Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, better known as Gangsta Boo, was a Memphis-born and raised MC who rose to prominence as a member of Three 6 Mafia. Her skills, hard work, and passion for her craft led her to be one of the giants of Southern rap, blazing a trail for other female rappers to come behind her.
Three 6 Mafia Years
Gangsta Boo’s interest in music and hip-hop started very early. At the age of fourteen, she started rapping. Her talent was so apparent that it didn’t take her very long to be discovered by
DJ Paul of the group, Three 6 Mafia. By 1995 Gangsta Boo joined the group, becoming the first and only female to do so. This same year she was featured on the group’s album, Mystic Stylez. Boo continued to work with the group, collaborating with them on two more albums until she was ready to release her solo album, Enquiring Minds, in 1998.
Enquiring Minds reached number 46 on the Billboard 200 and 15 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. This album included songs like “Where Dem Dollas At” and “Who We Be?”
New Beginnings
Gangsta Boo continued creating music with Three 6 Mafia but decided to release her second album, Both Worlds *69, in 2001.With songs like “I Thought U Knew” and “Chop Shop,” this album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and 8 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Although her album was successful, Boo decided to leave Three 6 Mafia and go her own way. This split was allegedly brought on due to financial disputes and promotional issues with her album.
When 2003 rolled around, Gangsta Boo released her third and final album, Enquiring Minds II: The Soap Opera. This album contained songs like “How We Roll” and “City Streets.” the album peaked at number 53 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and 24 on the Independent Albums chart.
Although we would get no more albums from the rapper, she did not stop making music. She went on to release several mixtapes, including:
- Still Gangsta (with DJ Smallz) – 2006
- Memphis Queen Is Back (Still Gangsta Slowed & Throwed) – 2007
- The Rumors (with DJ Drama) – 2009
- Miss.Com (with DJ Fletch) – 2010
- 4 Da Hood (with DJ Fletch) – 2011
- Foreva Gangsta (with Trap-A-Holics) – 2011
- It’s Game Involved – 2013
In 2014, she released an EP with fellow Memphis rapper LA Chat entitled Witch. This same year she was also featured on Run The Jewel’s song, “Love Again.”
But she wasn’t done there! She released two more mixtapes after that:
- Underground Cassette Tape Music (with Beatking) – 2014
- Candy, Diamonds & Pill’s – 2015
She was BUSY!!
Boo’s collaboration with Run The Jewels built a strong bond between her and the group, and she was featured on the group’s next two albums, not to mention that she joined them on their “Run The World Tour” in 2017. That next year she released her final mixtape, Underground Cassette Tape Music 2 (with Beatking) in 2018.
In 2021, Gangsta Boo was featured alongside her Three 6 Mafia crew when they participated in a Verzuz battle between them and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
2022 also proved to be a busy year for Gangsta Boo, when she released her single, “Sucka Free,” “Freaks,” a Grand Theft Auto anthem, starred in the WE tv series Marriage Boot Camp, and was featured on rapper Latto’s song, “FTCU” alongside rapper GloRilla.
Gangsta Boo passed away on January 1, 2023, at the age of 43. At the time of her passing, she was working on her album that she planned to call The BooPrint. It is currently unknown if the world will have a chance to hear this music.
Gangsta Boo | The Music
That Memphis flow is undeniable, and Gangsta Boo rides this beat flawlessly! The beat is infectious and you can’t help but feel just a little more gangsta when you listen to this song!
Gangsta Boo’s flow and style was timeless and you could see it in this song. I love how she always repped Memphis to the fullest! Her energy on this song was crazy, and it really added the extra fire that’s on this track!
The Legacy
Gangsta Boo’s musical legacy is one that is vast and highly influential among many musicians that we listen to today. Not only did she rock with the greats, but she also wasn’t afraid to embrace and support those who came after her. Those are the qualities of a true legend. This is what will make her the reigning Queen of Memphis and Southern Hip Hop royalty forevermore.
Gangsta Boo’s music is available on YOUTUBE, SPOTIFY, and APPLE MUSIC.
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