Lil' Flip's freestyle on that Purple Spirt.

Houston, Texas producer DJ Screw first popularized the concoction, which is widely attributed as a source of inspiration for the "chopped & screwed" style of hip hop music. Originally, the active ingredient of "Syrup" was cough syrup containing promethazine and codeine. The concoction first gained popularity in the underground Houston, Texas rap scene and later spread to other southern states. Its use has spread to other parts of the United States and world.

In June of 2000, Three 6 Mafia's single "Sippin On Some Sizzurp," featuring UGK and Project Pat brought the term "purple stuff" to a nationwide audience. Three 6 Mafia's single "Rainbow Colors" featuring Lil' Flip pertains to the consumption of purple drank; the addition of a Jolly Rancher candy to a cup of purple drank creates a spectrum of colors, hence "rainbow colors."

In 2004, the University of Texas found that 8.3% of secondary school students in Texas had taken codeine syrup to get high. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports "busts" involving syrup across the Southern United States, particularly in Texas and Florida.

Frayser Boy featuring Mike Jones and Paul Wall about that Drank

Paul Wall is a well known user of the mixture. In a flow freestyle featuring Lil Keke he states that he is, "High as a kite on cloud nine, I'm leanin' tough and movin' slow. I'm fightin' sleep and dozin' off, sippin' this stuff to cure my cough, I can't think my mind is blank, pardon me but I'm throwed off."

Standard Purple Drink is

4 oz. cough syrup w/codeine
4 oz. rum, vodka, any hard alcohol
1 jolly rancher