Da Mafia 6ix - 6ix Commandments

Earlier this year DJ Paul, co-founder of one of the most influential southern hip hop groups of all time Three-6 Mafia, revealed that he was joining forces with original Three-6 Mafia members Lord Infamous, Gangsta Boo, Koopsta Knicca, and Crunchy Black to form a new group called Da Mafia 6ix. The only difference between this group and the original Triple Six is that fellow co-founder Juicy J was nowhere to be found as he has found new solo success with Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang imprint. Immediately the internet began to buzz and then when pictures and video of the group working on a new project surfaced via Twitter things really started to heat up. Paul then announced that the groups first mixtape back together would be entitled “6ix Commandments” and a rowdy lead single “Go Hard” was released featuring an all star of the new generation of crunk rappers YelaWolf.

Now Da Mafia 6ix has unleashed a mixtape chock full of the sounds and flows that made all of us fall in love with that Triple Six Mafia sound from the thumping bass line, crazy beat switches, haunting melodies, and insane flows. Paul even recruited former Hypnotize Camp Posse affiliates Lil’ Wyte, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, and La Chat to lay down vocals for the mixtape. On the free version of the mixtape’s final song, “Body Parts,” which is the posse song for this tape it listed the features as being Lil’ Wyte, Skinny Pimp, La Chat, Locodunit (DJ Paul’s nephew), Houston MC Point Blank, J-Green (who co-produced many of the tapes tracks), Kokoe, “and more.” The “and more” immediately got the internet wandering who the “and more” would be as the minutes ticked down on its release. It turns out that “and more” was Juicy J himself and fellow HCP partner Project Pat. The Juice Man jumped on this record after many months of speculation of possible beef between Paul and Juicy. The entire layout of the track was perfect. As most HCP Posse Songs Paul listed the features at the beginning of the song and then Gangsta Boo began her verse, but then the song stopped. Paul then proclaimed “and I know you didn’t think I was gonna’ leave my boy Juicy J out this bitch!” Juice then proceeds to spit one of his hardest verses in some time mixing his more recent flow with the old school tongue twisting flowing. Everyone brings their A game on the Posse Song as it seems that they are competing with each other which always was one of the reasons the HCP Posse Songs were so great.

The rest of the tape is equally dope throughout. Paul along with J-Green and newcomer TWhy provide a haunting, old school 3-6 backdrop for the crew to spit their violent tales. One of the few songs that also feature another producer is “Murder On My Mind” in which SpaceGhostPurp co-produced the song with Paul and J-Green. SpaceGhostPurp also provides the hook while Krayzie Bone and Bizzy Bone join Paul, Koopsta Knicca, and Gangsta Boo on a collaboration that was decades in the making. The old school 3-6 sound fits Krayzie and Bizzy perfectly harkening back to their “Art of War” days on the song.

“Remember” sees all five Mafia6ix members joined by longtime collaborator Lil’ Wyte as they reminisce over the old days and Wyte pays tribute to the group that influenced him. 8Ball and MJG join Infamous, Boo, and Paul on “Yean High” where MJG does his best Infamous impression with a crazy tongue twisting verse. It’s hard to decide whether MJG or Infamous had the best verse here, and that’s what makes this project so great. So many songs have multiple verses that you could call “show stealers” on the song, and the chemistry of the group seems to still be there all these years later.

“Stash Spot” is yet another standout as Koopsta Knicca’s haunting flow truly shines and “Break Da Law” (yes both of these tracks are remakes of 3-6 classics as is “Body Parts”) boasts one of the most stunning beats on the tape. DJ Paul sounds rejuvenated on this tape spitting some of his best verses in years whether it’s just him going back to classic 3-6 sounding production style or getting back together with the old group. Infamous sounds clear again and Koopsta Knicca has brought out his dark flow as well. Everyone provides something and any fears people had of the chemistry being gone are unfounded. Paul has also released and Itunes version of the tape with two bonus songs (“Grab Da Gauge” and “How We Gone Play It”) and no DJ tags on it.

Paul had already announced plans for a Mafia 6ix album in 2014 and after hearing what these guys have put together for a FREE project there is no telling what they’re cooking up for a retail album, but then after the release of the tape it was revealed that a FULL Three-6 Mafia reunion is in the works for 2014. Yes, that means Juicy J is joining the fun for a full album. Old school Three-6 Mafia fans have been begging for this kind of project for years, but I don’t think anyone expecting such an incredible effort this many years removed from the group working all together. And now we make get even more with Juicy J joining the fray and possible inclusion of other former HCP affiliates. 2014 could be very, very interesting and all of the others out there that have been trying to steal Three-6 Mafia’s style and front like it’s something new in 2013 will see how the true originators do it.