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.[4] Produced by DJ Muggs, it featured a variety of rappers including Dr. Dre, B-Real, LA The 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.[5] 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 didn't reach gold but landed #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 & 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 highly positive reviews;[6] 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.[7] 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,[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] The first single for the album was "Gangsta Shit," by Bun B and M1 of Dead Prez.[11] Despite its high-profile guest list, the release was met with lukewarm reception,[12] 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.[13] Muggs plans next on recording his 5th V.S. album with group member B-Real.[14] & 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"[15]
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 albums lead Single would Feature UK artist Dizzee Rascal & Los Angeles Upstart MC Bambu.
10 years ago
10 years ago