Project Pat is the stage name of Patrick Houston, an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. Born on February 8, 1973, he became one of the most recognizable voices associated with Memphis rap and the Dirty South movement. He is the older brother of Juicy J, co-founder of Three 6 Mafia, and has maintained a close professional relationship with the group without generally being identified as an official core member.
Houston emerged from the Memphis underground during the 1990s, working within the circle surrounding DJ Paul, Juicy J, and the Hypnotize Minds label. He appeared on early Memphis projects connected to Three 6 Mafia and its affiliates, developing a direct, conversational delivery that contrasted with the group's darker horrorcore-influenced style. His early recordings helped establish the blunt street narratives, stripped-down hooks, and rolling cadences that became central to his music.
Project Pat released his debut solo album, *Ghetty Green*, in 1999 through Hypnotize Minds and Loud Records. The album introduced his solo identity on a broader scale while retaining the dense, bass-heavy production associated with the Memphis scene. His second album, *Murderers & Robbers*, followed in 2000 and further established him as a distinctive regional artist.
His commercial breakthrough came with *Mista Don't Play: Everythangs Workin*, released in 2001. Produced primarily by DJ Paul and Juicy J, the album reached number four on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the United States. Its best-known single, "Chickenhead," featured La Chat and became a defining Dirty South hit. The track's memorable hook and humorous, highly quotable writing brought Project Pat national attention, while "Don't Save Her" demonstrated his ability to turn regional slang and street observation into accessible rap songs. Around the same period, he supplied the hook for Three 6 Mafia's "Sippin' on Some Syrup," one of the most important collaborations in the Memphis rap canon.
Project Pat's next major release, *Layin' da Smack Down*, arrived in 2002 and reached number 12 on the Billboard 200. Its promotion was affected by Houston's incarceration following a federal firearm conviction, but the album still confirmed his growing commercial profile. He returned to the album market with *Crook by da Book: The Fed Story* in 2006, followed by *Walkin' Bank Roll* in 2007. These records continued his partnership with the Hypnotize Minds camp while presenting a somewhat broader range of production and guest appearances.
Throughout the following years, Project Pat remained active through albums, mixtapes, and collaborations. He worked with artists including Juicy J, Young Dolph, Wiz Khalifa, and Three 6 Mafia, bridging Memphis rap's classic era with newer generations of Southern hip-hop. His 2021 appearance on Drake and 21 Savage's "Knife Talk" introduced his unmistakable delivery to a new mainstream audience. A renewed interest in his catalog also brought older songs such as "Chickenhead" and "Choose U" to younger listeners through online platforms.
Project Pat's importance rests on consistency rather than reinvention. His music combines Memphis production, hard-edged storytelling, comic timing, and a relaxed but forceful vocal presence. As both a solo artist and a key figure in the Three 6 Mafia orbit, he helped carry Memphis rap from regional tapes into the national mainstream while preserving the local character that made the scene distinctive.