DJ Muggs

Known for a distinctive, dusty sound, DJ Muggs built his reputation making beats and producing for his groups Cypress Hill and House of Pain. He is also the founder of Soul Assassins, a loose collective of L.A.-based musicians and graphic artists.

Muggs began DJ’ing in 1984 and met B Real and Sen Dog (later Cypress Hill) in 1986. Muggs joined his first official group, 7A3, in 1988. During that year, Muggs produced his first single, “Mad Mad World,” on the Colors (Orion Pictures Co., 1988) soundtrack. The group was later signed in 1988, and they recorded the album Coolin’ in Cali (Geffen Records, 1988). After 7A3 disbanded, Muggs got with Cypress Hill, who was later signed to a record deal in 1990 and recorded their debut self-titled album in 1991.

The first major single for Muggs was the double platinum “Jump Around” for House of Pain in 1992. In the late ’90s, Muggs transitioned away from Cypress Hill toward solo work, which includes Soul Assassins Chapter I (Sony, 1997), with collaborations by RZA, GZA, Goodie Mob, KRS-One and Mobb Deep. Soul Assassins Chapter II (Rufflife, 2000) was released on Muggs’s own Rufflife label and includes guest spots from Xzibit, GZA, Goodie Mob and Kool G Rap. Signing with Anti Records in 2003, Muggs released Dust (Anti/Epitaph Records, 2003), an album veering away from hip-hop and toward the Bristol trip-hop sound. He started the Angeles label in 2005, where he recorded and released Grandmasters (Angeles Records, 2005) with Wu-Tang member GZA.

DJ Muggs founded Soul Assassins in 1992, with members including tattooist/artist Mr. Cartoon, producer Alchemist, photographer Estevan Oriel and Cypress Hill. The Soul Assassins are responsible for several clothing companies, millions of records sold and events like the Smoke Out and Unity festivals. Hosted by Muggs, Soul Assassins has a weekly mashup radio session on Sirius Satellite Radio on Shade 45.