Cypress Hill's DJ Muggs: One Underrated Producer

They never got as much credit as they deserved. They were often derided as fakers, their critics saying that the group wasn’t hip-hop enough and was catering too much to white suburban kids. But let’s be real (no pun intended). Cypress Hill (B Real, Sen Dog, DJ Muggs and Bobo) was a hugely influential rap group for their time. While they have fallen off a little, they’re still putting out decent albums even today. I’m seeing them in concert this Monday in Philly in a small ass venue (maybe only a few hundred people) so I’m real psyched. It’ll be my first time seeing them as a headliner, as the other times I’ve seen them have been at big festivals, one of them being the ridiculously dope Rock the Bells Festival in New York over the summer (this will be my fifth time seeing them, but I’ve also seen other hip-hop acts multiple times, including Talib Kweli, The Roots, Wu-Tang Clan and Rakim so go figure).

One of the reasons Cypress Hill has always been so dope is their beats. So in honor of me seeing them this Monday (expect a review of the show), I’d like put the spotlight on their beatmaker, DJ Muggs. DJ Muggs is by far one of THE most underrated producers in hip-hop of all time. He’s ridiculed as some Italian white boy who’s making stoner rap beats, but if you really listen to his beats, you realize that this guy is no joke. Get over your prejudices and appreciate greatness.

First off we have the Hill’s debut, “I.” This album was pretty revolutionary for rap music. CH was one of the first groups to really embrace rapping about weed, and all of those artists who have rapped about weed after them (basically ever rapper) owes something to CH for that. If you’re going to rap about weed you need the beats to go with it, and DJ Muggs delivers. Consider this: “I” came out in August 1991, and Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” in December 1992. Dr. Dre himself has said that his G-Funk sound was influenced by DJ Muggs beats on “I.” Yes, THE Dr. Dre. And RZA’s and Havoc’s (of Mobb Deep) dark, gritty beats owe something to DJ Muggs too (Muggs is from the East Coast after all). That's why this album was so revolutionary, beat-wise. It used guitars and funk rhythms before G-Funk overdid it to death. On their debut, CH has tons of funky beats to get your head nodding. The opener, “Pigs,” delivers, as does “Hand on the Pump.” A lot of the tracks feature a heavy bassline and some loud guitars and serious funk riffs (“Hole In Your Head,” “Light Another,” Phuncky Feel One” etc etc etc!). And damn, DJ Muggs used funk samples and little horn samples before it really became cliché (“Real Estate,” “The Funky Cypress Hill Shit”). The chorus to “Psychobetabuckdown” is even on some disco shit! I could go on, but you get the idea.

On the “Black Sunday” album DJ Muggs showcases his ability for dark beats that really get the stoned feeling on wax pretty damn accurate (“I Wanna Get High,” “Hits From Da Bong”). Muggs can also get rowdy on yo’ ass with the beats on “We Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That” and “Lick A Shot.” Those beats are just raw and make you want to fuck shit up, for lack of a better explanation. On “Cock the Hammer” there’s more dark, gritty dopeness and the same goes for “Hand On The Glock.” And that’s not to mention “Insane In The Brain.”


Still not convinced? Well then I present to ya’ll “III: Temples of Boom,” Cypress Hill’s 3rd album. This album was pretty much panned universally (I still don’t get why) and signaled the group’s sharp downfall in popularity. Which is a damn shame, because the whole album from start to finish is on some good shit. Even if you don’t like B Real’s nasal flow, I don’t think any true hip-hop head can argue that the beats on this album aren't ridiculous. If you want an album with some dark, gritty beats that has that “classic” East Coast sound (I know Cypress Hill’s from Cali, but their East Coast sound probably is due to the fact that DJ Muggs is originally from New York), “III” is for you. It easily gives any of that dark, gritty shit from Havoc or RZA a run for their money. It may seem like I’m prone to lofty statements, but I’m not a liar. Just listen to this album and you’ll see why.

I mean, “Throw Your Set In The Air” features Erick Sermon and a pretty haunting beat with some eerie synthesizers and basslines thrown in. “Stoned Raiders” is another gritty beat complete with a piano loop, ditto for “No Rest For The Wicked” (an Ice Cube diss), “Make A Move,” “Killafornia” and “Red Light District” (the latter just might make Dr. Dre jealous). The beat on “Illusions” is on a whole different level, and “Killa Hill Niggas” is another great one (RZA and Masta Killa even rap on it, coincidence or no?) Basically every track on “III” has a banging, gritty beat that fans of RZA and Havoc will love. I could go on about Cypress Hill’s other albums, but if you’re not convinced by now, then I just don’t know anymore….”IV” has more great beats (and sometimes saves the album overall when it gets mediocre, check “Prelude To A Come Up,” “Steel Magnolia,” “Tequila Sunrise,” “Dr. Greenthumb”). On “Skull and Bones” check “Another Victory” and “Rap Superstar,” with that infectious strings loop that calls for some serious head noddin’. And don’t forget, there’s also DJ Muggs’ “Soul Assassins” albums (check Vol. 1, has some of Muggs’ best beats) that have some seriously good production on there, and of course the DJ Muggs/GZA collabo “Grandmasters.” He also produced House of Pain’s “Jump Around” which, don’t front, has a party-movin’ beat.

So there you have it, DJ Muggs, one of the best producers of all time (it really is true. But before I get a bunch of angry messages, He's like top-20 material, not top 10).

Here’s some of his beats to check out:

Download Cypress Hill - I

Download Cypress Hill - III: Temple of Boom

Download Cypress Hill - The Instrumental Album

Download Dr. Dre and B Real - Puppet Master (from Muggs' Soul Assassins Chapter 1 album) (really dope beat)

RZA and GZA - Third World (from the SA Chapter 1 album)
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On another note, I'd also like to welcome Hippopotamus to the writing staff of Ain't No Half Steppin'. He's from Holland so now we've gone international! Look for him to cover both hip-hop from the US and Europe. Welcome welcome.