Gangsta Boo, the pioneering female rapper who got her start in Three 6 Mafia as a teenager, has died at the age of 43.
According to three local TV stations: Fox 13, WREG-TV, and WMC Action News 5, the hip-hop star (real name Lola Mitchell) was found dead Sunday in Memphis, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, which is part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Fox 13 confirmed her death with three sources, and WREG confirmed it with an unnamed representative for the rapper. Her death cause was unknown.
Delmar Lawrence, also known as Mr. Del, a Three 6 Mafia collaborator, told WMC that Mitchell was in town from LA for the holidays visiting friends and family when she died.
Memphis police refused to confirm Mitchell’s death, citing official identification and notification of next-of-kin.
DJ Paul, a founding member of Three 6 Mafia, paid tribute to Mitchell on social media on Sunday with a wordless photo of Mitchell at a turntable mixer. In the comments, Ludacris, Big Boi, 2 Chainz, and Lil Jon, among others, expressed their condolences.
Mitchell’s rise as an ambassador of Memphis hip-hop began with her work on Three 6 Mafia’s first full-length studio album, “Mystic Stylez,” in 1995. She worked with Three 6 Mafia for several albums before leaving the band after the release of her second solo album, “Both Worlds *69,” in 2001. Among her numerous collaborations are appearances with OutKast, Foxy Brown, Yo Gotti, and Run the Jewels.
While her success has been linked to Three 6 Mafia, her solo work has held its own. She released “Enquiring Minds” in 1998, which included the hit “Where Dem Dollars At?!”
Her three solo albums all charted on R&B charts. Over the course of her nearly three-decade career, a steady stream of mixtapes and collaborations kept her name in the spotlight.
As one of the first major female rappers to represent the South, she shone a light on those who came after her, including GloRilla (aka Gloria Woods), the most recent Memphis rapper to capture national attention with hits like “F.N.F.”
Mitchell appeared on the podcast “Drink Champs” last fall and discussed the rising stars GloRilla and Memphis rapper Gloss Up.
“It just made me feel good because they went crazy and represented Memphis well,” Mitchell said.
Woods posted screenshots of what she claimed were conversations between herself and Mitchell on Sunday evening.
“She was always there for me and the girls before we blew up,” Woods said.
Mitchell’s friend and collaborator, rapper Al Kapone (aka Alphonzo Bailey), described her death as a “heartbreaking loss” for Memphis. Mitchell, he told the Commercial Appeal, told him early on how important his own style and influence were to her.
“Boo was one of the first to represent female rappers in a significant way, and she is still respected by new female rappers today,” he said. “One of the reasons Memphis rap is so popular today is because of Gangsta Boo.”
Billboard asked Mitchell before her death to describe her legacy or impact on female rap and hip-hop in general.
“Respectfully and humbly, I must admit that I am the blueprint. Many male and female rappers have my cadence…. I wear that badge with pride “She told the publication. “It just feels great to stand in front of the mirror and say, ‘Wow, you did that.'”
