I have the utmost respect for 36 for what they've done from an independent standpoint, reaching to their peak winning the Academy, and for what Juicy J, Paul, even Gangsta Boo (from time to time) are doing with their solo careers. S/O to Project Pat, I know he is an affiliate but he's 36 to me, don't care what nobody says.... plus one of the most unique rap artists of all time, period!
Some even go as far and say Migos took the blueprint from the Late Great Lord Infamous. Their roots are very solid and rich, from the sound, flow/cadence, and energy. This generation's rap scene is their baby, and nobody can take that away from them.
But top 5 groups of all time?? Naw man! Probably top 15.
Couldn't have said it better.
Living in the Northeast, I was never really exposed to their music. I'd see an ad in The Source, or maybe a music video, but I don't ever remember hearing them in a club or hearing anything on the radio. And I don't remember any of my friends talking about them. Just to contrast and compare, I remember No Limit being huge circa 97-99. We all knew Silk The Shocker, C-Murder and Mia X. We all saw Bout It, the movie.
I had a video show on the community access station in my hometown. I remember they sent me the video for Ridin Spinners and I played it on my show, not because I really liked the song, but because it was new, they sent it to me, and it fit my format. I didn't have any reason NOT to play it. And this was around the time they won that Oscar.
When I think about their Oscar win, it wasn't so much that they arrived on the world stage, it was more like 15 minutes of fame, and then going back to being a regional group.
Having said that, I don't have anything negative to say about Three Six, I just think there are better, more popular groups with a better discography, that made a bigger impact (the Oscar Award notwithstanding).
And it's not coastal bias either. I'd rank Outkast ahead of Three Six because I know more of their songs.
If the question was; Is Outkast a top 5 group, I might say yes.
Is Three Six a top 5 group? No
Outkast>>>Three Six Mafia