Quick Facts
- Date: February 8, 1973
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee (USA)
- Born: Patrick Earl Houston
- Also known as: Project Pat
- Key figures connected: Juicy J (younger brother); Three 6 Mafia/Hypnotize Minds circle
- Notable releases: Mista Don’t Play: Everythangs Workin (released February 27, 2001); singles “Chickenhead” (2000) and “Don’t Save Her” (2001)
- Early mainstream feature: Three 6 Mafia’s single “Sippin’ on Some Syrup” (2000)
Main Story
On February 8, 1973, Memphis welcomed Patrick Earl Houston — the rapper the world would come to know as Project Pat. Raised in the city he often referenced on record, Pat emerged in the 1990s alongside the Hypnotize Minds/Three 6 Mafia camp. His gruff delivery and storytelling became synonymous with the Memphis rap sound that would later influence artists far beyond the 901.
Pat’s profile rose nationally in 2000 when he was featured on Three 6 Mafia’s single “Sippin’ on Some Syrup.” The following year he released his breakthrough album, Mista Don’t Play: Everythangs Workin, recorded in Memphis and issued on February 27, 2001. Anchored by the singles “Chickenhead” and “Don’t Save Her,” the project translated a distinctly local style into mainstream attention without losing its Bluff City edge.
For fans of Memphis history and Beale Street’s ever-evolving music lineage, Pat’s ascent marked a moment when underground cassette culture and club anthems from the city’s neighborhoods reached radio, video channels, and national tours. His work sits alongside Three 6 Mafia’s as a bridge between the city’s DIY past and its global influence today.
Legacy
Project Pat remains a cornerstone of Memphis rap, continuing to record and collaborate while his early 2000s catalog is discovered by new listeners. His career underscores how the Bluff City’s creativity — from North and South Memphis to Beale Street — shaped Southern hip‑hop’s sound and lexicon. For the 901, his birthday is a reminder that Memphis music travels widely while staying rooted at home.
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