Three 6 Mafia - Most Known Unknown (CD)

All Music Guide

A decade into their slow evolution, Juicy J and DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia continue to refine their sound, with Most Known Unknowns standing as their most accomplished and appealing album to date. It's a testament to the talent of the two rapper/producers that they can continue to refine their sound, which began as horrorcore back in the mid'90s, evolved to straight hardcore rap by the end of that decade, and by this point has grown into a trademark style all its own. Hence the album's title: Most Known Unknowns. Granted, Three 6 Mafia never enjoyed widespread popularity or mainstream recognition, but within the hardcore rap underground, they are not only popular and recognized, but also well respected and identifiable simply on the basis of their production style. With Most Known Unknowns, they seem to aim for greater commercial reach. They haven't changed their style, but they have signed to a major label, Columbia's Sony Urban Music division, and they have recorded probably the most i...nfectious song they've ever released, "Stay Fly" (aka "Stay High"). Propelled by the same sort of roofraising rhythm that made "Tear the Club Up" such an anthem back in the late '90s, the song is tailormade for crossover club play. Furthermore, the song boasts features for fellow Tennessee rappers Young Buck, Eightball, and MJG, as well as a wonderful singalong hook and a signature Willie Hutch sample incorporated into the beats. It's a really hype song, simply put It's only one song on the album, however. There's plenty of other highlights as well, too many to detail here. Clocking in at 21 songs in nearly 80 minutes, there are plenty of skippable songs too, but that's to be expected, given the genre. As always, guest features are abundant; Juicy J and DJ Paul produce everything (sampling Willie Hutch for several songs, curiously); and Crunchy Black seems to be an official Three 6 member again (keeping track of the revolving lineup is quite a task). You'd think these guys would burn out after a while, especially given their assumed lifestyle, but a long decade into their evolution, Juicy J and DJ Paul have never sounded more relevant. - Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide Read more Less