View source for DJ Muggs

{{Short description|American record producer (born 1968)}}
{{redirect|Muggs|the character in Archie Comics|Ethel Muggs|American blues rock band|The Muggs}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = DJ Muggs
| image             = Dj muggs-mika.jpg
| caption           = DJ Muggs in 2000
| birth_name        = Lawrence Cavassi<ref name="sidetripping"/>
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1968|01|28}}
| birth_place       = [[Queens]], [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date        =
| death_place       = 
| origin            = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Hip-hop]]|[[trip hop]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Record producer|disc jockey|mixing engineer}}
| years_active      = 1987–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Mishka NYC|Mishka]]|[[ANTI- Records|ANTI-]]|[[Ultra Records|Ultra]]|[[Sacred Bones Records|Sacred Bones]]}}
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Cypress Hill]]|[[Soul Assassins]]}}
| past_member_of    = Cross My Heart Hope to Die
}}

'''Lawrence Muggerud''' (born January 28, 1968),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Mike |date=January 28, 2023|title=Today's famous birthdays list for January 28, 2023 includes celebrities Ariel Winter, Will Poulter|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/01/todays-famous-birthdays-list-for-january-28-2023-includes-celebrities-ariel-winter-will-poulter.html |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=[[Cleveland.com]]}}</ref> known professionally as '''DJ Muggs''', is an American record producer. He has been a member of [[Cypress Hill]], a member of the trip hop band Cross My Heart Hope to Die and the leader of hip hop and art collective [[Soul Assassins]].

During his career, he has produced tracks for [[House of Pain]], [[Funkdoobiest]], [[Daddy Freddy]], [[Pavlos Fyssas]], [[Die Antwoord]], [[Westside Gunn]], remixed songs for [[Janet Jackson]], [[U2]], [[Kaliphz]], [[Simply Red]], [[Depeche Mode]], and collaborated with [[Tricky (musician)|Tricky]], [[GZA]], [[Sick Jacken]], [[Planet Asia]], [[Ill Bill]], [[Meyhem Lauren]] and [[Roc Marciano]]. As part of Cypress Hill, he received three [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] nominations for "[[Insane in the Brain]]", "[[I Ain't Goin' Out Like That]]" and "[[Throw Your Set in the Air]]".

He composed the [[film score]] of the 2023 feature film ''[[Divinity (film)|Divinity]]'', along with [[musician]] and [[composer]] [[Dean Hurley]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/collections/dj-muggs-and-dean-hurley|title=DJ Muggs and Dean Hurley|website=sacredbonesrecords.com|date=24 November 2023|access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref>

==Life and career==
Of [[Italian-American|Italian]] descent, Muggerud was born in [[Queens]] [[Boroughs of New York City|borough]] of [[New York City]], and was later adopted by his stepfather, of [[Norwegians|Norwegian]] descent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hiphopgods.rapstation.com/news/dj.muggs.hhg.interview |title=DJ Muggs - the HipHopGods Interview - HipHopGods.com |access-date=2015-11-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306080710/http://hiphopgods.rapstation.com/news/dj.muggs.hhg.interview |archive-date=2015-03-06 }}</ref><ref name="sidetripping">{{Cite web |last=Weekly |first=L. A. |date=2003-03-27 |title=Side Tripping |url=https://www.laweekly.com/side-tripping/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=LA Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-14 |title="I Just Want To Make Music With My Middle Finger Up": An Interview With DJ Muggs |url=https://www.passionweiss.com/2018/08/14/dj-muggs-interview/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=Passion of the Weiss}}</ref> He moved to [[Bell Gardens]], [[California]] at age fourteen,<ref>{{cite web|last=Cornish |first=Melanie |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1224/title.producers-corner-dj-muggs |title=Producer's Corner: DJ Muggs |publisher=HipHop DX |date=September 20, 2008 |access-date=December 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428042036/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1224/title.producers-corner-dj-muggs |archive-date=2011-04-28}}</ref><ref name="sidetripping" /> and got his start DJing for hip hop group [[The 7A3]], who put out one album in 1988 before disbanding.

===Cypress Hill (1988–2004)===
After linking up with [[B-Real]] and [[Sen Dog]] to form the group [[Cypress Hill]],<ref>[Cypress Hill: Still Smokin' (The Ultimate Video Collection )(bonus Features).]</ref> 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, Muggerud met [[The Alchemist (musician)|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.<ref>[http://remixmag.com/artists/remix_popular_science/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415182257/http://remixmag.com/artists/remix_popular_science/|date=April 15, 2009}}</ref>

===Soul Assassins===
In 1997, Muggerud released an album under the name [[Soul Assassins]]. The album, ''[[Soul Assassins, Chapter 1|Soul Assassins I]]'', reached #86 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and earned critical praise.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Bush |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/muggs-presents-the-soul-assassins-chapter-i-mw0000092513 |title=Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Chapter I - Muggs &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=1997-03-04 |access-date=2014-07-14}}</ref> Produced by Muggerud, it featured [[Dr. Dre]], B-Real, [[La the Darkman]], [[Infamous Mobb]], [[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.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jason Birchmeier |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/muggs-presents-the-soul-assassins-chapter-ii-mw0000101012 |title=Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Chapter II - Soul Assassins &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2000-10-03 |access-date=2014-07-14}}</ref> He also put out the record ''[[Dust (DJ Muggs album)|Dust]]'', an atmosphere-heavy [[trip hop]] affair with [[Greg Dulli]], [[A'Me Lorain|Amy Trujillo]] and [[Everlast (musician)|Everlast]] on vocals. After the 2004 album ''[[Till Death Do Us Part (Cypress Hill album)|Till 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, Muggerud teamed up with [[Wu-Tang Clan]]'s GZA for the album ''[[Grandmasters (album)|Grandmasters]]'', the first project released on his label Angeles Records. Patterned after a chess game, it received positive reviews;<ref>{{cite web|author=Marisa Brown |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/grandmasters-mw0000353720 |title=Grandmasters - GZA, Muggs &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2005-10-25 |access-date=2014-07-14}}</ref> Muggerud 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/DJ-Muggs-cypress-hill/index.php |title=Hip-Hop, Rap Interviews : DJ Muggs |publisher=Riotsound.com |access-date=December 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929183534/http://www.riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/DJ-Muggs-cypress-hill/index.php |archive-date=September 29, 2011 }}</ref> Instead, Muggerud produced an album for [[Psycho Realm]] member Sick Jacken, ''[[Legend of the Mask and the Assassin]]'' two years later, in 2007. In 2008, Muggerud announced that his album with California rapper [[Planet Asia]] would be the third Soul Assassins album,<ref>[http://www.kushtv.com/dailydose/?p=1541]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301111907/http://www.kushtv.com/dailydose/?p=1541|date=March 1, 2008}}</ref> 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, Muggerud has produced half of the album's material so far, going to [[DJ Premier]], [[Pete Rock]] and [[Mike Shinoda]] for the rest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/B-Real-Cypress-Hill/index.php |title=Hip-Hop, Rap Interviews : B-Real |publisher=Riotsound.com |access-date=December 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230032819/http://riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/B-Real-Cypress-Hill/index.php |archive-date=December 30, 2011 }}</ref> In 2009, Muggerud entered the [[Gumball 3000]] cross-country race, and on June 23, 2009, ''[[Soul Assassins: Intermission]]'' was released, featuring RZA, [[Prodigy (rapper)|Prodigy]], [[Evidence (musician)|Evidence]], The Alchemist and [[Bun B]].<ref name="hiphopdx.com">{{cite web|last=Paine |first=Jake |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.8966/title.dj-muggs-enters-the-gumball-3-000-new-album |title=DJ Muggs Enters The Gumball 3,000, New Album |publisher=HipHop DX |date=May 4, 2009 |access-date=December 5, 2011}}</ref> The first single for the album was "Gangsta Shit" by Bun B and [[M-1 (rapper)|M1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/audio/id.7702/title.soul-assassins-f-bun-b-m1-of-dead-prez-gangsta-shit |title=Soul Assassins f. Bun B & M1 (of dead prez) - Gangsta Shit |publisher=HipHop DX |date=May 26, 2009 |access-date=December 5, 2011}}</ref> Despite its high-profile guest list, the release was met with lukewarm reception,<ref>{{cite web|author=Matt Rinaldi |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/muggs-presents-the-soul-assassins-intermission-mw0000819072 |title=Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Intermission - Muggs &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2009-06-23 |access-date=2014-07-14}}</ref> and Muggerud later clarified its status as a preview before the release of ''Soul Assassins III'', the next full-fledged installment of his Soul Assassins series.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/blogs/2009/06/23/the-complex-7-dj-muggs/ |title=The Complex 7: DJ Muggs &#124; Complex Blog |website=[[Complex Networks]] |access-date=2010-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825000523/http://www.complex.com/blogs/2009/06/23/the-complex-7-dj-muggs/ |archive-date=2009-08-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Muggerud plans next on recording his 5th V.S. album with group member [[B-Real]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Alvin Aqua Blanco |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1600/title.b-real-pay-it-forward |title=B-Real: Pay It Forward |publisher=HipHop DX |date=September 23, 2010 |access-date=December 5, 2011}}</ref> and in 2013 he confirmed a VS album with [[Meyhem Lauren]] as well.

On the Soul Assassins official website, it was also revealed that Muggerud contributed production to [[Apathy (rapper)|Apathy]]'s song "Fear Itself" from rapper's [[Honkey Kong (Apathy album)|''Honkey Kong'']] album, which was released August 23, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Arnold |first=Paul W |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.13246/title.apathy-previews-next-album-honkey-kong-advises-lupe-fiasco |title=Apathy Previews Next Album, "Honkey Kong," August 23 Release Confirmed |publisher=HipHop DX |date=June 20, 2011 |access-date=December 5, 2011}}</ref>

In 2011, Muggerud announced the release of a new album entitled ''[[Bass for Your Face]]'', which he described as a 'West Coast [[dubstep]] album'. In October 2011, Muggerud confirmed via his [[Twitter]] account that [[Public Enemy]] frontman [[Chuck D]] would contribute to the album, and the lead single would feature UK artist [[Dizzee Rascal]] and Los Angeles upstart MC [[Bambu (rapper)|Bambu]].

=== Cross My Heart Hope to Die ===
Muggerud returned to the trip hop genre by teaming up with vocalist Brevi, fellow producer Andrew Kline (from the [[hardcore punk]] band [[Strife (band)|Strife]]) 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,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alphapup.bandcamp.com/album/cross-my-heart-hope-to-die-ep|title=Cross My Heart Hope To Die - EP, by Cross My Heart Hope To Die|website=Alpha Pup|access-date=2016-12-24}}</ref> 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'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alphapup.bandcamp.com/album/vita-e-morte-ep|title=Vita E Morte - EP, by Cross My Heart Hope To Die|website=Alpha Pup|access-date=2016-12-24}}</ref> it was supported by two music videos "Two Shots" and "Tears Of God". Both EPs were released via [[Alpha Pup Records]] and also were released later as ''Cross My Heart Hope To Die'' eight-track album.

==Discography==
{{See also|DJ Muggs production discography}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===with Soul Assassins===
'''Studio albums'''
* 1997: ''[[Soul Assassins, Chapter 1|Muggs Presents... The Soul Assassins Chapter I]]''
* 2000: ''[[Soul Assassins II|Muggs Presents Soul Assassins II]]''
* 2009: ''[[Soul Assassins: Intermission|DJ Muggs Presents Soul Assassins: Intermission]]''
* 2018: ''Soul Assassins: Dia del Asesinato''
* 2023: ''Soul Assassins 3: Death Valley''

===Solo===
* 2003: ''[[Dust (DJ Muggs album)|Dust]]''
* 2013: ''[[Bass for Your Face]]''
* 2020: ''Winter''
* 2021: ''[[Dies Occidendum]]''
* 2021: ''Winter 2''
* 2023: ''Notes and Tones''

===Extended plays===
* 2012: ''Sound Boy Killa''
* 2012: ''Sound Clash Business''
* 2018: ''Frozen Angels'' {{small|(with [[Meyhem Lauren]])}}
* 2019: ''Members Only'' {{small|(with Meyhem Lauren)}}
* 2023: ''Lofi Punk'' <small>(with 8tari Lofipunk)</small>

===Mixtapes===
* 2000: ''Cornerstone Mixtape 16: Kalifornication'' <small>(with Insane Mixaken)</small>
* 2002: ''Soul Assassins Mixtape Vol. One''
* 2004: ''The Last Assassin'' <small>(with Chace Infinite)</small>
* 2005: ''Mash Up Radio (Hip Hop vs. Rock) Vol. 1'' <small>(with DJ Warrior)</small>
* 2005: ''Mash Up Radio (Hip Hop vs. Rock) Vol. 2'' <small>(with DJ Warrior)</small>
* 2005: ''Machine Shop Mixtape Volume 1''
* 2006: ''Soul Assassins: Take Aim''
* 2006: ''Mash-Up Radio: The Aftermash'' <small>(with Ern Dog)</small>
* 2011: ''The Los Angeles, Philippines Mixtape'' <small>(with [[Bambu (rapper)|Bambu]])</small>
* 2012: ''Rock the Bells Official Mixtape''
{{col-2}}

===Film score===
* 2023: ''[[Divinity (film)|Original Motion Picture Score Divinity]]'' <small>(with [[Dean Hurley]])</small>

===Collaborations===
* 1999: ''[[Juxtapose (album)|Juxtapose]]'' <small>(with [[Tricky (musician)|Tricky]] and [[Dame Grease|Grease]])</small>
* 2005: ''[[Grandmasters (album)|Grandmasters]]'' <small>(vs. [[GZA]])</small>
* 2007: ''[[Legend of the Mask and the Assassin]]'' <small>(vs. [[Sick Jacken]] feat. Cynic)</small>
* 2008: ''[[Pain Language]]'' <small>(with [[Planet Asia]])</small>
* 2010: ''[[Kill Devil Hills (album)|Kill Devil Hills]]'' <small>(vs. [[Ill Bill]])</small>
* 2017: ''Gems from the Equinox'' <small>(with Meyhem Lauren)</small>
* 2018: ''[[Kaos (DJ Muggs and Roc Marciano album)|Kaos]]'' <small>(with [[Roc Marciano]])</small>
* 2019: ''Hell's Roof'' <small>(with Lil' Eto)</small>
* 2019: ''[[Tuez-Les Tous]]'' <small>(with [[Mach-Hommy]])</small>
* 2019: ''Medallo'' <small>(with Crimeapple)</small>
* 2019: ''Kill Em All'' <small>(with Mach-Hommy)</small>
* 2019: ''Dump Assassins'' <small>(with Tha God Fahim)</small>
* 2020: ''Kilogram'' <small>(with Al Divino)</small>
* 2021: ''Death & the Magician'' <small>(with [[Rome Streetz]])</small>
* 2021: ''Rammellzee'' <small>(with Flee Lord)</small>
* 2021: ''Mile Zero'' <small>(with [[Yelawolf]])</small>
* 2021: ''American Cheese'' <small>(with Hologram)</small>
* 2021: ''Cartagena'' <small>(with Crimeapple)</small>
* 2022: ''Gold'' <small>(with Rigz)</small>
* 2022: ''Sin Cortar'' <small>(with Crimeapple)</small>
* 2022: ''What They Hittin 4'' <small>(with [[LNDN DRGS|Jay Worthy]])</small>
* 2023: ''Champagne For Breakfast'' <small>(with [[Madlib]] and Meyhem Lauren)</small>
* 2024: ''Roc Star'' <small>(with Mooch)</small>
* 2024: ''The Eternal Now'' <small>(with [[Raz Fresco]])</small>
* 2024: ''Los Pollos Hermanos'' <small>(with Crimeapple and RLX)</small>

===Cypress Hill===
{{Main|Cypress Hill discography}}

===Cross My Heart Hope To Die===
* 2013: ''Cross My Heart Hope to Die EP''
* 2014: ''Vita E Morte''
* 2014: ''Cross My Heart Hope to Die''
{{col-end}}

== Awards and nominations ==
{{awards table}}
!{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
|align=center|[[36th Annual Grammy Awards|1993]]
|"[[Insane in the Brain]]"
|rowspan="3"| [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]]
|{{nom}}
|rowspan="3"| <ref name="grammy">{{Cite web|date=November 23, 2020|title=GRAMMY Award Results for Larry "D. J. Muggs" Muggerud|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/larry-d-j-muggs-muggerud/5206|access-date=November 23, 2020|website=[[Grammy Award|GRAMMY.com]]|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[37th Annual Grammy Awards|1994]]
|"[[I Ain't Goin' Out Like That]]"
|{{nom}}
|-
|align=center|[[38th Annual Grammy Awards|1995]]
|"[[Throw Your Set in the Air]]"
|{{nom}}
|-
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{discogs artist}}
*[https://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.2427/title.dj-muggs-recalls-grandmasters-with-gza-preps-work-with-shepard-fairey Interview With HipHopDX]

{{DJ Muggs}}
{{Cypress Hill}}
{{Soul Assassins}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muggs, Dj}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American adoptees]]
[[Category:American hip-hop DJs]]
[[Category:Cypress Hill members]]
[[Category:American audio engineers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American trip hop musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:American hip-hop record producers]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Anti- (record label) artists]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]