Three Six Mafia and their imprint on the Modern Era.
Starting with their influence on the modern mainstream landscape, The legendary Memphis group and affiliates have had significant impact on the arsenal of flows rapper use….Down to even every single member having their own influence tree.
When talking about influence in hip-hop, not too many rap acts, individuals or groups, have done what Three Six Mafia has done. The ability to have impact from a rapping standpoint and a production standpoint for years to come should be included in the longevity and influence conversations. From Lord Infamous’ famous triplet flow, to the late Gangsta Boo’s impact on female rappers in the modern era with her great delivery, Juicy J notable quo-tables, DJ Paul’s energy and more. There is no modern rap without the triplet flow and variations that Three Six pioneered. In all of Southern Rap today you here variations of their rapping style in someone way, with Three Six affiliate Project Pats’ signature flow for example, how the SoundCloud era was heavily inspired by them as well. Not to mention, being one of, if not THEE MOST sampled rap group ever and so many cultural anthems made by their hand.
Three Six Mafia’s sound was something that the mainstream not the other way around. Although they had a growing cult following as a independent act, their more popular songs come from about 2000’s like Stay Fly. But, they were the trendsetters first, not the ones following trends. Also, you had several blog era groups greatly inspired by them as well, from A$AP Mob, who fused the NY Sound, Memphis and Texas sound together as the backbone for their early music and Raider Klan from Florida.
But, one of the biggest footprints Three Six Mafia had on music was how much modern rappers sampling techniques, are infused with Three Six Mafia’s influence. From the way samples are sampled, to horrorcore which impacted the SoundCloud era, and a big door opener for crunk music in itself, it is very hard to imagine the modern rap landscape without the Memphis collective and affiliates. Impacting in genre in one way is impressive, but impacting it in multiple is undeniable greatness. From individuals like Rocky, Denzel Curry, Ferg, Xavier Wulf, Glorilla, Meg the Stallion and more, those are only a few examples of the impact these legends have.
The final point being this: It is extremely difficult to pull off group rap. Every person has to be on the same page and more. But, not only did they do it, they did it at a high level, at such a young age and crafted multiple classics along the way that the South and hip-hop as a whole shall forever cherish. Give your legends their flowers while they can still smell them. It hurts so much to see Gangsta Boo pass at a early age, not to mention as a whole hip-hop is such a young genre in its entirety. Hip-Hop history is black history.
