Three 6 Mafia is a hip-hop group based in Memphis, TN. They are the first hip-hop group from Memphis to have a platinum selling album and the second hip-hop group ever to be nominated and win an Oscar. The group consists primarily of members DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Lord Infamous. They helped in developing the ‘crunk’ music scene.
The group started in 1991 with two brothers named DJ Paul and Lord Infamous; they later joined forces with Juicy J and named their group, Triple 6 Mafia. They released many of their albums through their own record company called Prophet Entertainment; consequently the name changed to Hypnotize Mindz Records. Triple 6 Mafia released their first official album called ‘Mystic Stylez’ in 1995. Their underground cassette ‘Smoked Out, Loced Out’ earned them the respect of hip-hop fans; they used the profits made out of this album to release their first album. In 1997, they signed up with Relativity records and released the album ‘Chapter 2: World Domination’. Their hip-hop single “Tear Da Club Up '97” got the attention of some major hip-hop audiences. In 2003, they released their first album under Columbia Records titled the ‘Da Unbreakables’. They also released ‘Most Known Unknown’ in 2005, also under the Columbia Records label.
Three 6 Mafia made history on March 5, 2006 when they became the first ever African –American hip-hop group to win an Academy Award for Best song. They were also the first hip-hop artist to perform at the Academy Awards ceremony. | 
