DJ Muggs

DJ Muggs

DJ Muggs in 2000
Background information
Birth name Lawrence Muggerud
Also known as Muggs
Born (1968-01-28) January 28, 1968
Queens, New York, United States
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) DJ
Producer
Years active 1987–present
Labels Columbia,[1] ANTI-, Ultra
Associated acts Cypress Hill
House of Pain
Funkdoobiest
Soul Assassins
GZA
Sick Jacken
The 7A3
Ill Bill
Ice Cube
Vinnie Paz
Website djmuggs.com

Lawrence Muggerud (born January 28, 1968), better known by his stage name DJ Muggs, is Cypress Hill's DJ and producer. He also produced tracks for Funkdoobiest, House of Pain, Dizzee Rascal, U2, Depeche Mode and more. He is the leader of LA art collective Soul Assassins.

Life and career

Muggs was born in Queens, New York of Italian descent, but was adopted into a Norwegian family.[2] He moved to Los Angeles at age fourteen,[3] and got his start DJ'ing for hip hop group The 7A3, who put out one album in 1988 before disbanding.

He has one daughter, named Francisca.

Cypress Hill (1988–2004)

After linking up with B-Real and Sen Dog to form the group Cypress Hill,[4] 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.[5]

Soul Assassins

In 1997, Muggs released an album under the name Soul Assassins. The album, Soul Assassins I, reached #86 on the Billboard 200 and earned critical praise.[6] Produced by Muggs, it featured Dr. Dre, B-Real, LA Tha 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.[7] 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 reached #23 on the Billboard 200, Cypress Hill went on a hiatus from recording, enabling its members to focus more on their side projects.

Further solo projects and return of Cypress Hill (2005–2010)

In 2005, DJ Muggs teamed up with Wu-Tang Clan's GZA for the album Grandmasters, the first project released on his label Angeles Records. Patterned after a chess game, it received positive reviews;[8] 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.[9] 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,[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] The first single for the album was "Gangsta Shit," by Bun B and M1 of Dead Prez.[13] Despite its high-profile guest list, the release was met with lukewarm reception,[14] 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.[15] Muggs plans next on recording his 5th V.S. album with group member B-Real.[16] & in 2013 he confirmed a VS album with Meyhem Lauren as well.

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"[17]

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 2011, Muggs confirmed via his Twitter account that legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D would contribute to the album, and the lead single would feature UK artist Dizzee Rascal & Los Angeles upstart MC Bambu.

Discography

Cypress Hill

For the main article see the Cypress Hill discography.

Soul Assassins

Studio albums

Vs. Series

Collaboration albums and mixtapes

Other

Cross My Heart Hope To Die with Andrew Kline of Strife, Brevi, & Sean Bonner

References

  1. ↑ "Geocities: Muggs". 2009-10-27. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  2. ↑ http://hiphopgods.rapstation.com/news/dj.muggs.hhg.interview
  3. ↑ Cornish, Melanie (September 20, 2008). "Producer's Corner: DJ Muggs". HipHop DX. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  4. ↑ [Cypress Hill: Still Smokin' (The Ultimate Video Collection )(bonus Features).]
  5. ↑ Archived April 15, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ John Bush (1997-03-04). "Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Chapter I - Muggs | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  7. ↑ Jason Birchmeier (2000-10-03). "Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Chapter II - Soul Assassins | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  8. ↑ Marisa Brown (2005-10-25). "Grandmasters - GZA,Muggs | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  9. ↑ "Hip-Hop, Rap Interviews : DJ Muggs". Riotsound.com. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  10. ↑ Archived March 1, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ "Hip-Hop, Rap Interviews : B-Real". Riotsound.com. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  12. ↑ Paine, Jake (May 4, 2009). "DJ Muggs Enters The Gumball 3,000, New Album". HipHop DX. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Soul Assassins f. Bun B & M1 (of dead prez) - Gangsta Shit". HipHop DX. May 26, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  14. ↑ Matt Rinaldi (2009-06-23). "Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Intermission - Muggs | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ Alvin Aqua Blanco (September 23, 2010). "B-Real: Pay It Forward". HipHop DX. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  17. ↑ Arnold, Paul W (June 20, 2011). "Apathy Previews Next Album, "Honkey Kong," August 23 Release Confirmed". HipHop DX. Retrieved December 5, 2011.

External links

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