DJ Muggs | |
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DJ Muggs in 2000
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Background information | |
Birth name | Lawrence Muggerud |
Also known as |
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Born |
Queens, New York, US |
January 28, 1968
Origin | Los Angeles, California, US |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | |
Years active | 1987–present |
Labels | Columbia,ANTI-, Ultra |
Associated acts |
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Website | djmuggs.com |
Lawrence Muggerud (born January 28, 1968), better known by his stage name DJ Muggs, is an American DJ and producer. He produced tracks for Funkdoobiest, House of Pain, Dizzee Rascal, U2, Depeche Mode, Die Antwoord and more. He is a current member of hip hop group Cypress Hill, trip hop band Cross My Heart Hope To Die, and the leader of Los Angeles art collective Soul Assassins.
Muggs was born in Queens, New York of Italian descent, but was adopted into a Norwegian family. He moved to Los Angeles at age fourteen, 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. (aka Frankie)
After linking up with B-Real 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.
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. 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. 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.