DJ PAUL !UNBREAKABLE!
A few days prior to my interview with DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia, his team informed me that Koopsta Knicca (formerly of Three 6 Mafia) had been hospitalized and we would have to reschedule the interview. While I understood this 100%, I was still taken aback at the fact I was included in a piece of their circle. They thought enough of me to keep me informed of how DJ Paul was feeling as well as the ongoing updates on the condition of Koopsta Knicca. Within a few hours, I was notified that DJ Paul still wanted to sit down and continue the interview. Of course I was honored, but still wanted to ensure that I handled the interview very delicately.
The exterior of DJ Paul can be very intimidating to most people, in fact he can (at times) seem unapproachable. But this is so far away in terms of who DJ Paul really is off stage. Behind his diamond encrusted grill and ever present symbolic tattoos, lies Memphis born Paul Beauregard.
PEEP THIS...
BLAQUELINE: For all of the new fans, DJ Paul is a rapper, producer, DJ, songwriter, entrepreneur and the founding member of Three 6 Mafia and Da Mafia 6ix - you hail from Memphis, Tennessee. Did I miss anything?
DJP: (laughing) Nah, you go it.
BLAQUELINE: Are you still splitting your time between Nevada and California?
DJP: Yes and Memphis. Because I own a lot of property there.
BLAQUELINE: You originally started out as a DJ. Why the change to a rapper?
DJP: Basically, I was the DJ and Lord Infamous, my brother was the rapper. I produced and made the beats for him and sometimes I would throw a little rap on there, but I never considered myself a rapper. But when it started working and people started liking it, I was like hell I might as well start doing it.
BLAQUELINE: So at this stage in your career, if someone said I need you to choose between rapping and DJ'ing what would you choose?
DJP: DJ'ing and producing. Rapping is cool, but it takes too long to sit down and write songs. I can write hooks and make beats in two minutes and be done with that. If it was up to me, I would just produce and make beats. Especially with today's technology. You can make beats and just email them and sell them like that...fast.
BLAQUELINE: What is your money maker when it comes music?
DJP: Um, rapping and the beats, when I do both.
BLAQUELINE: Now Three 6 Mafia achieved national success. You guys had an album go certified platinum. How challenging was the road to that success, especially dealing with a lot of people in a group?
DJP: It was hard because we were young back in those days and everyone was thinking differenly and this and that. All kinds of craziness. It was hard to be together as a group, but it was fun. Then we were also young and getting so much money and that really made it crazy.
BLAQUELINE: During that time were you guys signed with a label?
DJP: Me and Juicy J owned a label and we still do today called Hypnotize Minds and we were distributed through Sony.
BLAQUELINE: Now speaking of Sony, I heard they didn't like your music style. Is that true?
DJP: Originally, we were distributed by this company called Relativity Records and they were owned by Sony. Yes, they didn't like our music because it was crazy. We talked about doing drugs, fighting and crazy shit and they didn't like it. But then when me and Juicy put it out independently on Hypnotize Minds and it was doing good, they turned around and signed us (laughing). They liked it then.
BLAQUELINE: Do labels play it too safe when it comes to your type of music? Because you guys really speak the truth, reality.
DJP: Back in those days they played it a little safe , but they were a lot loose. But these days they play it all the way safe because the music has changed so much. Now everyone is all "prissied out".
BLAQUELINE: You have done a lot from the early 90's until now. Has there ever been a time
CONTINUED ON PAGE 42