Who Got Dem 9s is Three Six Mafia’s signature arena-ready anthem from their early, crunk era sound. Set to a slow down flip of Barry White, this track perfectly showcases their signature blend of provocative lyrics and playful sexuality.
Pimp C delivers his iconic guest verse on this classic Memphis rap weed anthem. This song also serves as an indicator of their group’s transition from fast soul music to something darker and grungier.
Lyrics
Rap music lyrics often feature long strings of rhymed words with multiple meanings that come together to tell a tale or address an issue close to their rapper’s heart. Some songs may even refer to specific events like fights or murders while other lyrics simply express how the rapper feels about themself.
A rap song’s beat is its core rhythmic element, typically marked by two and four snare drum hits and its use to support rappers’ rapid delivery of lyrics over it. This makes the beat easy to hear.
Rap music features various rhythms. Some beats may be faster while some slower. Rappers use these rhythms to use their voice as an instrument and create the beat in each song they write. They may adjust its pace according to its mood or to emphasize certain parts of a piece.
Rap songs often feature lyrics written to match the rhythm and beat of their music, unlike other genres where lyrics come first and musicians develop the beat later on. This allows rappers to rap faster while creating greater emotion within their lyrics.
A rap song can feature any number of verses; typically 16 bars (or quatrains) per verse is standard in this genre. Additionally, choruses may also be utilized; typically this signifies the main concept behind the song that will be repeated throughout.
Rappers are notorious for using meter in their lyrics, counting each syllable as it’s spoken out loud. Typically they place emphasis on the first and fourth syllables to help listeners understand the song’s meter while making its rhythm more pleasing to listeners.
Ice-T’s classic song “K.O” remains one of the best examples of meter in hip hop today and remains an influential example. Ice-T wrote this song as a warning against drugs; today, its popularity still makes it a timeless piece of hip hop history.
Music
One of the all-time great rap songs, this arena-ready anthem from Three Six Mafia stands as an arena-ready classic of its time. Lord Infamous showcases his dark yet seductive lyrics over an uptempo rendition of an old Barry White tune while Gangsta Boo delivers a hard-hitting verse that challenges male stereotypes and shows just how far ahead Three Six Mafia were for their time. Additionally, this was one of their earliest songs that displayed how far from crunk/horrorcore/trap music they could move into something unmistakably Memphis that had its own distinct genre!
A first verse in a rap song usually sets the mood and introduces some of an emcee’s best rhymes and clever wordplay, as well as tell a story or make an emotional appeal – for instance, Cupid’s lines on heartache and loss can be particularly engaging and relatable to anyone who has experienced heartbreak themselves.
Many rap songs feature a bridge or chorus to add depth and meaning to their lyrics and unite the various parts of each verse. Songwriters should find a balance between melodies and hooks and let the music speak for itself; rappers may use an introduction or outro as well to set the scene before starting their verse, such as with spoken build-up or an introduction followed by warming-up with some spoken lines before beginning a verse.
Video
Three Six Mafia first hit the airwaves with this darkly melodic track, which cemented their early darker style and was one of their most anthemic tracks with Gangsta Boo and La Chat providing powerful verses. Though misogynistic at times, this tune nevertheless celebrates women as powerful forces in society.
Three Six Mafia’s song has been used widely across media platforms. A less edited version can be found in DJ Hero 2, while an edited remix appears on Need for Speed’s soundtrack and Kinect game Dance Central 3. Furthermore, its use has been seen in movies like White Chicks and scripted TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes like “The Mattress”. Three Six Mafia has made use of their signature triplet rhyme style with this track to great effect in their Memphis rap weed anthem: an example of Three Six Mafia’s signature rapid-fire triplet rhyme style that made famous Three Six Mafia’s trademark triplet rhyme style in many tracks by Three Six Mafia.
Remixes
Remixes can make any hit song even more popular by adding new elements not noticed by listeners or altering the beat in a way that makes listening even more enjoyable. Remixes have been done on some of hip hop’s greatest hits; many feature other notable rappers in them.
Busta Rhymes’ remix of Three 6 Mafia classic “Touch It” has become one of the most iconic remixes. While its original version featured only 3 6 9 members, Busta added several other artists including Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott Lloyd Banks Papoose and DMX who all added their unique styles and techniques into this incredible rendition of “Touch It.”
One popular 3 6 9 remix features Three Six Mafia’s 1999 track “Who Got Dem 9’s?” as its theme song, depicting pimp life with profane language and features female rapper La Chat as its remix version – truly classic for anyone who appreciates Three 6 Mafia rap music!
Popular 3 6 9 remixes include Pete Rock’s revamp of Public Enemy’s timeless “Seven Minutes of Madness”, as well as Q-Tip’s version of Nas’ “The World Is Yours”, wherein he dialed back the groove a notch to turn into cool jazz funk, giving the rapper room for his trademark scathing bars.
Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz’s “Get Low”, featured on Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz’s album of the same name, has become one of the greatest club hits ever in hip-hop. It has also been used in films and TV shows including “Red White & Royal Blue”, as well as an episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine in which Stan Smith can be seen twerking to it! Interestingly enough, Rationale from London adds vocals for this remix as well.