Darnell Lorenzo Carlton, known professionally as Crunchy Black, is an American rapper, hype man and dancer best known for being a member of the Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia and its affiliated Hypnotize Camp Posse, Prophet Posse, and Da Mafia 6ix.
He was a longtime member of the Oscar-winning hip hop group Three 6 Mafia from the group's founding until 2006. At the 78th Academy Awards in 2006, Three 6 Mafia and Frayser Boy won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for It's Hard out Here for a Pimp. 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 and 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 DJ Paul and Juicy J. From Me to You reached 12 on the BillboardTop 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 BillboardIndependent Albums chart, 28 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and 13 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart.[2][3]
He was shot in the face and the leg in Las Vegas on July 1, 2012 and recovered very quickly from the injuries and was released from the hospital just days after the shooting.[10]
In March 2014, Crunchy Black was arrested on two domestic violence charges and one possession of cocaine charge in Minnesota.[11] Three felony warrants were issued by Stearns County, Minnesota. All three warrants carry nationwide extradition. He was incarcerated and has since been freed.
