Three Times Dope (3XD) 

Three Times Dope (3XD) Bio

Three times Dope is a hip-hop trio from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that began in 1987 consisting of EST, Chuck Nice and DJ Woody Wood.  Three Times Dope as they were known were initially a part of the Hilltop Hustlers, which included Steady B, Cool C and Tat Money.  In 1984, DJ Woody Wood and Chuck Nice who lived a couple blocks from each other, joined and had a DJ / MC Crew called the Parkside Hustlers that represented Hunting Park in Nicetown/Tioga.  As a result, the crew met EST and was eventually signed to Pop Art Records in 1987. 

The group debut their first single “On The Dope Side” and shortly afterward their second single “Crushin & Bussin”. In 1988, Three Times Dope worked on their first album which highlighted their third single, “Greatest Man Alive” that was released in Philadelphia late 1988. A video was created for the “Greatest Man Alive” that pushed Three Times Dope International. The group then was released by the local Hilltop/Pop Art Label and signed directly to Arista Records in the Spring of 1989. Their debut LP, “Original Stylin” was well received peaking at #122 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and the group became well known for their terminology, such as “Acknickolous” and the “Giddy Up”. The albums lyric centered around comedic material and boasting. Signed with Cara Lewis, William Morris Booking Agent, Three Times Dope went on tour with Public Enemy, Heavy D, NWA, Mc Hammer, Ice Cube, Guy and so many more. The group released their second single and video “Funky Dividends” and was signed to Lavaba Management. “Original Stylin” against all odds with only three singles and only two videos and not having a manager through the first five months of their debut still sold 420,000 units. 

Three Times Dope’s follow up album, “Live from Acknickolous Land” was an attempt at a more serious work. The group came out the “Weak at the Knees” Remake with Lavaba’s connection with Steve Arrington. In the early 1990s, hip-hop went a transition with the “No Rap Music Work Day” where rap was slowly decreasing in popularity on Urban Radio. With record labels downsizing their Black Music Divisions their sophomore album sold about 300,000 units. Despite spawning two minor hits, it failed to chart on the Billboard 200 Album. It did however speak at #30 on the Billboard R&B / Hip-Hop Album Chart. The groups third album, “Major Flavas”, while advertised in the “Source”, the more rugged sounding was never released by Arista Records. With the remake of the “Giddy Up”, originally produced by Steady B & DJ Tat Money on “Original Stylin”, Three Times Dope’s Producer Chuck Nice added his flavor to the “Giddy Up2” with new lyrics from EST and cut from DJ Woody Wood created a mastery piece of work that would have been a nice comeback for the trio. With guest appearances from “Larry Larr” from Logan Valley, B-Von, Kenyatta, and Kwame to just name a few, “Major Flavas” had the creativity to push the group Gold & beyond!    

Watch some EXCLUSIVE footage from 3XD and DJ Woody Wood below!