The ensuing list reads like an actual rundown of hip hop/r&b chart progression over the past 6 months. Make no mistake about it, Rae Sremmurd's "Powerglide,"ASAP Ferg's "Plain Jane," G-Eazy’s "No Limit," J. Cole's "No Role Modelz," Cardi B's "Bickenhead" and ASAP Rocky’s "Gunz N Butter" all ride the coattails of Three Six Mafia's rich discography. DJ Paul and Project Pat sat down with Complex to explain the phenomenon in their own words. As Juicy J once famously exclaimed, "I'm in Japan and people knowin' who I am." There's no telling how far their influences reaches in real time, much less as a point of interest for rapper's today?
Project Pat is completely smitten with the idea of Cardi B retouching his classic tale "Chickenhead." The NY rapper was kind enough to give him heads up before the song went to press. "I knew a little bit before it came out, but I hadn’t heard it. But I loved it though. I was glad. Salute to Cardi B, that was love. Cardi B, man, she’s the truth. She helped me out, like for real," said Pat.
DJ Paul seems to think the group's popularity on the sample board directly coincides with a rejuvenated interest in "tearing da club up" like days of old. It's no secret that current-day rap audiences want to get "lit." the social terms are different, but it all boils down to the same notion of "theatricality" or youthful exuberance embedded in the culture. DJ Paul said it himself:
"They were always big fans of ours and they always kept some Three 6 samples going on. “Plain Jane” is huge, and that's a Three 6 Mafia sample. So they influence a lot of the young guys to want to sample it, as well. G-Eazy’s “No Limit” is huge, so people are like, “Damn, everybody who sample Three 6 Mafia are making hit songs around this motherfucker.” I just cleared a couple more samples for ASAP Ferg that’s finna come out."
Both Project Pat and DJ Paul are deeply touched to be on the receiving end of intergenerational love. Peep the full interview here.