E-Spire Entertainment News

Rap fans are familiar with Three 6 Mafia and winning an Oscar just added to their popularity. With a solid music career, this hip-hop duo, DJ Paul and Juicy J, are ready to take Hollywood by storm. I spoke with them recently about their new reality show on MTV "Adventures in HollyHood" and their upcoming CD.

Shelia Goss: Why did you all decide to do a reality TV series?
Three 6 Mafia: We wanted to give people a chance to see Hollywood through the eyes of Three 6 Mafia.

Shelia: Are you through filming the series?
Three 6 Mafia: Yes, we finished everything.

Shelia: How many episodes should we expect?
Three 6 Mafia: 8 episodes.

Shelia: Can you give me an overview of what to expect?
Three 6 Mafia: It's about us moving to L.A. The whole process of coming out here and trying to get a gig. It shows us working on a song for the gig and we celebrate a little bit after getting the gig.

Shelia: I saw a scene when you guys were at a restaurant. Is that in the first episode?
Three 6 Mafia: We go to a restaurant the whole time. In the first show we go to our favorite restaurant in Memphis called The Rendevous.

Shelia: So you guys will be doing cooking too?
Three 6 Mafia: We got another deal on Overdrive (Cooking With Three 6 Mafia) where we cook and show you how to cook. We make bar-b-que sauce and different stuff.

Shelia: Since you guys are from Memphis, I'm sure it's some good bar-b-que sauce.
Three 6 Mafia: Yeah, we cook a little bit.

Shelia: When will your new album (Last 2 Walk) be out?
Three 6 Mafia: Probably the end of May.

Shelia: Who all did you work with on this album?
Three 6 Mafia: Paul Wall, Lil John, Project Pat, (etc.).
Shelia: Is Project Pat on the reality series with you guys?
Three 6 Mafia: Yes, he’s on there.

Shelia: What's one thing you want to get across to viewers on your show?
Three 6 Mafia: We want to show them that it's not as easy as they think it is. It's for people interested in being a rapper or coming to Hollywood to be an actor or model. It shows a process of being a big entertainer and how to make your dreams come true. It's a lot of hard work involved.

Shelia: Do you find it harder or easier now that you have the Oscar?
Three 6 Mafia: The Oscar made it easier, but it's still hard. Ain't nothing free and nobody is going to give you nothing. The Oscar opened doors but once you get in, you have to have the right stuff, or you'll be walking back out the same doors.

Shelia: So the Oscar opened doors to be on other soundtracks?
Three 6 Mafia: The phone was ringing like crazy after the Oscars.

Shelia: With the reality show under your belt, do you plan on doing more TV or acting?
Three 6 Mafia: If it comes along, we will do it. With the album and reality show, we haven't had a chance to do any acting in a movie.

Shelia: With the release of your upcoming album, do you plan on going on tour?
Three 6 Mafia: Just a promo tour first. We don't have a big one planned yet.

Shelia: Do you guys live in Hollywood now?
Three 6 Mafia: Yes. We live here and in Memphis. We go back and forth. We can't leave our home.

Shelia: What's one positive thing you like about Hollywood?
Three 6 Mafia: We miss the bar-b-que in Memphis, but Hollywood got a lot of sexy women, which Memphis does too. It's about 28 million people here. The weather is always sunny and its loaded with money.

Shelia: What's one lesson you learned that would help others just getting started? Three 6 Mafia: In the show, we have a part where we're shopping a script for one of our movies and we showed up late. Someone can look at that and say don't show up late because you might miss out. The producers were pissed off that we showed up late.

On the music side I can't think of one. We made a lot of mistakes, but we fixed them in the end. We don't know anything about making movies so it's been a learning process.

Shelia: Is there anything else you want to say to your fans before I left you go?
Three 6 Mafia: Make sure you tune in to the show, April 5th on MTV. You're going to love it. If you're a fan of Three 6 Mafia, you are really going to love it. It's the funniest show on TV.

I got a chance to watch the first episode and I agree it was very entertaining. Tune in to Adventures in HollyHood on Thursdays on MTV at 10 p.m. est/9 p.m. cst.

For more information about MTV's "Adventures In HollyHood," visit http://www.hollyhood.mtv.com/.

Interview by Shelia M Goss, an entertainment writer and author of My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns, Violets are true, and the upcoming novel Paige's Web. For more information, visit www.sheliagoss.com.