Mystic Stylez

==Musical style and lyrics==

==Musical style and lyrics==

Described as [[horrorcore]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta's God |author=Ebony A. Utley |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |year=2012 |page=88 |isbn=9780313376689}} (11 June 2012)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/three-6-mafia-mn0000924367/related |title=Three 6 Mafia |publisher=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref><ref name=brichmeierj /> the overall soundscape of the album ''Mystic Stylez'' is considerably more foreboding than succeeding releases.<ref name=Complextwo /> ''Mystic Stylez'' features lyrical topics such as extremely graphic violence, murder, drugs, [[sexual practice]], the [[occult]], [[Satan]] and [[Theistic Satanism]].<ref name=Complexthree /><ref name=brichmeierj /><ref>{{cite book |title=Dirty South |publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]] |author=Ben Westhoff |year=2011 |page=89 |isbn=9781569766064}} (1 May 2011)</ref> These subjects are mostly underscored by dark, menacing beats.<ref name=Complextwo /> 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."<ref name=Complex/>

Described as [[horrorcore]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta's God |author=Ebony A. Utley |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |year=2012 |page=88 |isbn=9780313376689}} (11 June 2012)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/three-6-mafia-mn0000924367/related |title=Three 6 Mafia |publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref><ref name=brichmeierj /> the overall soundscape of the album ''Mystic Stylez'' is considerably more foreboding than succeeding releases.<ref name=Complextwo /> ''Mystic Stylez'' features lyrical topics such as extremely graphic violence, murder, drugs, [[sexual practice]], the [[occult]], [[Satan]] and [[Theistic Satanism]].<ref name=Complexthree /><ref name=brichmeierj /><ref>{{cite book |title=Dirty South |publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]] |author=Ben Westhoff |year=2011 |page=89 |isbn=9781569766064}} (1 May 2011)</ref> These subjects are mostly underscored by dark, menacing beats.<ref name=Complextwo /> 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."<ref name=Complex/>

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".<ref name=Sarig>{{cite book |title=Third Coast: Outkast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing |last=Sarig |first=Roni |publisher=[[Da Capo Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=9780306816475}}</ref>

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".<ref name=Sarig>{{cite book |title=Third Coast: Outkast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing |last=Sarig |first=Roni |publisher=[[Da Capo Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=9780306816475}}</ref>

==Exposure, recognition and legacy==

==Exposure, recognition and legacy==

Regarded as "one of the essential [[southern hip hop|southern hip-hop]] albums", Mystic Stylez has been described as a defining example of [[horrorcore]].<ref name="brichmeierj">{{Cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r649186|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Mystic Stylez'' review|accessdate=2008-02-16|publisher=All Media Guide, LLC|author=Birchmeier, Jason|work=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref> The album led the way for a whole subset of Memphis rap and would influence other artists for decades to come.<ref name="Complextwo">{{cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2015/05/three-6-mafia |title=Three 6 Mafia's 'Mystic Stylez' Turns 20 |publisher=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]}} (23 May 2015)</ref> Despite not getting popularity and instead being an underground album, ''Mystic Stylez'' has been praised by critics<ref name=Boombox /><ref name=Complextwo /> and was put at number 74 on ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'s'' list ''"The 90 Best Rap Albums of the '90s"''.<ref name=Complexthree>{{cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/04/the-90-best-rap-albums-of-the-90s/three-6-mafia-mystic-stylez |title=The 90 Best Rap Albums of the '90s |publisher=Complex}} (23 April 2014)</ref> ''Mystic Stylez'' is cited as one of the forerunners of [[crunk]] and [[Trap music (hip hop)|trap]].<ref name=Boombox>{{cite web |url=http://theboombox.com/three-6-mafia-mystic-stylez-album/ |title=20 Years Later: Three 6 Mafia's 'Mystic Stylez' Stands as One of the South's Best Albums |publisher=Theboombox.com}} (25 May 2015)</ref>

Regarded as "one of the essential [[southern hip hop|southern hip-hop]] albums", Mystic Stylez has been described as a defining example of [[horrorcore]].<ref name="brichmeierj">{{Cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r649186|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Mystic Stylez'' review|accessdate=2008-02-16|publisher=All Media Guide, LLC|author=Birchmeier, Jason|work=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> The album led the way for a whole subset of Memphis rap and would influence other artists for decades to come.<ref name="Complextwo">{{cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2015/05/three-6-mafia |title=Three 6 Mafia's 'Mystic Stylez' Turns 20 |publisher=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]}} (23 May 2015)</ref> Despite not getting popularity and instead being an underground album, ''Mystic Stylez'' has been praised by critics<ref name=Boombox /><ref name=Complextwo /> and was put at number 74 on ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'s'' list ''"The 90 Best Rap Albums of the '90s"''.<ref name=Complexthree>{{cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/04/the-90-best-rap-albums-of-the-90s/three-6-mafia-mystic-stylez |title=The 90 Best Rap Albums of the '90s |publisher=Complex}} (23 April 2014)</ref> ''Mystic Stylez'' is cited as one of the forerunners of [[crunk]] and [[Trap music (hip hop)|trap]].<ref name=Boombox>{{cite web |url=http://theboombox.com/three-6-mafia-mystic-stylez-album/ |title=20 Years Later: Three 6 Mafia's 'Mystic Stylez' Stands as One of the South's Best Albums |publisher=Theboombox.com}} (25 May 2015)</ref>

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.<ref name="Complex" />

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.<ref name="Complex" />