09/25/2025
Crunk music was not started by a single person but emerged from the Memphis hip-hop scene in the mid-1990s, with artists like Three 6 Mafia using the term and developing its early sound. However, Lil Jon is widely credited with bringing crunk into the mainstream through his work with the East Side Boyz, achieving major success in the early 2000s and solidifying his title as the "King of Crunk".
Early Origins in Memphis:
The term "crunk" and its musical elements first appeared in the Memphis hip-hop scene in the mid-1990s, evolving from Miami bass and Southern rap to create a high-energy, party-oriented sound.
Groups like Three 6 Mafia and artists like Tommy Wright III were instrumental in developing the genre's underground sound, according to the Wikipedia article on Crunk.
