Three 6 Mafia started in 1991 with two brothers, DJ Paul and Lord Infamous who chose to collaborate with Juicy J under the name Triple 6 Mafia. The hip hop group formed through release of many EPs off of their own record company Prophet Entertainment (Later renamed Hypnotize Minds Records). During their early career, they also were able to propel the careers of several other rappers.
In 1995, the group released its first official album, Mystic Stylez. It had recorded this album by using the profits from its highly successful underground tape Smoked Out, Loced Out. This was followed by the Live by Yo Rep EP, which took lyrical jabs at Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and their second album Chapter 1: Da End.
In 1997, they were signed to Relativity Records where they released the first major record release Chapter 2: World Domination. During this time, they were able to develop their technical style to gain some attention from major hip hop audiences with the single “Tear Da Club Up '97”. At this point in the group’s evolution, having signed to a major label and having scored an admirable hit single, group leaders Juicy J and DJ Paul began extending their brand by releasing group member solo albums (Gangsta Boo, Koopsta Knicca), non-group member solo albums (Project Pat, the Kaze, etc.), and, also ,compilation-styled albums (Tear Da Club Up Thugs, Hypnotize Camp Posse, Da Headbussaz, and Prophet Posse). Around this time, they also released collections of tracks from earlier years (Underground Vol. 1: 1991-1994, Underground Vol. 2: Club Memphis, Underground Vol. 3: Kings of Memphis).
In 2000, the official Three 6 Mafia follow-up to the Chapter 2 album, When the Smoke Clears, was released. With the success of the lead single, "Sippin’ on Some Syrup" in a few non-Southern markets, The album debuted at number six on Billboard’s album charts. It received no MTV and little national radio rotation. This is the year Koopsta Knicca left the group. They, later, began work on the direct-to-video film Choices: The Movie and affiliated solo albums. Choices and its accompanying soundtrack (Choices: The Album) were released in 2001. Gangsta Boo left the group this same year.
The year of 2002 saw two solo releases from the group's two super producers. One from DJ Paul called Underground Vol.16 For Da Summa and one called Chronicles of the Juice Man by Juicy J. In 2003, Three 6 Mafia released the album Da Unbreakables, which features collaborations with Lil' Flip, Pimp C (from UGK), Lil' Wyte, Frayser Boy, and Project Pat. The album produced the hit "Ridin' Spinnaz," which featured Lil' Flip.
In 2005, Three 6 Mafia released their follow up direct-to-video, Choices II: The Set-up, and their highly anticipated album Most Known Unknown. It was notable that Lord Infamous was missing from this album. The generally accepted reason was that he had been incarcerated; however, Three 6 Mafia claimed he was on "holiday.” Recently, he has officially returned to Three 6 Mafia. The album includes the hit "Stay Fly," featuring Young Buck, 8-Ball, and MJG. They, also, worked on the movie, Hustle and Flow, which would lead them to an award and released a greatest hits album Most Known Hits.
On June 7th 2006, Sony officially acknowledged the departure of original Three 6 Mafia member, Crunchy Black. He stated his reason for departure was to make a solo album that DJ Paul and Juicy J had put off for years.