Country Grammar

One act, Three 6 Mafia, was given the key to the city. The other, C-Murder, was jailed and nearly forgetten about. INsite meets e'm both at the crossroads.

It's getting easier out here for a pimp. There was a time when the mainstream media wouldn't give Three 6 Mafia's Juicy J and DJ Paul a blink's notice. They had love in their native Memphis, sure, off bass-thumping albums like Chapter 2: World Domination (which featured the hit “Tear Da Club Up”) and When the Smoke Clears (“Sippin' On Some Syrup”), but nobody on a national scale was taking them seriously. Then an indie flick called Hustle & Flow happened. Three 6's song “Hard Out Here For a Pimp” was a surprise smash from the soundtrack, even winning the Best Song award at the '06 Oscars. The rest isn't just history, it's damn near unimaginable. The duo would go on to have their own MTV show and even guest star on CBS' Numbers. Times were great. And with the release of the anticipated ninth CD, Last 2 Walk, they look to only continue.

For C-Murder, things haven't gone quite as smoothly. Back in the late 90s, stuff was cool. C-Murder and his big bro, Master P, were Ughhhhing all the way to the bank. And let's not forget all the work C-Murder (born Corey Miller) put in on the solo tip with No Limit Records. The N'awlins-born rapper found success on the platinum-earning Life or Death and Bossalinie. Unfortunately, he also found plenty of trouble. Back in '02, C-Murder was charged with second degree murder of a 16-year-old boy. He faced a life sentence with no chance of parole. Miller is currently awaiting a re-trial, and is under a strict house arrest. With time to himself, he's had plenty of chances to think about choices and orchestrate his most personal CD yet, Screamin' 4 Vengeance. Here, C-Murder and Three 6's Juicy J speak on life's ploys and joys. 

Juicy J

What was it like getting the key to the city from the mayor of Memphis?

Off the chain, man. They not only gave us the key, but they gave us a note on Beale Street. That's real hard to get. They showed us a lot of love. We appreciate it, man. We put in a lot of work and people are starting to recognize it.

You've been doing this since the early 90s. What kept you motivated during those times when folks outside the South were ignoring you?

You can't give up, man. If you got something good and you believe in what you got, you got to keep on pushing. Never give up. We don't believe in giving up.

Beyond the Oscars, what are some of your proudest accomplishments?

Man, these shows. These record sales. We did our first overseas tour in Europe. The new women we got.

What are you most proud of outside of music?

I can make sure my mom is straight, make sure my family is straight. I gotta take care of my family. Family come first. You gotta take care of your mom and pop and brothers and sisters. You gotta give everybody a helpin' hand.

Can you get used to that acting thing?

Yeah, man. It's not easy to do. Actin' is serious. It ain't like you just walk up there and start actin'. We're willing to try some different stuff. There's a lot of money in the movie business. We actually produced three movies ourselves three years ago: Choices, Choices 2 and another movie we called The Clean-Up Man. It was independent. It went straight to DVD. But there's a lot of money in the movie world, man. We're willing to try it. It's hard work to do it.

Are you saying there's a lot of money in the mainstream route or doing it independently with the DVDs?

Independent DVDs. That's where the money at. The mainstream stuff is good when you're a good actor, but you gotta work your way up. It takes years to work your way up to those big Will Smith/Denzel Washington numbers. That's hard to do. Independent DVDs [are money-makers].

What's the hardest aspect of putting together a hot CD?

A single. We put together good albums, but the single is the hardest part ‘cuz you might make 40, 50 songs and pick the wrong single. It might be something else on there that somebody would be more interested in than the song you picked. It's almost like a guessing game. Should we use this song? You let people hear the album and they go, “That should be the single.” Go to the label and they go, “That should be the single.” Somebody on the street might be like, “No, man, use that as a single.” That's the hardest part: really deciding which single you're going to use.

Did you guess right this time with “Lolli Lolli”?

Hell yeah.

Have you all lightened up over the years?

Nah, we're still on that. This new album is ‘bout the darkest album we dun had to date. It's super dark. When you hear it, you'll be like, “Oooh, shit.” It takes you back to the mid 90s.

But the first single is kinda light?

That's actually our second single. Our first single was “I'd Rather.” I love having sex but I'd rather get some head… Have you heard that one? That was our first single, but a lot of radio stations didn't wanna play it ‘cuz it was so dirty. But the clubs loved it. A lot of times, we put one or two different kinds of songs on the album. The “Lolli” record was different. The label thought it was a hit. We thought it was a hit. When we put that one out, it just shot up in the charts. It's still moving fast. Every week it's moving up. I ain't mad at it at all. We put out “Dope Boy Fresh,” “Like Money” and “I'd Rather.” We put out a lot of street records. We put out four or five street records for the clubs. Then we put out this “Lolli” record, and that's the one that actually took off at the radio. But the album don't sound like that though. With every Three 6 album, we might have one or two songs that sound different. But the album is completely dark. Straight gangsta. Straight hood. Yep, the old Three 6 is still there. When you hear it, you're gonna be like, “Damn!” You're gonna be shocked.

Good Charlotte is on the album?

You're gonna be shocked when you hear that record. It's not a rock record; it's a gangsta record. We like for people to be surprised and go, “Oh shit!”

C-Murder

With all the heavy stuff going on around you right now, what is the creative process like?

There's a lot going on, but at the same time, I ain't let a lot of that get to me. I just feel like that right now I'm at the top of my game, bruh. When I get into that booth, I feel like I'm in the zone lyrically, ya heard me? I'm real excited about this record. We just dropped it. I just hope that the fans like it.

Let's talk a little bit about that zone you're speaking of. Is it because you have a lot more to rap about?

I just stepped my game up, first and foremost. A nigga has been through beacoup [drama]. I've definitely been through a lot, so I got a lot more to speak on and speak about too, ya know what I'm sayin'?

Do you miss anything about those glory, No Limit days?

The only thing I really miss is hitting the road, bruh. I kinda miss being on stage and performing on the stage and getting them hyped and stuff. I reminisce about that a lot, ya heard me?

This Screamin' 4 Vengeance record has to be extremely personal. Tell me a few things that long-time fans and new ones can expect.

They can expect a complete record, with the old-school C-Murder. Lyrically, I'm rapping about what's going on in society and stuff like that. My fans are loyal to me. One thing they know when they pick up a C-Murder record is that they're getting a straight C record. I'm putting all of my efforts into it. The beats are crucial. My crew Deadly Soundz production did most of the tracks on there. Plus, I'm introducing all my new cats under the Tru Records label [a brand he started with brother Master P]. Fans got a lot to [look forward to].

What has been the reaction so far from folks who've heard the album?

Crucial, man. They been lovin' the records, lovin' the tracks, lovin' the lyrics. They're saying that this is one of my best projects, so that's good.

Which acts are you most excited about from Tru?

The first group to come out will be the Cutt Boyz. That group consists of me, G. Dinero, Verse and Max Minelli. Next in the gate to drop will be my homie Verse. He'll be a solo project. Julie B, Tameka, and J. Lyric [are next] just to name a couple.

Barack Obama is in the news on the daily now. Do you find yourself interested in the political process right now?

Definitely. I've been following it real hard. I'm 100% Barack. I mean, I think he's for the people. I think he's bringing a lot as far as overseas-wise, as far as meeting up with countries and stuff like that. He's more approachable, especially more approachable than Bush or McCain, ya heard me? And a lot of issues he talks about are mostly issues of bringing the inner-city up, I'm feelin' him.

Say a couple of words of advice to people thinking about giving up.

You know, when you're going through something that's a real situation in their life, first and foremost, don't give up. Always look for a way out and always look for an answer and try to work your way through any situation. Keep your head together. One of the main factors, too, is for your family to be behind you. Reach out to your fam.

Has it been your family that has been your main support?

You know, I got a big family. I got my Tru Records family then I got my blood family, ya heard me?