Tributes are continuing to pour in for Gangsta Boo following news of the pioneering Memphis artist’s death over the weekend.
As regional outlet WHBQ-TV reported, Gangsta Boo—real name Lola Mitchell—died on Sunday at the age of 43. At the time of this writing, an official cause of death had not been made public. Additionally, further confirmed details on the former Three 6 Mafia member’s tragic death had not been released.
With Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo released a string of full-lengths starting with the group’s debut studio album Mystic Stylez in 1995 and ending with Choices: The Album in 2001. Her solo releases include Enquiring Minds in 1998 (featuring the DJ Paul and Juicy J collab “Where Dem Dollas At”), its 2001 follow-up Both Worlds *69, and an Enquiring Minds sequel in 2003.
More recently, Gangsta Boo had received acclaim for a string of guest appearances, including on the Run the Jewels 4 cut ‘Walking in the Snow” and Latto’s “FTCU” with GloRilla, with the latter arriving just last month.
Drake, DJ Paul, Juicy J, Missy Elliott, Ty Dolla Sign, and more have since shared tribute messages (see below) in reaction to the shocking news of Gangsta Boo’s untimely death. In the wake of the news, many fans have found solace in a number of classic Gangsta Boo interviews, including this Passion of the Weiss feature with Jimmy Ness from 2012.
In it, Gangsta Boo was asked what she would want people to “remember most” about her, prompting a multifaceted answer that detailed the extent of her inarguably influential legacy.
“When it’s all said and done, I want to be remembered as Gangsta Boo from [Three 6 Mafia],” she said at the time, as seen here. “The first lady of [Three 6 Mafia]. The first lady of crunk music. The first lady who brought a platinum plaque back to Memphis. The first lady who brought a gold plaque back to Memphis. I’m the only female rapper in Tennessee that has ever did that and probably I will be the only one that ever will. I just want to be known as someone that put her heart into her music and who really really appreciated her fans.
Rest in power.