DJ Muggs
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Muggerud better known as DJ Muggs, is Cypress Hill
's DJ
and producer. He also produced tracks for Funkdoobiest
on the albums Which Doobie U B?
and Brothas Doobie
.
and Sen Dog
to form the group Cypress Hill
, he went on to produce seven studio albums with the group, from 1991 to 2004. Of the seven, four reached platinum status, and three gold. Meanwhile, he scored hits on the side with Ice Cube
's "Check Yo Self" and House of Pain
's "Jump Around." During Cypress Hill's early years, DJ Muggs met The Alchemist
and his Dilated Peoples
brethren on tour, deciding to take the young producer under his wing, providing a jump-start for his career.
. The album, Soul Assassins I
, reached #86 on the Billboard 200 and earned critical praise. Produced by DJ Muggs, it featured a variety of rappers including Dr. Dre
, B-Real, LA The Darkman
, Mobb Deep
, RZA
, GZA
, Goodie Mob
, KRS One and Wyclef Jean
. In 2000 he returned to the Soul Assassins with Soul Assassins II
, which reached only #178 on the charts but garnered similarly positive reviews. He also put out the record Dust
, an atmosphere-heavy trip-hop affair with Greg Dulli
, Amy Trujillo and Everlast
on vocals. After the 2004 album Til Death Do Us Part, which didn't reach gold but landed #23 on the Billboard 200
, Cypress Hill went on a hiatus from recording, enabling its members to focus more on their side projects.
's GZA for the album Grandmasters
, the first project released on his label Angeles Records
. Patterned after a chess game, it received highly positive reviews; Muggs also announced a Soul Assassins III album, produced jointly by himself and Alchemist, reportedly to be preceded by a record called Cloak & Dagger, also featuring Alchemist. Instead, Muggs produced an album for Psycho Realm
member Sick Jacken, Legend of the Mask and the Assassin
two years later, in 2007. In 2008, Muggs announced that his album with California rapper Planet Asia
would be the third Soul Assassins album, but the two released Pain Language
later that year as a simple collaboration.
Before the release of his solo album Smoke N Mirrors in 2009, B-Real reported that Cypress Hill has been working on an album for roughly a year. Currently in the mixing phase, Muggs has produced half of the album's material so far, going to DJ Premier
, Pete Rock
and Mike Shinoda
for the rest. In 2009, Muggs entered the Gumball 3000
cross-country race, and on June 23, 2009, Soul Assassins: Intermission was released, featuring RZA, Prodigy
, Evidence, The Alchemist and Bun B
. The first single for the album was "Gangsta Shit," by Bun B and M1 of Dead Prez
. Despite its high-profile guest list, the release was met with lukewarm reception, and Muggs later clarified its status as a preview before the release of Soul Assassins III, the next full-fledged installment of his Soul Assassins series. Muggs plans next on recording his 5th V.S. album with group member B-Real
.
On the Soul Assassins Official Website, it was also revealed that Muggs will contribute Production to the new album from rapper Apathy, "Honkey Kong" Due out in early 2011. The Track is Titled "Fear Itself"
In 2011, Muggs plans on releasing a New Album called "Bass For Your Face" which he describes as a West Coast "Dubstep" Album. Although he says the album will feature an extensive guest list, thus far the only guest named is London Grime MC P-Money. In October of 2011, Muggs confirmed Via his Twitter Account that legendary Public Enemy Frontman Chuck D would contribute to the Album, and the albums lead Single would Feature UK artist Dizee Rascal & Los Angelous Upstart MC Bambu.
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
's DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and producer. He also produced tracks for Funkdoobiest
Funkdoobiest
Funkdoobiest is an American rap group from Los Angeles, California. The original members are Son Doobie , a Puerto Rican rapper, and DJ Ralph M , a Chicano DJ, and Tomahawk Funk of the Lakota nation. The latter left after their second album.Their first two albums were mainly produced by Cypress...
on the albums Which Doobie U B?
Which Doobie U B?
Which Doobie U B? is the debut album from Los Angeles-based Latino rap group Funkdoobiest. It was released by Epic Records in May 1993. It was executively produced by DJ Muggs....
and Brothas Doobie
Brothas Doobie
Brothas Doobie is the second album from Los Angeles-based Latino rap group Funkdoobiest. It was released by Epic Records in May 1995 and was produced by DJ Muggs. This was the final album for back-up MC and hypeman, Tomahawk Funk because he left group after this release...
.
Cypress Hill (1988 - 2004)
Muggs was born in Queens, New York of Italian and Norwegian descent. Muggs moved to L.A. at Twenty. He briefly DJ'd the group 7a3, putting out one album before disbanding. After linking up with B-RealB-Real
Louis Freese, better known by his stage name B-Real, is an American rapper of Cuban and Mexican heritage, and a film and TV actor...
and Sen Dog
Sen Dog
Sen Dog is a Cuban-American rapper, and member of rap group Cypress Hill. He is the older brother of fellow rapper Mellow Man Ace.Sen Dog has been developing his own solo career in addition to his work with Cypress Hill...
to form the group Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
, he went on to produce seven studio albums with the group, from 1991 to 2004. Of the seven, four reached platinum status, and three gold. Meanwhile, he scored hits on the side with Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
's "Check Yo Self" and House of Pain
House of Pain
House of Pain is an American hip hop group who released three albums in the 1990s before lead rapper Everlast left to pursue his solo career again. The group's name is a reference to the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr...
's "Jump Around." During Cypress Hill's early years, DJ Muggs met The Alchemist
The Alchemist (producer)
Alan Daniel Maman , better known as The Alchemist, is an American hip hop producer, DJ and rapper. He hails from Beverly Hills, California...
and his Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group achieved notability in the underground hip hop community, although they have had little mainstream success in the US, with the exception of the song "This Way," a 2004 collaboration with Kanye West and Xzibit...
brethren on tour, deciding to take the young producer under his wing, providing a jump-start for his career.
Soul Assassins
In 1997, Muggs released an album under the name Soul AssassinsSoul Assassins
Soul Assassins are a loose collective of musicians and graphic artists affiliated to the hip hop group Cypress Hill, formed in the early 1990s. It is also the name of Cypress Hill's publishing company....
. The album, Soul Assassins I
Chapter 1 (Soul Assassins album)
Soul Assassins, Chapter 1 is the first album by Soul Assassins, group of rappers led by DJ Muggs.-Track listing:...
, reached #86 on the Billboard 200 and earned critical praise. Produced by DJ Muggs, it featured a variety of rappers including Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, B-Real, LA The Darkman
La the Darkman
As a teenager in New York City, the Crown Heights, Brooklyn-bred emcee born Lason Jackson negotiated his first deal just as he was finishing high school...
, Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
, RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
, GZA
GZA
Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
, Goodie Mob
Goodie Mob
Goodie Mob is a Hip Hop act based in Atlanta, Georgia that formed in 1991 and currently consists of members Cee-Lo Green, Khujo, T-Mo and Big Gipp.-History:The group's name acts as a double backronym...
, KRS One and Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
. In 2000 he returned to the Soul Assassins with Soul Assassins II
Soul Assassins II
-Track listing:...
, which reached only #178 on the charts but garnered similarly positive reviews. He also put out the record Dust
Dust (DJ Muggs album)
Dust is a 2003 album released by Cypress Hill producer DJ Muggs. It is a departure from his previous works, as it is more of a trip hop, rock, electronica based CD. The album was originally released on ANTI- Records, then re-released on ANTI-'s sister label, Epitaph Records, on May 8, 2007...
, an atmosphere-heavy trip-hop affair with Greg Dulli
Greg Dulli
-Biography:Greg Dulli was born and brought up in the working-class city of Hamilton, Ohio. Although he was raised a Catholic, he is now agnostic. Dulli first came to public attention in the late 1980s with The Afghan Whigs when he joined D.C. transplant bassist John Curley and Louisville, Kentucky,...
, Amy Trujillo and Everlast
Everlast (musician)
Erik Francis Schrody , better known by his stage name Everlast, is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper and songwriter, known for his solo hit "What It's Like" and as the front-man for rap group House of Pain. He is also part of the hip-hop supergroup La Coka Nostra, which consists of members of...
on vocals. After the 2004 album Til Death Do Us Part, which didn't reach gold but landed #23 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, Cypress Hill went on a hiatus from recording, enabling its members to focus more on their side projects.
Further Solo Projects & Return of Cypress Hill (2005 - 2010)
In 2005, DJ Muggs teamed up with Wu-Tang ClanWu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
's GZA for the album Grandmasters
Grandmasters (album)
Grandmasters is a collaborative album by DJ Muggs and GZA released on October 25, 2005 on Angeles Records. The album is the first in the "DJ Muggs vs. " series, followed by his 2007 collaboration with Sick Jacken, Legend of the Mask and the Assassin, 2008s Pain Language with Planet Asia and 2010s...
, the first project released on his label Angeles Records
Angeles Records
Angeles Records is an independent hip hop record label. Its major signed artist are DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, GZA / The Genius and Mitchy Slick. It is a part of the Fontana Distribution group, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group....
. Patterned after a chess game, it received highly positive reviews; Muggs also announced a Soul Assassins III album, produced jointly by himself and Alchemist, reportedly to be preceded by a record called Cloak & Dagger, also featuring Alchemist. Instead, Muggs produced an album for Psycho Realm
Psycho Realm
Psycho Realm is an american hip hop supergroup started in 1989 by brothers Sick Jacken and Big Duke from the Downtown, Pico-Union area of Los Angeles. The first recorded Psycho Realm song, "Scandalous", was released on the soundtrack of the film Mi Vida Loca in 1994...
member Sick Jacken, Legend of the Mask and the Assassin
Legend of the Mask and the Assassin
Legend of the Mask and the Assassin is an album by DJ Muggs and Sick Jacken of Psycho Realm, featuring Cynic of Street Platoon and Sick Symphonies...
two years later, in 2007. In 2008, Muggs announced that his album with California rapper Planet Asia
Planet Asia
Planet Asia aka King Medallions is an underground hip hop MC from Fresno, California who is a member of hiphop groups the Cali Agents, and Skhool Yard...
would be the third Soul Assassins album, but the two released Pain Language
Pain Language
Pain Language is a collaborative album by producer DJ Muggs and rapper Planet Asia, released on September 16, 2008 on Gold Chain Music. The album is the third in the "DJ Muggs vs. " series, following his 2005 collaboration with GZA, Grandmasters, and his 2007 collaboration with Sick Jacken, Legend...
later that year as a simple collaboration.
Before the release of his solo album Smoke N Mirrors in 2009, B-Real reported that Cypress Hill has been working on an album for roughly a year. Currently in the mixing phase, Muggs has produced half of the album's material so far, going to DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
, Pete Rock
Pete Rock
Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
and Mike Shinoda
Mike Shinoda
Michael "Mike" Kenji Shinoda is an American musician, record producer, and artist. He is best known as the rapper, principal songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Linkin Park, along with his co-frontman and lead singer Chester Bennington, and as a solo rapper in...
for the rest. In 2009, Muggs entered the Gumball 3000
Gumball 3000
The Gumball 3000 is an annual international road rally which takes place on public roads, with a different route around the world each year. Founded in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, it sees an annual entry of 120 cars, which are mostly exotic and powerful sports cars. However, more unusual entries ...
cross-country race, and on June 23, 2009, Soul Assassins: Intermission was released, featuring RZA, Prodigy
Prodigy (rapper)
Lance Albert Johnson Banks, better known as Prodigy, is an American rapper and one half of the hip-hop and rap duo Mobb Deep....
, Evidence, The Alchemist and Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
. The first single for the album was "Gangsta Shit," by Bun B and M1 of Dead Prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
. Despite its high-profile guest list, the release was met with lukewarm reception, and Muggs later clarified its status as a preview before the release of Soul Assassins III, the next full-fledged installment of his Soul Assassins series. Muggs plans next on recording his 5th V.S. album with group member B-Real
B-Real
Louis Freese, better known by his stage name B-Real, is an American rapper of Cuban and Mexican heritage, and a film and TV actor...
.
On the Soul Assassins Official Website, it was also revealed that Muggs will contribute Production to the new album from rapper Apathy, "Honkey Kong" Due out in early 2011. The Track is Titled "Fear Itself"
In 2011, Muggs plans on releasing a New Album called "Bass For Your Face" which he describes as a West Coast "Dubstep" Album. Although he says the album will feature an extensive guest list, thus far the only guest named is London Grime MC P-Money. In October of 2011, Muggs confirmed Via his Twitter Account that legendary Public Enemy Frontman Chuck D would contribute to the Album, and the albums lead Single would Feature UK artist Dizee Rascal & Los Angelous Upstart MC Bambu.
Vs. Series
- 2005: GrandmastersGrandmasters (album)Grandmasters is a collaborative album by DJ Muggs and GZA released on October 25, 2005 on Angeles Records. The album is the first in the "DJ Muggs vs. " series, followed by his 2007 collaboration with Sick Jacken, Legend of the Mask and the Assassin, 2008s Pain Language with Planet Asia and 2010s...
with GZAGZAGary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career... - 2007: Legend of the Mask and the AssassinLegend of the Mask and the AssassinLegend of the Mask and the Assassin is an album by DJ Muggs and Sick Jacken of Psycho Realm, featuring Cynic of Street Platoon and Sick Symphonies...
with Sick Jacken featuring Cynic - 2008: Pain LanguagePain LanguagePain Language is a collaborative album by producer DJ Muggs and rapper Planet Asia, released on September 16, 2008 on Gold Chain Music. The album is the third in the "DJ Muggs vs. " series, following his 2005 collaboration with GZA, Grandmasters, and his 2007 collaboration with Sick Jacken, Legend...
with Planet AsiaPlanet AsiaPlanet Asia aka King Medallions is an underground hip hop MC from Fresno, California who is a member of hiphop groups the Cali Agents, and Skhool Yard... - 2010: Kill Devil HillsKill Devil Hills (album)DJ Muggs vs. Ill Bill: Kill Devil Hills is a collaboration studio album by the American rapper Ill Bill and producer DJ Muggs. The album was released on August 31, 2010 on Fat Beats Records.-Track listing:...
with Ill BillIll BillWilliam Braunstein, better known as Ill Bill, is a American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York. Having gained notoriety in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his hardcore lyrics and as the producer, founder and CEO of Uncle Howie Records... - 2011: West Coast Dubstep Street Sessions with 6BLOCC
Soul Assassins
- 1997: Soul Assassins IChapter 1 (Soul Assassins album)Soul Assassins, Chapter 1 is the first album by Soul Assassins, group of rappers led by DJ Muggs.-Track listing:...
- 2000: Soul Assassins IISoul Assassins II-Track listing:...
- 2009: Soul Assassins: IntermissionSoul Assassins: IntermissionSoul Assassins, Intermission is the third album by DJ Muggs led Hip hop supergroup Soul Assassins.-Track listing:...
Collaboration albums
- 1999: JuxtaposeJuxtapose (album)Juxtapose is the fifth album by Tricky, in collaboration with DJ Muggs and Grease . Two tracks with DJ Muggs find their way to the only single "For Real" and the Japanese release...
with TrickyTrickyTricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
& Dame GreaseDame GreaseDamon Blackmon, or Dame Grease, is a Harlem, New York based video and music producer.Before becoming a staple on every mixtape, The LOX relied on the sounds of Grease in order to acquire the street buzz that landed them their deal on Bad Boy Records in 1996... - 2004: The Last Assassin with Chace Infinite
- 2005: Mash Up Radio (Hip Hop vs. Rock) Vol. 1 with DJ Warrior
- 2005: Mash Up Radio (Hip Hop vs. Rock) Vol. 2 with DJ Warrior
- 2011: Los Angelous, Fillapines with Bambu