The Kaze, also known as Killa Klan Kaze, is an American hip-hop group from

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

. They are largely known for their affiliation with

Three 6 Mafia Three 6 Mafia is an American hip-hop group from Memphis, Tennessee, formed in 1991. Emerging as a horror-themed underground hip-hop group, they went on to enjoy mainstream success. The group's 1995 debut album ''Mystic Stylez'' became an influen ...

throughout much of the 1990s, having been a featured act and members of the Prophet Posse and

Hypnotize Camp Posse Hypnotize Minds Productions, also known as Hypnotize Camp Posse or HCP, was an American record label founded by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia in 1997, in Memphis, Tennessee. The label served as the successor to Three 6 Mafia's previous ...

. The group originally consisted of M.C Mack, Scan Man and K-Rock, though

Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), known professionally as Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of the hip-hop ...

replaced K-Rock in the trio for the group's debut album, 1998's ''Kamakaze Timez Up'', produced by

DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), known professionally as DJ Paul, is an American rapper and record producer. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and the brother of rapper Lord Infamous. DJ Paul is also the half ...

and

Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, established ...

. In 2000, the group's affiliation with Three 6 Mafia ended when M.C. Mack and Scan Man had a fallout with DJ Paul and Juicy J after attempting to release music independently produced and recorded under The Kaze name, with a lengthy dispute over royalties resulting. Since that time, The Kaze has operated independently, having undergone membership growth and changes, while releasing several albums via its label, Kami Kaze Productions.

History

The Kaze began their activities in the early 1990s in Memphis. In 1995, the group (then known as "Killa Klan Kaze") was featured on a tape entitled "Volume 3 Spring Mix 95", which contained the first recorded track of Killa Klan Kaze, "Runnin 'Lip". They had a track on

's 1995 EP '' Live by Yo Rep'', titled "Be a Witness". Project Pat ultimately replaced K-Rock and in 1998 the group released their first studio album ''Kamakaze Timez Up'' and sold about 50,000 independent copies. The album was released with the production of Three 6 Mafia's

and

. The album would be the only project released by the group together. 1998, the group's label, Prophet Entertainment shut down after label co-founders DJ Paul and Juicy J split from fellow label co-founder Nick Scarfo. The result was DJ Paul and Juicy J's creation of a new label, Hypnotize Minds. In, 1999 Scan Man and M.C. Mack founded their own Kami Kaze Inc. independent label and released ''Thugz From Southside: 2000 Mazdestruction''. In 2012, the group was nominated for music awards at the

Memphis Music Hall of Fame The Memphis Music Hall of Fame, located in Memphis, Tennessee, honors Memphis musicians for their lifetime achievements in music. The induction ceremony and concert is held each year in Memphis. Since its establishment in 2012, the Hall of Fame has ...

and won the "Best Group" Award. In 2020, MC Mack filed a copyright lawsuit against Three 6 Mafia, alleging that they have been using their music without permission since the 1990s. The case is pending in court in

Shelby County, Tennessee Shelby County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 929,744. It is the largest of the state's List of counties in Tennessee, 95 counties, both in terms of ...

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Kamakazie Timez Up'' (1998) * ''Kami Kaze'' (2001) * ''Only the Strong Survive'' (2005) * ''KKZ Timez Up: Part 2'' (2022)

Awards and nominations

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaze American crunk groups American hip-hop duos African-American musical groups Columbia Records artists Gangsta rap groups Horrorcore groups Musical duos from Tennessee Musical groups established in 1990 Rappers from Memphis, Tennessee 1990 establishments in Tennessee 1991 establishments in Tennessee Hip-hop groups from Memphis, Tennessee