The Three Times Dope Video Collection

Three Times Dope with Kwame and J The Sultan.

According to DJ Woody Wood, he and Chuck Nice originally formed the Parkside Hustlers crew in Hunting Park in South Philly in 1984 before they met EST and became Three Times Dope. They signed with Pop Art in 1987, and released two singles on the Hilltop imprint before signing with Arista. Originally welcomed into the Hilltop Hustlers crew with Steady B, DJ Tat Money and Cool C, the crew discovered they were getting jerked by their manager, Lawrence Goodman, and broke north. In a situation reminiscent of what happened between Ice Cube and NWA, their former associates were turned against them and shots were fired both on record and in videos (Cool C’s ‘I Gotta Habit’ featured some 3-D look-a-likes being locked up in a mental institution) and culminated with a brawl at a basketball court in South Philly when someone threw a dime at EST ((1. According to a Youtube comment: ‘EST whooped Cool C ass after hiz Glamorous Life jawn came out…dissin ES…..rite @ Sherwood playground down 56th & Christian…..Southwest Philly’)) (or so legend has it). As with the Jerry Hellar situation, Steady B and co. eventually realised they were getting dicked over by their manager as well and patched things up with Chuck Nice, DJ Woody Wood and the E.S.

The second 3-D album took on a smoother, R&B feel for the most part, but still contained some choice cuts and harder remixes that allowed EST’s superior pen game to shine as always. Their final album, Da Sequel was released in 1994 at the height of the bald head and shouted choruses era, so it was suitably reflective of the times without losing all of the qualities that made the group shine. Despite having released three albums, the acknickulous fellows only fimed a handful of videos over their career, two of which showcased a crew of female dancers who didn’t so much dance as strike a pose and not move for four minutes. Original Stylin’ still stands strong as a Philly Rap classic, combining one of the most original rappers of the late eigties with hard beats and slick loops.

‘Greatest Man Alive’ video:

‘Funky Dividends’ video:

‘No Words’ [Remix] video:

‘Da Sequel’ video:

EST, V-Born and Larry Larr freestyling on Krush Rap:

Slammin’ Rap Video Magazine interview:

‘Greatest Man Alive’ live on BET:

‘Funky Dividends’ live on The Arsineo Hall Show:

3D performing at a high school gym: