Three 6 Mafia started in 1991 with three rappers, DJ Paul (Paul Beauregard), Juicy J (Jordan Houston), and Lord Infamous (Ricky Dunigan). The original name for the hip hop group was Backyard Posse, followed shortly after by Triple Six Mafia. The group formed through release of many EPs from their own record company with Nicky Scarfo, Prophet Entertainment, later launching their own label Hypnotize Minds Records; during their early career, they also were able to propel the careers of several other rappers.

In 1995, the group released its first official album as Three 6 Mafia, Mystic Stylez using the profits from its highly successful underground tape Smoked Out, Loced Out to record this album. This was followed by the Live by Yo Rep EP, which took lyrical jabs at Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and their second album, Chapter 1: The End.