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DJ Muggs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Muggs" redirects here. For the character in Archie Comics, seeEthel Muggs.For American blues rock band, seeThe Muggs.
DJ Muggs
DJ Muggs in 2000
DJ Muggs in 2000
Background information
Birth nameLawrence Muggerud
Born(1968-01-28)January 28, 1968(age 56)
Queens,New York City,U.S.
OriginLos Angeles,California,U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active1987–present
Labels

Lawrence Muggerud(born January 28, 1968)[1]professionally known by hisstage nameDJ Muggs,is an AmericanDJ,audio engineerandrecord producer.He has been a member ofCypress Hill,a member of the trip hop band Cross My Heart Hope To Die and the leader of hip hop and art collectiveSoul Assassins.

During his career, he has produced tracks forHouse of Pain,Funkdoobiest,Daddy Freddy,Pavlos Fyssas,Die Antwoord,Westside Gunn,remixed songs forJanet Jackson,U2,Kaliphz,Simply Red,Depeche Mode,and collaborated withTricky,GZA,Sick Jacken,Planet Asia,Ill Bill,Meyhem LaurenandRoc Marciano.As part of Cypress Hill, he received threeGrammynominations for "Insane in the Brain","I Ain't Goin' Out Like That"and"Throw Your Set in the Air".

Life and career

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OfItaliandescent, Muggerud was born inQueensboroughofNew York City,and was adopted into aNorwegianfamily.[2][3][4]He moved toBell Gardens,Californiaat age fourteen,[5]and got his start DJing for hip hop groupThe 7A3,who put out one album in 1988 before disbanding.

Cypress Hill (1988–2004)

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After linking up withB-RealandSen Dogto form the groupCypress Hill,[6]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 withIce Cube's "Check Yo Self"andHouse of Pain's "Jump Around".During Cypress Hill's early years, Muggerud metThe Alchemistand hisDilated Peoplesbrethren on tour, deciding to take the young producer under his wing, providing a jump-start for his career.[7]

Soul Assassins

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In 1997, Muggerud released an album under the nameSoul Assassins.The album,Soul Assassins I,reached #86 on theBillboard200and earned critical praise.[8]Produced by Muggerud, it featuredDr. Dre,B-Real,La the Darkman,Infamous Mobb,Mobb Deep,RZA,GZA,Goodie Mob,KRS-OneandWyclef Jean.In 2000 he returned to the Soul Assassins withSoul Assassins II,which reached only #178 on the charts but garnered similarly positive reviews.[9]He also put out the recordDust,an atmosphere-heavytrip hopaffair withGreg Dulli,Amy TrujilloandEverlaston vocals. After the 2004 albumTill Death Do Us Part,which reached #23 on theBillboard200, 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)

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In 2005, Muggerud teamed up withWu-Tang Clan's GZA for the albumGrandmasters,the first project released on his label Angeles Records. Patterned after a chess game, it received positive reviews;[10]Muggerud also announced aSoul Assassins IIIalbum, produced jointly by himself and Alchemist, reportedly to be preceded by a record calledCloak & Dagger,also featuring Alchemist.[11]Instead, Muggerud produced an album forPsycho Realmmember Sick Jacken,Legend of the Mask and the Assassintwo years later, in 2007. In 2008, Muggerud announced that his album with California rapperPlanet Asiawould be the third Soul Assassins album,[12]but the two releasedPain Languagelater that year as a simple collaboration.

Before the release of his solo albumSmoke n Mirrorsin 2009, B-Real reported that Cypress Hill has been working on an album for roughly a year. Currently in the mixing phase, Muggerud has produced half of the album's material so far, going toDJ Premier,Pete RockandMike Shinodafor the rest.[13]In 2009, Muggerud entered theGumball 3000cross-country race, and on June 23, 2009,Soul Assassins: Intermissionwas released, featuring RZA,Prodigy,Evidence,The Alchemist andBun B.[14]The first single for the album was "Gangsta Shit" by Bun B andM1.[15]Despite its high-profile guest list, the release was met with lukewarm reception,[16]and Muggerud later clarified its status as a preview before the release ofSoul Assassins III,the next full-fledged installment of his Soul Assassins series.[17]Muggerud plans next on recording his 5th V.S. album with group memberB-Real.[18]and in 2013 he confirmed a VS album withMeyhem Laurenas well.

On the Soul Assassins official website, it was also revealed that Muggerud contributed production toApathy's song "Fear Itself" from rapper'sHonkey Kongalbum, which was released August 23, 2011.[19]

In 2011, Muggerud announced the release of a new album entitledBass for Your Face,which he described as a 'West Coastdubstepalbum'. In October 2011, Muggerud confirmed via hisTwitteraccount thatPublic EnemyfrontmanChuck Dwould contribute to the album, and the lead single would feature UK artistDizzee Rascaland Los Angeles upstart MCBambu.

Cross My Heart Hope To Die

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Muggerud returned to the trip hop genre by teaming up with vocalist Brevi, fellow producer Andrew Kline (from thehardcore punkbandStrife) and Sean Bonner, who served as a curator, hacker and creative technologist of the project. CMHHTD released their debut four-track self-titled extended play on April 2, 2013,[20]and it was promoted by three music videos "Wild Side", "Miracles" and "Roller Coasting". On July 29, 2014, the band released their second extended play,Vita E Morte,[21]it was supported by two music videos "Two Shots" and "Tears Of God". Both EPs were released viaAlpha Pup Recordsand also were released later asCross My Heart Hope To Dieeight-track album.

Discography

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See also:DJ Muggs production discography

Awards and nominations

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Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1993 "Insane in the Brain" Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Nominated [22]
1994 "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" Nominated
1995 "Throw Your Set in the Air" Nominated

References

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  1. ^Rose, Mike (January 28, 2023)."Today's famous birthdays list for January 28, 2023 includes celebrities Ariel Winter, Will Poulter".Cleveland.com.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  2. ^"DJ Muggs - the HipHopGods Interview - HipHopGods.com".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-03-06.Retrieved2015-11-23.
  3. ^Weekly, L. A. (2003-03-27)."Side Tripping".LA Weekly.Retrieved2022-10-17.
  4. ^""I Just Want To Make Music With My Middle Finger Up": An Interview With DJ Muggs ".Passion of the Weiss.2018-08-14.Retrieved2022-10-17.
  5. ^Cornish, Melanie (September 20, 2008)."Producer's Corner: DJ Muggs".HipHop DX.RetrievedDecember 5,2011.
  6. ^[Cypress Hill: Still Smokin' (The Ultimate Video Collection )(bonus Features).]
  7. ^[1]ArchivedApril 15, 2009, at theWayback Machine
  8. ^John Bush (1997-03-04)."Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Chapter I - Muggs | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards".AllMusic.Retrieved2014-07-14.
  9. ^Jason Birchmeier (2000-10-03)."Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Chapter II - Soul Assassins | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards".AllMusic.Retrieved2014-07-14.
  10. ^Marisa Brown (2005-10-25)."Grandmasters - GZA, Muggs | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards".AllMusic.Retrieved2014-07-14.
  11. ^"Hip-Hop, Rap Interviews: DJ Muggs".Riotsound.com. Archived fromthe originalon September 29, 2011.RetrievedDecember 5,2011.
  12. ^[2]ArchivedMarch 1, 2008, at theWayback Machine
  13. ^"Hip-Hop, Rap Interviews: B-Real".Riotsound.com. Archived fromthe originalon December 30, 2011.RetrievedDecember 5,2011.
  14. ^Paine, Jake (May 4, 2009)."DJ Muggs Enters The Gumball 3,000, New Album".HipHop DX.RetrievedDecember 5,2011.
  15. ^"Soul Assassins f. Bun B & M1 (of dead prez) - Gangsta Shit".HipHop DX. May 26, 2009.RetrievedDecember 5,2011.
  16. ^Matt Rinaldi (2009-06-23)."Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Intermission - Muggs | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards".AllMusic.Retrieved2014-07-14.
  17. ^"The Complex 7: DJ Muggs | Complex Blog".Complex Networks.Archived fromthe originalon 2009-08-25.Retrieved2010-01-15.
  18. ^Alvin Aqua Blanco (September 23, 2010)."B-Real: Pay It Forward".HipHop DX.RetrievedDecember 5,2011.
  19. ^Arnold, Paul W (June 20, 2011)."Apathy Previews Next Album," Honkey Kong, "August 23 Release Confirmed".HipHop DX.RetrievedDecember 5,2011.
  20. ^"Cross My Heart Hope To Die - EP, by Cross My Heart Hope To Die".Alpha Pup.Retrieved2016-12-24.
  21. ^"Vita E Morte - EP, by Cross My Heart Hope To Die".Alpha Pup.Retrieved2016-12-24.
  22. ^"GRAMMY Award Results for Larry" D. J. Muggs "Muggerud".GRAMMY.com.November 23, 2020.RetrievedNovember 23,2020.
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