Rap Atlas US: Memphis — 15 Acts, Records and Collaborations

8Ball & MJG’s route to Houston’s Suave House and the overlapping rappers and producers around Three 6 Mafia show two dimensions of Memphis rap: connections beyond the city and music made within it. Follow the meeting of those careers on “Stay Fly,” then the work of CMG, Paper Route Empire and the collaboration “MANE” by GloRilla and Pooh Shiesty. (Wax Poetics interview; Stay Fly billing; MANE announcement)

This guide contains 15 artist entries and seven label-and-crew entries. The artists comprise two groups and 13 solo names; Gangsta Boo also appears as a Three 6 Mafia member. The total is therefore not a count of 15 distinct people. Artist entries are alphabetical, not ranked.

Timeline: selected works and events, 1993–2026

The timeline begins with Comin’ Out Hard in 1993. It does not claim that Memphis rap itself began that year.

Districts, recording places and venues

Orange Mound is where 8Ball & MJG grew up; Raleigh appears in BlocBoy JB’s account of meeting his neighbor Tay Keith. Frayser connects with Yo Gotti and GloRilla, while Key Glock describes a South Memphis upbringing. None of those origins automatically establishes a present-day base. (Wax Poetics interview; BlocBoy JB interview; Complex, Memphis section; GloRilla interview; The FADER interview, 2018)

Activity sites matter alongside origins. Snootie Wild recalled Club Zodiac’s open mic. The larger regional venue included here, Landers Center, is in Southaven, Mississippi, not Memphis city proper. Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies, where Young Dolph was killed, is a cookie shop and should be distinguished from a music venue. (Snootie Wild interview; Landers Center official site; 2026 opinion reproduction)

Representative Acts

8Ball & MJG

8Ball & MJG grew up in Orange Mound and became friends at school. In their Wax Poetics interview, they describe making early mixtapes at DJ Squeeky’s home and moving to Houston at the end of 1992, when Tony Draper’s Suave House was based there. Comin’ Out Hard (1993) was followed by On the Outside Looking In (1994), then On Top of the World (1995). They also joined Young Buck on Three 6 Mafia’s 2005 single “Stay Fly.” That collaboration offers a concrete connection between two careers often introduced as separate strands of Memphis rap. (Wax Poetics interview; 1994 album listing; Stay Fly billing)

Blac Youngsta

Blac Youngsta released 2.23 through Epic on February 23, 2018. The album includes “Booty” and appearances by Yo Gotti, Lil Yachty, Travis Scott and French Montana. In a 2016 interview, Yo Gotti had described supporting Youngsta in South Memphis. Youngsta joined Moneybagg Yo for the collaborative project Code Red in 2020. RIAA’s 2018 publication lists “Booty” as gold, but the album and its collaborations also offer a concrete way to understand Youngsta’s work around CMG. (2.23 release coverage; Yo Gotti interview; Code Red listing; RIAA, 2018)

BlocBoy JB

Raised in Memphis, BlocBoy JB met Tay Keith after moving to Raleigh at 14. In his 2018 FADER interview, he describes discovering his neighbor’s recording setup, starting to work with him and recording “Shoot” in a closet. The path from “Shoot” and its dance video in 2017 to “Look Alive” with Drake in 2018 connects a local recording partnership with the circulation of video. RIAA’s 2018 publication lists “Look Alive” at three-times platinum at that point; it does not establish the song’s latest certification level. (BlocBoy JB interview; RIAA, 2018)

Duke Deuce

Duke Deuce’s name is Patavious Isom. His father, producer Duke Nitty, made music in the home where he grew up, a setting described in Duke’s DJBooth interview. A dance clip using “Whole Lotta” caught Offset’s attention and helped connect him with Quality Control. On Memphis Massacre 2 (2020), Duke Nitty produced “Fat Mac” and “Bad News.” Learning production within his family and reaching new audiences through video form two connected parts of his career. (DJBooth interview)

Gangsta Boo

Gangsta Boo appeared on Three 6 Mafia’s Mystic Stylez (1995), released the solo albums Enquiring Minds (1998) and Both Worlds, *69 (2001), and left the group in 2001. Her separate entry follows those solo works and later collaborations rather than counting her twice as a person. She appeared with GloRilla on Latto’s “FTCU” in 2022, a cross-generational connection beyond her Three 6 Mafia catalog. She died on January 1, 2023. (XXL report; Both Worlds listing)

GloRilla

GloRilla grew up in Frayser and sang in a church choir before her breakthrough with Hitkidd on “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” in 2022. “Rain Down on Me,” from Glorious (2024), brings together Kirk Franklin, Kierra Sheard, Chandler Moore and Maverick City Music, with a video directed by Benny Boom. A Universal Music Canada statement dated June 23, 2025 described the album as RIAA gold-certified; that date is not necessarily its certification date. The GRAMMY record retrieved on September 23, 2026 lists six career nominations. In 2026, Glorious was nominated for Rap Album, while “TGIF” and Tyler, the Creator’s “Sticky” were nominated for Rap Song. She also released “MANE” with Pooh Shiesty in June 2026. (GloRilla interview; UMC announcement, 2025; GRAMMY record; MANE announcement)

Key Glock

Raised in South Memphis, Key Glock released Glock Season through PRE in 2017 and included “Russian Cream” on Glock Bond in 2018. The FADER’s 2018 interview article describes Dolph as his cousin through marriage. The article connects the chorus of Project Pat’s “Gorilla Pimp”—a song Glock names as an influence—with his “Dig That.” Read alongside the collaboration Dum and Dummer (2019), that account distinguishes an earlier artist’s influence from making music within the same label. Yellow Tape (2020) includes “Mr. Glock,” certified by the RIAA as a single: gold on March 10, 2022, then platinum on July 28, 2023. See the certification history, checked September 23, 2026. (The FADER interview, 2018; XXL interview; Dum and Dummer listing; Key Glock catalog)

Moneybagg Yo

Moneybagg Yo’s Code Red with Blac Youngsta (2020) provides a starting point for collaborations around CMG. Its release credits name N-Less, Interscope, Epic and CMG. A Gangsta’s Pain debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 dated May 8, 2021, with 110,000 equivalent album units—not 110,000 physical copies sold. Hard to Love (2023) includes “On Wat U On” with GloRilla and “Keep It Low” with Future. RIAA histories checked on September 23, 2026 record “Said Sum” at five-times platinum and “Me Vs Me” at four-times platinum, both dated February 11, 2026. See the title-level certification records. (Code Red listing; Billboard syndicated report; Hard to Love announcement)

NLE Choppa

NLE Choppa broke through with “Shotta Flow” and “Camelot” in 2019. The Commercial Appeal’s December 15, 2019 issue describes him as an East Memphis native and reports his Warner partnership and leadership of No Love Entertainment. Top Shotta, a 2020 album, provides the next step from those early singles. (NLE Choppa interview; Local newspaper, 2019; Warner history)

Pooh Shiesty

Pooh Shiesty, associated with Gucci Mane’s 1017, was selected for the 2021 XXL Freshman class. His profile connects him with Memphis’s Willett Avenue and covers Shiesty Season, “Back in Blood” with Lil Durk and “Neighbors” with BIG30. On June 26, 2026, he released “MANE” with GloRilla. The official announcement credits London Jae, Squat Beats and B100 as producers. That collaboration brings two Memphis artists from different label backgrounds together on a specific record. (XXL Freshman profile; MANE announcement)

Project Pat

Project Pat is a Memphis MC and Juicy J’s older brother. On “Chickenhead,” from Mista Don’t Play: Everythangs Workin’ (2001), Three 6 Mafia and La Chat appear alongside him, with DJ Paul and Juicy J credited as producers. That recording makes the relationship musical as well as familial: rappers and producers from the same circle meet on one song. M.O.B. (2017) features Young Dolph and Juicy J. In 2021, Pat also appeared with 21 Savage on Drake’s “Knife Talk,” extending the sequence of collaborations beyond his early albums. (Juicy J interview; Chickenhead billing; Chickenhead production credits; M.O.B. coverage; Project Pat catalog)

Snootie Wild

In a 2016 email interview with The FADER, Snootie Wild described Memphis as his city. His Go Mode EP (2014), released through Epic/CMG, includes “Yayo” with Yo Gotti and “Made Me” with K Camp. Born LePreston Porter, he was shot in Houston on February 25, 2022 and died the following day, according to Houston police. He was 36. (Snootie Wild email interview; Go Mode listing; Yayo billing; Made Me billing; Houston police record)

Three 6 Mafia

Three 6 Mafia developed out of early tape-making by DJ Paul, Juicy J and Lord Infamous, releasing Mystic Stylez through Prophet Entertainment in 1995. Gangsta Boo, Koopsta Knicca and Crunchy Black also formed part of that album’s lineup. Their catalog continued with Chapter 2: World Domination (1997) and Da Unbreakables (2003). The 2005 single “Stay Fly” features 8Ball & MJG and Young Buck. In 2006, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle & Flow won the Academy Award for Original Song. The Academy names Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard as the music-and-lyrics winners. In the RIAA single-certification histories checked on September 23, 2026, “Stay Fly” reached gold on December 7, 2005; “Lolli Lolli” reached gold on November 4, 2008 and platinum on January 15, 2009. See the RIAA title records. (Complex retrospective; Chapter 2 listing; Sony, 2003; Stay Fly billing; Academy record)

Yo Gotti

Raised in Ridgecrest in Memphis’s Frayser area, Yo Gotti released Youngsta’s On a Come Up as Lil Yo in 1996. From the Dope Game to the Rap Game followed in 2000. In a 2016 interview around The Art of Hustle, he described hearing Snootie Wild’s music and supporting Blac Youngsta in South Memphis. Those recollections explain how he met and mentored other artists, rather than reducing CMG to a list of names. CMG’s partnership with Interscope was announced in June 2021. (Complex, Memphis section; CMG/Interscope announcement; Yo Gotti interview)

Young Dolph

Young Dolph led Paper Route Empire and released King of Memphis in 2016. His 22-track collaboration with Key Glock, Dum and Dummer (2019), includes Bandplay productions such as “Back to Back” and “Baby Joker.” Dum and Dummer 2 followed in 2021. The releases identify both PRE and EMPIRE: operating an independent label should not be confused with having no outside distribution. Dolph was shot and killed at a Memphis cookie shop on November 17, 2021. On March 10, 2026, Tennessee’s Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Justin Johnson’s convictions; its opinion records an effective sentence of life imprisonment plus 35 years. On May 15, 2026, the Shelby County District Attorney reported that Cornelius Smith had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 20-year sentence. See the district attorney’s announcement. (King of Memphis listing; Dum and Dummer listing; Dum and Dummer 2 listing; 2026 opinion reproduction)

Labels and Crews

Suave House Records — Tony Draper’s label. 8Ball & MJG’s recollections place Suave House in Houston when they moved there in late 1992, connecting their Memphis beginnings with the route to Comin’ Out Hard (1993). (Wax Poetics interview)

Prophet Entertainment — The label behind Mystic Stylez (1995), identified as co-owned at the time by DJ Paul, Juicy J and Nick Scarfo. It anchors the group’s early album history. (Complex retrospective)

Hypnotize Minds / Hypnotize Camp Posse — Hypnotize Minds is the label name; Hypnotize Camp Posse identifies the associated collective. The release listing for Three 6 Mafia Presents: Hypnotize Camp Posse (2000) credits Hypnotize Camp Posse as artist and Hypnotize Minds Productions in its rights notice. (Hypnotize Camp Posse listing)

CMG (Collective Music Group) — Yo Gotti’s label. His 2016 interview recounts connections with Snootie Wild and Blac Youngsta, while the June 2021 announcement documents its Interscope partnership. GloRilla’s Glorious and her collaboration with Moneybagg Yo provide further routes through the music. (Yo Gotti interview; CMG/Interscope announcement; UMC announcement, 2025; Hard to Love announcement)

Paper Route Empire (PRE) — Young Dolph’s label. King of Memphis (2016), Dum and Dummer (2019) and its 2021 sequel with Key Glock form a route through its releases. The joint projects display both PRE and EMPIRE in their release information. (King of Memphis listing; Dum and Dummer listing; Dum and Dummer 2 listing)

N-Less Entertainment — A label connected with Moneybagg Yo’s releases. Code Red (2020) carries a N-Less Entertainment rights notice, identifies distribution by Interscope, and also credits Epic and CMG. (Code Red listing)

No Love Entertainment (NLE) — NLE Choppa’s imprint. A December 2019 local-newspaper report described an arrangement in which he would lead the imprint under his Warner partnership. Top Shotta followed in 2020. (Local newspaper, 2019; Warner history)

Inclusion and correction policy

The Rap Atlas criteria offer alternative routes: official releases together with verifiable mentions, appearances or chart achievements in national or specialist media; or a historical role established by multiple independent sources. A failed RIAA search alone does not disqualify an act or negate its historical role. Placement is not sold, and ordering does not express a ranking.

Release years, certification dates and award years are distinguished. Official release information, interviews and institutional records are linked near the claims they support. A reporter’s description is distinguished from a direct artist quote.

Reading the sources

Key interviews come from Wax Poetics, The FADER, DJBooth and XXL. Release details link to official catalog pages; awards link to the Academy and GRAMMY record. RIAA’s 2018 publication is a historical snapshot, not a statement of current certification levels. The legal reference is a reproduction of the March 10, 2026 court opinion, alongside the court’s official opinion index.

Verification and corrections

Send corrections or supplements through the HIPHOPCs contact page, identifying the relevant sentence and a supporting official record or interview. Omission is not a judgment that another artist matters less, and this selection is not a complete history of the city.

Update history

• 2026-09-23: Integrated all 15 artist entries and the FAQ, expanded works and production connections, and corrected or updated Suave House’s location, Duke Deuce’s name, Snootie Wild’s death date, RIAA levels/dates/formats and legal records.
• 2026-09-10: Clarified the charges Jermarcus Johnson pleaded guilty to (AP).
• 2026-09-10: Corrected NLE Choppa’s Top Shotta RIAA certification to platinum, dated June 2, 2023; corrected “made his local debut in 2000” to note Yo Gotti’s 1996 debut as “Lil Yo” while keeping the 2000 release; removed unconfirmed “diamond” certification-level language for Three 6 Mafia’s “Lolli Lolli” and Moneybagg Yo’s “Said Sum”/”Me Vs Me”; changed “based in Memphis” to “from Memphis” for Three 6 Mafia and Project Pat where sources support origin but not current base.
• 2026-09-11: Added 6 additional acts.
• 2026-09-11: Updated scope and evidence-limit notes to reflect the Additional Acts section.

Related guides

• Rap Atlas US: American regional guides (English)
• This guide in Japanese: Memphis
• Inclusion and correction criteria