“What would you do if someone tried to duplicate your ideas?” asks DJ Paul. The Three 6 Mafia crew answered this question in horrifying detail in response to one of their contemporaries, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, supposedly imitating the group’s style.
“Live By Yo Rep” is the fourth track off Three 6 Mafia’s classic album Mystic Stylez. Being one of the most influential Memphis rap albums, Mystic Stylez is well-known for its dark, cassette-quality sound and lyrics which blend typical gangsta rap lyrics with themes of the occult and satanism.
“Live By Yo Rep” is one of the most notable examples of the group’s unique lyrical style: The group comically leans into a gang perspective, and the members take turns rapping in morbid detail about what they would do to their rivals. For example, in Lord Infamous’ verse, he raps:
“I probably, oughta be, not be so horribly slaughtering the body /
I am so naughty because I am moderately into photography, following through the autopsy.”
The lyrics are clearly graphic, but the group’s nonchalance toward their situation makes for a humorous listen. Three 6 Mafia went as far as to release a separate “Live By Yo Rep (B.O.N.E. Dis)” a couple months later, showing how far they were willing to go to settle their beef. Funnily enough, the beef started from a misunderstanding, and the two groups later performed a few shows together.
DJ Paul and Juicy J look back on the feud as them just being dumb kids, but the haunted atmosphere of “Live By Yo Rep” has aged impeccably. The song is an underappreciated Halloween classic.
