At one point in my life I was really into the heavy bass music. One particular group that was attractive to Satch and myself was Three Six Mafia. We both had our separate views on why we loved their music. Satch was attracted to the group mostly because of ‘Choices’ and ‘Da Unbreakables’. My love for the group came from their semi-underground album, ‘Underground Vol.3: Kings of Memphis”. Every once in a while Satch would let me bump that album out of his system in his whip, just so I could feel the true depth of the bass. Let me tell you why that album is the truth!.

From the beginning of the album you can tell that it’s gonna be some real gully sh#t. Talkin was a short intro but it revolved around the style of how those mixtapes used to start off back in the day, on that promo tip. Their camp was heavy at the time, well at least in my mind they were. Project Pat, La Chat, DJ Paul, Juicy J, etc. F*ck What You Heard embodied the earlier style of songs from Underground Vol 1 and 2. The bass was on point and the lyrics reflected the lifestyles that they lived. The song was direct and in your face. Seemed like every song off the album contained a sing along chorus.
M.E.M.P.H.I.S. (remix) was the start of those hyper three six party songs for me. Songs like these had me going wild, “mafia, ma-mafia, fia fia, ma-mafia”

Peep the sample for this track. Isaac Hayes tailored this song perfectly for the mind state of the triple six mafia. (side note: that Beanie Sigel sample comes in there too, so sick)

I remember when I was young I would ride around on Friday nights chillin with the homies or my shorty. We used to roll out to some spots in the town where I’m from and I would pull up with that Da Summa (remix) bumpin out the hoopty with no care in the world. The bass on the chorus was in-explainable.
Smokin on da Dro was one of my favorite songs for a good 2 or 3 years. There was something about the dialect of the dude on the chorus and the piano keys used in the production that mixed just right. I later came to find out that the sample came from Earth Wind and Fire’s “Fantasy” **puke.
Powder (The Higher Version) was one of those songs that just took you to another zone in your mind. Songs like these made me feel like I had “plenty Anna”. I caution you that when listening to this track make sure that your sub is at a reasonable level, it might just bust your ear drums.

What I liked the most about this album is that the feeling that you had while listening to every song reflected the title. Grab the Gauge was a risky song. The sound was foreign to my ears but the way Gangsta Boo rode the beat was so seductive. This was hip hop on that psychedelic tip, on some playing Pink Floyd albums in reverse sh#t. If I was a big smoker I would definitely tote up to this song for sure. It’s crazy how the productions could be so edgy and each artist managed to create a world of insanity.

In the song Lock Down, the stories that they told were so real. The first verse of that song was so descriptive, in your mind you can see a dude walking up to a man in jail and the confrontation occurs. Jealous Azz Bitch is one of those classic Three Six Mafia sounding tracks. I use to bump tracks like Niggaz Down 2 Make Some Endz on my way to work, the bassline had my head in a steady bob.
ALERT!!! CONTROL YOUR SUBWOOFER NOW!
South Memphis B*tch

Another favorite track of mine was Pass That Junt. If you ever heard Lil Wyte’s first album then you know that this song would be perfect for it. It’s music to get high to. The melody sounds like the end of a horror music, on some Jason Goes To Hell sh#t.

My absolute favorite song off Kings of Memphis is Love to Make a Stang. Everything about this song was on point for my taste in music at that time, the bass, lyrics, flows, etc.

My neighbors have to be pissed at me right now, my walls are shaking.
If you have never heard Sleep then you might wanna hit up youtube or something and get you a listen. You might not understand a word that is said in the song but I guarantee a good head bob. I still laugh when I hear the chorus, it sounds like they hired an opera singer to do that part.
“like Roger Rabit, who framed the nigga who was left on his knees”
Gangsta Boo was so dominant at the time. Tracks like Mindstate confirmed that.

I would have to say that this album will forever bring a smile to my face and a bob to my head whenever I listen to it. To this day I think that this is Three Six Mafia’s best project, just my opinion. The concepts were strong, the productions were risky, the lyrics were gully, and the stories were so real.

I recommend a download and automatic sync.