3 members of the Memphis hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia. D.J. Paul (from left), Juicy J and Crunchy Black at MTV’s Total Request Live on March 22, 2006, in New York City.
Peter Kramer/Getty Images Entertainment
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3 members of the Memphis hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia. D.J. Paul (from left), Juicy J and Crunchy Black at MTV’s Total Request Live on March 22, 2006, in New York City.
Peter Kramer/Getty Images Entertainment
When hip-hop started 50 years ago, it was just a curiosity for the record labels. But by the mid-1990’s, it was big business.
For artists working outside the major-label system, though, there wasn’t much hope of nationwide success.
Then came a gr
