members for the "Da Mafia 6ix" project in 2013. Sadly, we lost her on New Year's Day in 2023. Her influence on modern artists like GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion is impossible to ignore.
The Hypnotic Voice: Koopsta Knicca
Robert Cooper Phillips, or Koopsta Knicca, had a style that felt like a ghost was rapping in your ear. His solo album, Da Devil's Playground, is still a cult classic. He left the group around 2000, largely due to legal issues that kept him from touring.
He was part of the 2013 reunion, but his story also ended in tragedy. He died in 2015 after a brain aneurysm. At that point, the "original" feel of the group was effectively gone forever.
The Hype Man: Crunchy Black
Darnell Carlton wasn't the most technical lyricist, but he was the heart of their live shows. If you've seen the "Stay Fly" video, he's the one bringing the energy. He left in 2006, right after the Oscar win, claiming he wasn't getting the support he needed for his solo career.
💡 You might also like: Diego Klattenhoff Movies and TV Shows: Why He’s the Best Actor You Keep Forgetting You Know
The 2026 Perspective: Where Are They Now?
As of 2026, Three 6 Mafia exists mostly as a legacy act led by DJ Paul and Juicy J. They’ve been touring recently with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony—a "full circle" moment considering the two groups had one of the most famous beefs in rap history back in the '90s.
Juicy J is still a solo powerhouse, constantly collaborating with younger trap artists. DJ Paul has branched out into everything from BBQ sauce to EDM production. They’ve leaned into the "elder statesmen" role, and honestly, they’ve earned it.
Common Misconceptions
- "They were a satanic cult." Nah. It was an image. They were fans of horror movies and wanted to stand out in a crowded hip-hop market.
- "Project Pat was a member." This is a big one. Project Pat is Juicy J’s brother and a massive part of their sound, but he was technically an "affiliate" or a member of the Hypnotize Camp Posse, not the core Three 6 Mafia group.
- "The Oscar win killed the group." It didn't kill it, but it changed the stakes. Suddenly, they weren't just Memphis legends; they were global brands. That kind of pressure exposes the cracks that are already there.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're a fan or a producer trying to capture that Memphis magic, here is what you should actually do:
- Study the 1995 album Mystic Stylez. This is the blueprint. Listen to how they layered the samples and used silence as much as noise.
- Look into the "Da Mafia 6ix" mixtapes. If you want to hear what the group sounded like when they tried to recapture the old dark magic in the 2010s, 6ix Commandments is essential listening.
- Support the estates of the fallen members. A lot of the royalties for Lord Infamous, Koopsta Knicca, and Gangsta Boo go toward supporting their families. Buying official merch or streaming their solo work makes a real difference.
- Watch the "Adventures in Hollyhood" reality show. It’s dated, sure, but it shows the weird transition period after the Oscar win when they were trying to figure out if they still belonged in the "streets."
The story of the members of Three 6 Mafia is a reminder that greatness is often volatile. You can’t get that kind of lightning in a bottle without a little bit of chaos. They changed the world, and they did it while barely holding themselves together. That’s the most "Memphis" thing about them.