Three 6 Mafia may be the most influential group in rap history with the least amount of flowers.
To the unitiatined, it’s easy to write them off as the “Stay Fly” guys or the “Hard Out Here for a Pimp” people – the latter of which won an Academy Award, by the way.
Which just proves my point, the Mafia has always made history.
Although they’re rarely brought up in Twitter debates among rap’s best producers, DJ Paul and Juicy J are easily among the game’s most influential. Their sound – an evolution of menacing horrorcore to soul-soaked club bangers – became the blueprint for crunk and modern-day trap. You can hear their style in Denzel Curry, Megan thee Stallion, Migos, Cardi B and countless more. And their production has inspired everyone from Katy Perry to Kendrick Lamar.
Their fingerprints are all over the game.
So let’s celebrate the legacies of DJ Paul, Juicy J, Crunchy Black, Lord Infamous, Koopsta Knicca and Gangsta Boo as only we can – revisiting every album in their catalog. For this list, we’re ONLY ranking the official Three 6 Mafia studio releases – not the projects from subgroups, spinoffs and collaborators, nor are we including solo projects, mixtapes, compilations or EPs. If so this list would be bigger than the Prince list. We’ll stick to the major albums that made them major players.
9. Choices II: The Setup (2005)
Soul in Stereo rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Choices II serves as the soundtrack for the film of the same name and no, I still haven’t seen it. This album sure isn’t encouraging me rush to Tubi or wherever that cinematic masterpiece is hiding. Like the original film/soundtrack (more on that in a second), even that trademark Three 6 production fails to elevate this crop of so-so club bangers and silly smoker anthems. Honestly, it’s pretty dull and monotonous – terms I’d almost never use when describing a Three 6 project.
Forgotten favorites: “PIMP”
8. Da Unbreakables (2003)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5
Edd said: Between those Choices movies, we got Da Unbreakables, but in terms of sound, this album should have been named Choices 1.5. Like those albums, not much rises above “aight” tier. Tracks like “Money Didn’t Change Me” attempt to break the mold and provide a bit more heart and introspection but it’s not enough. Da Unbreakables simply lacks the bite of their better efforts.
Forgotten favorites: “Ghetto Chick,” “Testin My Gangsta,” “Beatem to da Floor”
7. Choices: The Album (2001)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5
Edd said: It’s the original Choices project – and nope, haven’t seen this film either. Maybe if I had it would help me to enjoy the album more. This was the era where Three 6 really leaned into their comedic side – “Baby Mama” and “2 Way Freak” sounded like something from Mad TV. Though it’s the best of their early 00s slump it’s still quite disappointing, especially considering the constant evolution the group enjoyed prior to these projects. But don’t worry, it’s only up from here.
Forgotten favorites: “2 Way Freak,” “U Got Da Game Wrong”
6. Last 2 Walk (2008)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: By 2008, Three 6 was down to Just 2 members – Juicy J and DJ Paul. After a resounding return to form with the previous album, Last 2 Walk is a slight slip backward to the formulaic club bangers. But these are still Three 6 Mafia club bangers we’re talking about, so they’re legally obligated to be infectious. There are several flashes of brilliance to be found – Paul and J can make even the silliest concepts catchy – but it’s a somewhat tame farewell (for now…) to one of hip-hop’s most imaginative groups.
Forgotten favorites: “Corner Man,” “Hood Star,” “Click Bang”
5. Mystic Stylez (1995)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: And here’s where it all started. Long before they conquered Hollywood, Juicy J and DJ Paul’s production, combined with the original Three 6’s menacing bars, became stalwarts of the 90s horrorcore rap scene. But beyond the head-bussin’ and women-chasin’, the album’s true strength was combining the collectives diverse rap styles into one eclectic package. If the Wu-Tang Clan was like Mortal Kombat, these guys and girls were Dirty South Killer Instinct. The group was still rough around the edges at this point but the creepy production and atmosphere carried them adequately. The Mafia wasn’t fully formed yet, but they were on their way.
Forgotten favorites: “In Da Game,” “Gotta Touch Em (Pt 2),” “All or Nothin”
4. Chapter 1: The End (1996)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: The End? Nah, this was the beginning of Three 6’s evolution. Juicy J and DJ Paul continued to refine their production chops after their debut, and while they weren’t QUITE there yet, it was clear that this group was on the verge of something special. Chapter 1: The End isn’t quite as dour and sinister as the debut, leaning on more of the frenetic energy that would become their hallmark. Plus songs like “In-2-Deep” proved that there was storytelling and substance behind the anarchy. A solid sophomore improvement.
Forgotten favorites: “In-2-Deep,” “Where da Killaz Hang,” “Gotcha Shakin”
3. Chapter 2: World Domination (1997)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Chapter 2 continued Three 6’s momentum, even landing them their first gold record. This is also the era that personally introduced me to FIGHT MUSIC, which would replace horrorcore as Three 6’s trademark brand of chaos. Though there are a few weak spots, the album is aided by cherry picking and remixing a few of the best songs from previous albums for this tracklist. Is that cheating? Maybe, but self-plagiarism is the best plagiarism. Overall, Chapter 2 serves as a bridge between Three 6’s earlier spooky sound and their emerging club dominance.
Forgotten favorites: “Who Got Dem 9s,” “Will Blast,” “Motivated”
2. Most Known Unknown (2005)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: I can’t think of a more perfect title for such an underrated collection of rap pioneers. By 2005, Three 6 knew they were the inspiration for your favorite rapper and were finally ready to declare dominance after a run of underwhelming projects. The rest was not just one, but two of the biggest records of their careers – a full decade after their debut. The production is crisper and bolder and Juicy J, DJ Paul and Crunchy Black all feel rejuvenated. The club bangers, the fight music, the soul samples – they’re all here, resulting in their biggest mainstream LP to date. But there’s one record better…
Forgotten favorites: “Roll With It,” “Don’t Cha Get Mad,” “Hard Hittaz”
1. When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 (2000)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Many consider Most Known Unknown to be Three 6 Mafia’s breakout record, but if you’re an old head like me who was in college in 2000, you know that When the Smoke Clears is truly when the Mafia began its takeover. Thanks to the success of “Sippin on Some Syrup” (and to a lesser, freakier extent, “Tongue Ring”) this is when Three 6 really broke out nationally. DJ Paul and Juicy’s production feels fully formed – much more polished that the albums before it and laying the groundwork for their iconic sound. It’s also one of the last projects with the original Mafia crew in tact, and it’s only right that everyone gets a chance to shine. It may not be as well remembered as Most Known Unknown, but this is the definitive Three 6 Mafia release.
Forgotten favorites: “From Da Back,” “Whatcha Know,” “Who Run It”
What’s your favorite Three 6 Mafia album? Let us know in the comments below.
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