Ricky Terrell Dunigan—born November 17, 1973—better known as Lord Infamous aka The Scarecrow, was a rapper from Memphis, Tennessee, and one of the core members of the iconic rap group Three 6 Mafia. Before Juicy J, Gangsta Boo, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca, Project Pat, and many other Hypnotize Camp Posse members became part of the family, it was just Lord Infamous and his half-brother DJ Paul.

Both clearly influenced by N.W.A., Ice Cube, Chuck D, The D.O.C. and the whole “gangster rap” wave Hip-hop was riding, Paul and Lord originally went by “Tha Serial Killerz”. Their sound was a unique blend of what would later be called “Horrorcore,” infused with raw Gangsta rap energy. They were pushing tapes hand-to-hand all across Memphis, hustling hard with their Come With Me 2 Hell series — a project that introduced a sonically darker and more ominous vibe than most crews had at the time.

Then came Juicy J—fellow rapper and producer —and the three formed Triple 6 Mafia, a squad that would flood the hoods of Memphis with a grip of EPs and tapes, building what would become a serious cult following. Juicy was the missing piece — while Paul leaned into more eerie horror samples and sinister tones, Juicy brought in that soulful, ‘70s-sampled pimp vibe. Together, they created chemistry that couldn’t be replicated. The bond between Paul and Juice would become the foundation of Hypnotize Minds. Lord and Paul knew they needed a name that slapped, something that’d jolt you outta your seat—and they landed on Triple 6 Mafia. That name alone turned heads and stirred rumors. With all the occult references, demonic themes, and that infamous 666 tag, people couldn’t help but ask: were they really down with the Devil, or was it all part of the gimmick? Juicy J would later explain the name came from the group’s core structure—it started with three members (Lord, Paul, Juice) and later expanded to six with Gangsta Boo, Koopsta Knicca, and Crunchy Black. Smartly, the group pivoted from Triple 6 to Three 6 Mafia to avoid industry pushback, but the aesthetic and message stayed the same. Their studio debut, Mystic Stylez, was an underground classic. The cover art alone—a crucifixion-style image—sent chills. And sonically, the album’s mashup of styles, dark themes, and ruthless delivery lived up to the name.

Lord Infamous stole the show. His fast, tongue-twisting flow was addictive, terrifying, and unmatched—literally sounding like a horror flick on wax. His presence throughout the Three 6 catalog was eerie and powerful. He could easily be grouped with artists like Tech N9ne or Brotha Lynch Hung in terms of delivery, precision, and dark lyrical content. His first solo tape, frequently referred to as Lord of Terror only cemented his legacy further, becoming a street favorite just like all the Hypnotize Camp Posse tapes, EPs, and retail projects.

Even after losing members along the way, Three 6 Mafia only got bigger. Their signature crunk style spread like wildfire, influencing regions across the country. Albums like, Chapter 2: World Domination, When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1, CrazyNDaLazDayz, Choices, and Most Known Unknowns, went Gold and Platinum, putting them in the same league as Cash Money, NoLimit, and RAP-A-LOT. But unlike those other Southern giants, Three 6 did something none of them had: they won an Oscar. The crew was now a multi-million dollar brand—but not without its costs. Internal tensions built, mostly due to financial issues with Paul and Juicy who were running Hypnotize Minds.

Affiliates like Playa Fly, T-Rock, and Kingpin Skinny Pimp distanced themselves, and even core members like Koopsta, Crunchy, and Boo would leave over time. Lord’s departure, though, wasn’t about money. It was personal. The demons he rapped about started creeping into real life. Lord struggled with addiction, got locked up over domestic issues, and generally couldn’t adjust to the fame. In prison, Lord shut everyone out—no calls, no visits. This led to rumors of beef with Paul and Juicy, but Lord clarified later that there were no hard feelings. Unfortunately, his absence violated the group’s deal with Sony, leading to a quiet exit from the crew. He went on to launch Black Rain Entertainment, his own imprint, putting out several solo projects and working with underground Memphis talent, even if they didn’t get the spotlight without Juicy and Paul’s golden touch.

Years of grinding, drinking, stress, and health issues took a toll. On June 25th, 2010, Lord suffered his first heart attack and stroke. It was a wake-up call — and a reconnection point. He recovered and got back in the studio, reuniting with Paul for his album Scale-A-Ton. Despite his health scare, Lord showed he was still sharp, raw, and in rare form. But behind the scenes, things were messy. The group’s last major album with Sony, Last 2 Walk, flopped both critically and financially. Fans weren’t feeling the commercial shift. Sony expected Oscar-level results, and when that didn’t happen, legal limbo followed. The group could no longer officially record as Three 6 Mafia. But instead of disappearing, they pivoted.

Juicy J went mainstream, linking with pop and rap stars, scoring hits like “Bandz A Make Her Dance”. Paul and Lord returned to the roots—the gritty, dark Hypnotize sound—and linked with ATL producer 6ig B6oi 6eats for one of Lord’s best late-era solo projects. The strategy paid off. Lord and Paul kept the core fanbase engaged while Juicy rebranded himself for the mainstream.

It was Lord’s idea to bring the crew back together. After 15+ years of beef, business drama, and personal issues, they finally reconnected for a proper reunion — as Da Mafia 6ix. The chemistry was still intact. Even without Juicy, the project was fire, and the streets embraced it. Lord was hyped and had plans for more: an official Three 6 reunion album in 2014, a new solo album, and a continuation of the Come With Me 2 Hell series.

But sadly, it all came to a halt when Lord passed away from a sudden heart attack on December 20, 2013.

Here’s a list of music videos he was featured in:

• Videography: Lord Infamous