The Short Answer
DJ Paul’s right arm is smaller than his left because he was born with Erb’s palsy.
Erb’s palsy is a brachial plexus injury. It can happen during a difficult birth when a baby’s neck is stretched to one side and the nerves that run to the arm are damaged.
That is why he calls his right arm his “baby arm.” He often covers it in photos and on stage. He did not lose a finger in a car crash, and he did not lose his hand later in life.
Who Is DJ Paul?
DJ Paul is Paul Duane Beauregard, an American rapper, DJ, and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee.
He was born on January 12, 1977, in Memphis. He is a founding member of Three 6 Mafia, formed in 1991 with Juicy J and Lord Infamous. Lord Infamous was his half-brother.
Three 6 Mafia won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2006 for “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp,” from the film Hustle & Flow. The group became the first hip-hop group to win that award.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy affects the upper arm and shoulder nerves.
- The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that carries signals from the spine to the arm.
- Damage during birth can limit movement and feeling in the affected arm.
- Because nerves affect growth, the affected arm can grow more slowly than the other arm.
- The size difference can become more noticeable as a child grows older.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that the condition occurs in about one or two babies in every 1,000 births.
For DJ Paul, the result is a right arm that is smaller and less fully functional than his left arm. It is a permanent limb difference, not an injury he picked up as an adult.
What Did Not Happen
Several versions of this story circulate online. The old version of this article mixed them together, and they do not hold up.
- There is no reliable evidence of a 2004 car accident that crushed his hand, or a 2018 accident that cost him a finger.
- His affected arm is his right arm, not his left.
- He was not born in Detroit, and he was not born in 1973. He was born in Memphis in 1977.
- His birth name is Paul Duane Beauregard, not Paul W. Spivey.
- He did not quit Three 6 Mafia before the group was signed. He remained a founding and central member of the group.
The accident stories should be treated as rumours. The birth condition is the explanation supported by multiple music and entertainment outlets.
How Does He DJ With One Fully Functional Arm?
DJ Paul built his career as a DJ, producer, and rapper despite the limited use of his right arm.
He is often seen with his right arm covered, sometimes with a cast, glove, or towel. Reports describe this as a way he protects and covers the arm.
His work speaks for itself. He has produced and performed with Three 6 Mafia for decades, and he has continued to work as a solo artist and producer.
What Is DJ Paul Doing Now?
DJ Paul is still active in music.
In 2025, Three 6 Mafia returned to touring in North America with DJ Paul and Juicy J. The group performed at Coachella in April 2025.
They then joined Bone Thugs-N-Harmony for the Thuggish-Ruggish-Mafia Tour. The 24-city tour ran from August 21, 2025, in Rogers, Arkansas, to October 4, 2025, in Concord, California.
That recent touring run is the clearest current answer: he has not stepped away from music because of his arm.
At a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Real name | Paul Duane Beauregard |
| Born | January 12, 1977, Memphis, Tennessee |
| Group | Three 6 Mafia, co-founded in 1991 |
| Affected arm | Right arm |
| Condition | Erb’s palsy, a birth-related brachial plexus injury |
| Did he lose his hand in an accident? | No reliable evidence supports that claim |
| Still performing? | Yes, touring with Three 6 Mafia in 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DJ Paul’s arm a disability?
He has a limb difference that limits the use of his right arm. How he describes it himself varies, and reports note that he does not present it as something that stopped his career.
Why does he wear a cast on his arm?
Reports link the cast and other coverings to protecting and covering his smaller right arm. No single medical reason for every appearance has been confirmed in his own words.
Did a car accident cause it?
No. The condition dates to birth. Accident stories that name specific years and injuries are not supported by reliable reporting.
Is he still part of Three 6 Mafia?
Yes. He toured with Juicy J as Three 6 Mafia in 2025.
