Mystic Stylez

Last updated
Mystic Stylez
Three 6 Mafia - Mystic Stylez.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 30, 1995 (1995-05-30) [1]
Recorded1994–1995
StudioThe Production Room [2]
(Memphis, Tennessee)
Genre
Length73:48
Label Prophet [3]
Producer
Three 6 Mafia chronology
Smoked Out, Loced Out
(1994)
Mystic Stylez
(1995)
Chapter 1: The End
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Mystic Stylez is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, released on May 30, 1995, by Prophet Entertainment. It was produced entirely by founding members DJ Paul and Juicy J.

Contents

In 2001, the album was re-released by Hypnotize Minds as "More Mystic Stylez: The First Album", with this version features a new spoken intro from DJ Paul, as well as 3 new songs: "Classic Intro", "War With Us" (a song by the Tear da Club up Thugs) & "We Got Da Dope". It, however, omits "Da Beginning", "Live by Yo Rep", and "Back Against Da Wall".

Background

Formation

Three 6 Mafia formed in 1991 in Memphis, Tennessee. Originally known as "Backyard Posse", the group consisted of DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Lord Infamous. The group formed through the release of numerous EPs from their own record company with Nick Scarfo, Prophet, which were sold around Memphis and throughout the south. More members joined the group over the years including Koopsta Knicca, Gangsta Boo, and Crunchy Black.

Recording

Recording sessions for Mystic Stylez took place in a studio in northern Memphis known as The Production Room. [2] The album was recorded on 16 track reel-to-reel tape. As Juicy J recalled, "We went in the studio and just made records, man. Go in there, got high, drank, and just made records. That's all I remember doing. I can't remember 'I came up with… Who did…' We just made the beats. We all just came in and contributed, and the shit came out hard." During the recording of Mystic Stylez, Three 6 Mafia were listening to music by artists and groups such as N.W.A., Geto Boys, Willie Hutch, KRS-One and Isaac Hayes. [5]

Musical style and lyrics

Described as horrorcore, [6] [7] [8] the overall soundscape of the album Mystic Stylez is considerably more foreboding than succeeding releases. [9] Mystic Stylez features lyrical topics such as extremely graphic violence, murder, drugs, sexual practice, the occult, Satan and Theistic Satanism. [3] [8] [10] These subjects are mostly underscored by dark, menacing beats. [9] Juicy J noted that the title for the album was inspired by the notion that all the performing artists on the recording all had "their own style." [5]

According to author Roni Sarig, "Mystic Stylez clearly sounds like the expression of rappers who haven't so much made a deal with the Devil as spent some time partying with him". [11]

Controversy

During the development of Mystic Stylez, Three 6 Mafia were engaged in a feud with Ohio rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Three 6 Mafia accused Bone Thugs-n-Harmony of copying their style and released the diss song "Live by Yo Rep (B.O.N.E. Dis)". Juicy J spoke about the feud years after the album was released saying "Man when we did that we was young and stupid—being real. We was young and stupid. Just some old stupid … It wasn't ever no beef, man. We cool with them, they good people, just some stupid shit back in the day, man. They good dudes, man. We did some music with one of them, Krayzie Bone....something back in the late 90s, something on Project Pat's album." [5]

DJ Paul spoke about the feud saying “It wasn’t a real beef [...] It was more of a misunderstanding because we was rapping about triple six, devil shit, and tongue twisting over slow beats. We had been doing that since 1989 and then all of a sudden when Bone came out—I think it was 1993… We didn’t know the Faces Of Death album because it was their underground stuff. Just like they probably didn’t know our underground stuff. When they came out with “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” and all of that stuff and we hear somebody kind of on our same style: Faces Of Death, redrum, murder, 6-6-6, tongue twisting. We were like, ‘Damn these dudes done stole our style!’ [Laughs] That's why we got mad about it. We ran into each other a couple of times and there was a push or something. But there was never no fight or nothing like that.” DJ Paul continued “After a while we became cool,” he says. “Our first song was with Krayzie Bone on Project Pat’s Ghetty Green album maybe in 1997 [or] 1998 or something like that. We’ve been cool ever since then. We’re actually talking about doing a tour together soon. We did some shows together. They was fun as fuck. We had a blast with Bone.” [12]

Exposure, recognition and legacy

Regarded as "one of the essential southern hip-hop albums", Mystic Stylez has been described as a defining example of horrorcore. [8] The album led the way for a whole subset of Memphis rap and would influence other artists for decades to come. [9] Despite not getting popularity and instead being an underground album, Mystic Stylez has been praised by critics [13] [9] and was put at number 74 on Complex's list "The 90 Best Rap Albums of the '90s". [3] Mystic Stylez is cited as one of the forerunners of crunk and trap. [13]

The group's debut into exposure had a rocky beginning mostly because local Memphis radio, at first, refused to play Three 6 Mafia's music. However, when staff heard "Da Summa", they eventually decided to play it, making it the group's first radio-aired song. [5]

Track listing

Original version
Mystic Stylez
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Da Beginning" 1:14
2."Break da Law ('95)" 4:21
3."Da Summa" 4:43
4."Live by Yo Rep (B.O.N.E. Dis)" (featuring Kingpin Skinny Pimp & Playa Fly) 5:13
5."In Da Game" 4:04
6."Now I'm Hi' - Part 3" (featuring Playa Fly) 5:10
7."Long Nite" 4:35
8."Sweet Robbery - Part 2" 4:46
9."Back Against da Wall" (featuring Kingpin Skinny Pimp) 4:51
10."Fuckin' wit' Dis Click" 6:18
11."All Or Nothin'" 4:54
12."Gotta Touch 'Em - Part 2" 4:54
13."Tear Da Club Up (Da Real)"
  • Paul Beauregard
  • Ricky Dunigan
  • Jordan Houston
  • Lola Mitchell
  • Darnell Carlton
  • Robert Phillips
4:35
14."Big Bizness (Screwed)" 2:18
15."Mystic Stylez" (featuring Playa Fly, La Chat & M.C. Mack) 6:21
16."Porno Movie" 5:24
2001 reissue
More Mystic Stylez: The First Album (2001 Reissue)
No.TitleLength
1."Classic Intro"0:19
2."War With Us"4:25
3."We Got da Dope"2:40
4."Fuckin With Dis Click"6:16
5."Now I'm Hi"5:08
6."Break da Law"4:22
7."Sweet Robbery"4:43
8."In da Game"4:04
9."Big Bizness"2:17
10."Da Summa"4:43
11."Gotta Touch Em"4:54
12."Porno Movie"5:27
13."Tear Da Club Up"4:36
14."All Or Nuthin'"4:55
15."Long Nite"4:35
16."Mystic Stylez"6:21

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [14] 59

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three 6 Mafia</span> American hip-hop group

Three 6 Mafia is an American hip hop group from Memphis, Tennessee, formed in 1991. Emerging as a horror-themed underground hip hop group, they went on to enjoy mainstream success. The group's 1995 debut album Mystic Stylez became an influential cult classic. They have released music on independent labels such as Prophet Entertainment and their own Hypnotize Minds label, as well as Relativity, Loud, and Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bone Thugs-n-Harmony</span> American hip hop group

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony is an American hip hop group composed of rappers Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Flesh-n-Bone. Formed in 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio, the group signed to fellow American rapper Eazy-E's Ruthless Records in late 1993, on which they debuted with their EP Creepin on ah Come Up the next year. The EP included their breakout hit single "Thuggish Ruggish Bone". In 1995, the group released its second album E. 1999 Eternal, which included hits "1st of tha Month" and "East 1999". Their hit song "Tha Crossroads", a tribute to then-recently deceased mentor Eazy-E, won a Grammy Award in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Paul</span> American rapper (born 1977)

Paul Duane Beauregard, known professionally as DJ Paul, is an American rapper and record producer. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and the half-brother of rapper Lord Infamous. DJ Paul is also the half-brother of convicted drug lord Craig Petties. He is also a part owner of FaZe Clan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juicy J</span> American rapper (born 1975)

Jordan Michael Houston III, known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established in 1991. He released ten studio albums with the group, which began as an underground act until attaining mainstream recognition and signing with Loud Records, an imprint of Columbia Records in 2000. The group's 2005 single, "Stay Fly", yielded their furthest commercial success, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, they recorded the song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" for the film Hustle & Flow, which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horrorcore</span> Subgenre of hip hop music based in horror-themed lyrical content and imagery

Horrorcore, also called horror hip hop, horror rap, death hip hop, death rap, or murder rap is a subgenre of hip hop music based on horror-themed and often darkly transgressive lyrical content and imagery. Its origins derived from certain hardcore hip hop and gangsta rap artists, such as the Geto Boys, Gravediggaz, and Three 6 Mafia, which began to incorporate supernatural, occult, and psychological horror themes into their lyrics. Horrorcore is mostly designed to evoke fear and panic out of a listener rather than disgust. Unlike most hardcore hip hop and gangsta rap artists, horrorcore artists often push the violent content and imagery in their lyrics beyond the realm of realistic urban violence, to the point where the violent lyrics become gruesome, ghoulish, unsettling, inspired by slasher films or splatter films. While exaggerated violence and the supernatural are common in horrorcore, the genre also frequently presents more realistic yet still disturbing portrayals of mental illness and drug abuse. Some horrorcore artists eschew supernatural themes or exaggerated violence in favor of more subtle and dark psychological horror imagery and lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay Fly</span> 2005 single by Three 6 Mafia featuring Young Buck and 8Ball & MJG

"Stay Fly" is the first single from hip hop group Three 6 Mafia's 2005 album Most Known Unknown. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 to become the group's biggest hit. The track, which samples "Tell Me Why Has Our Love Turned Cold" by Willie Hutch, features fellow Memphis rap duo 8Ball & MJG and Young Buck, a member of G-Unit. The single helped propel Most Known Unknown to RIAA platinum status. The single itself achieved 2x multi-platinum RIAA certification status on December 11, 2006.

<i>Chapter 2: World Domination</i> 1997 studio album by Three 6 Mafia

Chapter 2: World Domination is the third studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. The album was released on November 4, 1997, by Hypnotize Minds and Relativity Records. This was their first widely distributed album and also Three 6 Mafia's first Gold-RIAA certified album, having sold over 800,000 copies in the US. This album is the last to feature a majority of darker beats, but also shows the group moving toward a more mainstream sound that would be heard on their 2000 album When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1. It incorporated reprises of four hits previously released on Mystic Stylez and Chapter 1: The End — "Late Nite Tip", "N 2 Deep", "Body Parts" and "Tear Da Club Up".

<i>Strength & Loyalty</i> 2007 studio album by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Strength & Loyalty, originally titled The Bone Thugs Story, is the seventh studio album by American hip hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, released on May 8, 2007. It was Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's first major album after an absence of nearly five years. The album contains guest appearances by Akon, Autumn Rowe, Bow Wow, Felecia, Fleetwood Mac (sampled), Mariah Carey, Swizz Beatz, The Game, Twista, will.i.am, and Yolanda Adams. Producers include Akon, DJ Toomp, Jermaine Dupri, Mally Mall, Neo Da Matrix, Pretty Boy & Bradd Young, Street Radio, Swizz Beatz, The Individuals, Ty Fyffe, and will.i.am. The executive producer of the album was Swizz Beatz. Bizzy Bone was not featured on the album. Then imprisoned member Flesh-n-Bone was only featured on a track entitled "Into The Future" which did not make the album and also due to his incarceration did not make the album cover.

<i>Chapter 1: The End</i> 1996 studio album by Three 6 Mafia

The End is the second studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. It is the follow-up to their debut album Mystic Stylez. The album was released on December 3, 1996, by Prophet Entertainment. This album shows a distinct change in production from their debut album.

<i>Crook by da Book: The Fed Story</i> 2006 studio album by Project Pat

Crook by da Book: The Fed Story is the fourth studio album by American rapper Project Pat. First rumored to be released August 18, 2006, but was pushed back to December 5, 2006. Recording sessions took place at Hypnotize Minds Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Production was handled by DJ Paul and Juicy J. The album features guest appearances from Three 6 Mafia, Beanie Sigel, Lyfe Jennings, Pimp C, Mr. Bigg and Young Jeezy. The album debuted at number 64 on the Billboard 200, selling about 40,000 copies in its first week.

"Tear da Club Up" is a song by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. It was released as the lead single from their debut studio album Mystic Stylez (1995) and was produced by members DJ Paul and Juicy J. A remix of the song titled "Tear da Club Up '97" was featured on the group's third studio album Chapter 2: World Domination (1997).

<i>CrazyNDaLazDayz</i> 1999 studio album by Tear da Club Up Thugs

CrazyNDaLazDayz is the only studio album by American hip hop trio Tear da Club Up Thugs, consisting of DJ Paul, Lord Infamous and Juicy J from Three 6 Mafia. It was released on February 2, 1999, via Relativity and DJ Paul & Juicy J’s Hypnotize Minds. Recording sessions took place at Cotton Row Recording Studio and Hypnotize Minds Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. It features guest appearances from the Hot Boys, the Big Tymers, Crucial Conflict, Hussein Fatal, Spice 1, The Kaze, Too $hort and Twista. The album spawned two singles: "Push 'Em Off" and "Hypnotize Cash Money". The latter peaked at #74 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #64 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in the United States.

<i>Scale-A-Ton</i> 2009 studio album by DJ Paul

Scale-a-Ton is the second solo studio album by American rapper and record producer DJ Paul. It was released on May 5, 2009, via Scale-A-Ton Entertainment/Hypnotize Minds. Recording sessions took place at Scale-A-Ton Studios in Memphis and Los Angeles. Production was handled entirely by DJ Paul, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Lord Infamous. The album debuted at number 157 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 4,000 copies in its first week of sales.

Playa Fly is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. Pursuing a solo career as Playa Fly, he released one independent album before signing a three-album contract with Super Sigg Records. During that period he had many underground hits, perhaps the most famous being "Nobody Needs Nobody". Fly's early hit immediately gained notoriety from the song "Triple Bitch Mafia", which lashed out against his former group.

<i>6ix Commandments</i> 2013 mixtape by Da Mafia 6ix

6ix Commandments is the debut mixtape by American rap group Da Mafia 6ix and hosted by Trap-A-Holics. The mixtape was released on November 12, 2013 as well as a no DJ version with Two bonus tracks on iTunes and later on a physical copy on January 7, 2014. A Chopped and Screwed version was released on December 17, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juicy J production discography</span>

The following list is a discography of production by Juicy J, an American hip hop record producer and recording artist from Memphis, Tennessee. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title. For the Three 6 Mafia and Hypnotize Minds projects Juicy J produced music alongside his Three Six Mafia cohort DJ Paul and in more recent years Crazy Mike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord Infamous</span> American rapper from Tennessee (1973–2013)

Ricky Terrell Dunigan, known professionally as Lord Infamous, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half-brother of DJ Paul and one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia. His lyrics touched on macabre subjects such as Satanism, mass murder, and torture, along with more traditional themes such as sex and drug use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gangsta Boo</span> American rapper (1979–2023)

Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, known professionally as Gangsta Boo, was an American rapper. She rose to prominence as a member of Three 6 Mafia, which she joined at the age of 14. After releasing six albums, she left the group and its record label after the release of her second solo album, Both Worlds *69 (2001), due to financial disputes and issues regarding promotion of the album. She subsequently released several solo albums and became known for collaborating with artists such as Eminem, Run the Jewels, La Chat, Latto, GloRilla, Outkast, Foxy Brown, Tinashe, Lil Jon and Yelawolf.

Memphis rap, also known as Memphis hip hop, or Memphis horrorcore, is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in Memphis, Tennessee in the mid-late 1980s.

The following list is a discography of production by DJ Paul, an American hip hop record producer and recording artist from Memphis, Tennessee. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.

References

  1. "Three 6 Mafia - Mystic Stylez | Vintage Vinyl".
  2. 1 2 3 Mystic Stylez (CD liner notes). Three 6 Mafia. Prophet. 1995.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. 1 2 3 "The 90 Best Rap Albums of the '90s". Complex. (23 April 2014)
  4. "Mystic Stylez - Three 6 Mafia | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Juicy J Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs". Complex.
  6. Ebony A. Utley (2012). Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta's God. ABC-CLIO. p. 88. ISBN   9780313376689. (11 June 2012)
  7. "Three 6 Mafia". Allmusic.
  8. 1 2 3 Birchmeier, Jason. "Mystic Stylez review". Allmusic . All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Three 6 Mafia's 'Mystic Stylez' Turns 20". Complex. (23 May 2015)
  10. Ben Westhoff (2011). Dirty South. Chicago Review Press. p. 89. ISBN   9781569766064. (1 May 2011)
  11. Sarig, Roni (2007). Third Coast: Outkast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing. Da Capo Press. ISBN   9780306816475.
  12. "Three 6 Mafia Beef With Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Explained By DJ Paul". Hip Hop DX. 28 April 2015.
  13. 1 2 "20 Years Later: Three 6 Mafia's 'Mystic Stylez' Stands as One of the South's Best Albums". Theboombox.com. (25 May 2015)
  14. "Three 6 Mafia Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2014.