Courtney H. Harris, better known as Gangsta Blac, is a Memphis-born rapper, producer, and songwriter who helped define the raw, uncut sound of Southern hip-hop—especially Memphis Rap. Born on November 11, 1974, he made waves with hardcore street narratives over thumping Dirty South beats, cementing his status as one of Memphis' most respected underground artists.

Repping South Memphis, Blac’s early life shaped both his mindset and his music. After spending part of his childhood in Atlanta—raised by his grandmother after losing his mother and with his father absent—he returned to Memphis and got caught up in the city’s bubbling rap scene. Inspired by 8Ball & MJG, the Geto Boys, and the no-holds-barred style of gangsta rap, he crafted a sound that was hypnotic, menacing, and unmistakably Memphis.

Blac first hit the scene in the early ‘90s as part of the Three 6 Mafia camp, working alongside DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Lord Infamous as they pioneered the eerie, horrorcore-infused Memphis sound. His aggressive flow and raw lyricism quickly made him one of the city’s hardest-hitting MCs. But by 1995, money disputes led him to part ways with Three 6 Mafia, and he set off on a solo journey. His debut album, Breakin Da Law, became an underground classic—packed with eerie beats, sinister synths, and that signature Memphis grit. Two years later, he followed up with Can It Be?, proving he could hold his own as a street poet with a relentless flow.

As the ‘90s rolled on, Gangsta Blac kept his momentum going. In 1998, he dropped his second studio album I Am Da Gangsta, another hard-hitting project that reinforced his street credibility and solidified his place in Memphis rap history. That same year, he released 74 Minutes of Bump under Relativity Records. His track “S.O.U.T.H. Parkway” became a Memphis anthem, spreading his name throughout the South. By the time he dropped Down South Flava in 2001, the Dirty South movement was gaining national attention, and Blac was right in the mix.

A key part of Gangsta Blac’s story is his connection to Playa Fly. After leaving Three 6 Mafia, Blac aligned himself with Playa Fly’s MobTies movement, which further separated him from Hypnotize Minds and set him on his own path. This move allowed him to carve out his independent legacy, cementing his reputation as a force in the underground.

Though he never reached the commercial heights of some of his Memphis rap peers, Gangsta Blac’s impact is undeniable. He helped lay the groundwork for crunk, trap, and the modern Southern rap sound, influencing countless artists who followed. His dark, bass-heavy production and streetwise storytelling remain a defining part of Memphis hip-hop history.

To this day, Gangsta Blac is a legend in the underground—respected by real hip-hop heads who know the essence of Southern rap. His music continues to be rediscovered by new generations, proving that the Memphis sound he helped pioneer will never fade.