Darnell Carlton better known by his stage name Crunchy Black is an American rapper. He was a longtime member of the Oscar winning rap group Three 6 Mafia from the group’s founding until 2006. Born in Indiana, he represents Memphis, Tennessee and got his rap career started in Memphis alongside fellow Memphis rappers including DJ Paul, Juicy J, Koopsta Knicca, Gangsta Boo, Lord Infamous, La Chat & Project Pat. Crunchy left Three 6 Mafia over monetary disputes involving his desire to forward his solo career. Black’s "debut solo album" entitled "On My Own" was released on September 19, 2006. Crunchy has said this album was released by DJ Paul & Juicy J without his permission. Crunchy’s "second solo album", "From Me To You" is also said to have been put out without his permission by Paul & Juicy. "From Me To You" reached 12 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, 32 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and 10 on the Billboard Top Rap albums chart. "On My Own" reached 3 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, 163 on the Billboard 200, 15 on the Billboard Indepentend, 28 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and 13 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart. He continues to represent Memphis, Tennessee and raps his known gangster style. Crunchy contributed heavily to Platinum albums When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1, and Most Known Unknown, as well as Gold albums Da Unbreakables, and Chapter 2: World Domination with Three 6 Mafia. Crunchy is known for his dancing “G-Walking”, which he says he started doing at Club Memphis but admits he is not the originator. He was shot in the face and the leg in Las Vegas on July 1, 2012. Amazingly, he recovered very quickly from the injuries and was released from the hospital just days after the shooting. In 2013 he reunited with former Three 6 Mafia group members DJ Paul, Lord Infamous, Gangsta Boo & Koopsta Knicca to form Da Mafia 6ix.
At the 78th Academy Awards in 2006, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" alongside Frayser Boy & Three 6 Mafia groupmates Juicy J and DJ Paul.
