Fourteen years ago, Three 6 Mafia became the first hip-hop group to win an Oscar. The group took home the win for their single, “Its Hard out Here for a Pimp,” from the Hustle and Flow Soundtrack.

The Memphis, Tennesse group formed in 1991 emerging a new unique sound of “horror rap.” The group consisted of Juicy J, Dj Paul, Project Pat, Gangsta Boo, Lord Infamous, Crunchy Black, La Chat, Lil Wyte, Koopsta Knicca, Frayser Boy, Playa Fly, Indo G, and Gangsta Blac.

The group would release their debut album titled, Mystic Stylez in 1995 which the rap group says they were influenced by Geto Boys, NWA, Isaac Hayes, Willie Hutch, KRS-One, and Venom. A long way from the so-called “crunk” the band would make their mark in hip hop, with their impact of horrorcore lyricism and destructive samples would place the group into mainstream music.

In 2005, the group would find their single being used in Craig Brewer’s Hustle and Flow movie acted out by Terrance Howard and Taraji P. Henson. In 2006, at the 78th Academy Awards, Three 6 Mafia and Taraji P. Henson performed the song at the award show before winning Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Today, the group is in preparation for their reunion tour, which will begin Friday, March 6th at Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Three 6 Mafia Became the First Hip-Hop Group to Win an Oscar appeared first on The Source.

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