HHG: The first Cypress record is deemed a classic and rightfully so, but for me personally, Cypress Hill III Temples Of Boom is incredible.  That album has a mood and an atmosphere to it that is unmatched.  How do you feel looking back on that particular album?

Muggs: Well, what that was...Cypress got so big on Black Sunday and then all these expectations from the label and everybody...I was like, I wanna make the darkest record I can make.  We wasn't happy either.  You get all this money and shit man...that didn't make me happy.  So I was like, I'm not even gonna make a single for this record, I'm just gonna make the darkest record I can make and that's what it was man.  We was goin' through a lot of personal problems, breaking up with girlfriends and family problems and stuff...and that's what came out man.

HHG: I spoke with Everlast when his last solo album came out and we got to talking about the first Funkdoobiest album, which you had done a lot of work on.  He didn't understand why it didn't really blow up the way it potentially could have.  Do you have that same thought looking back on it?

Muggs: I think it was probably the first single...it was just timing.  Like, the first single was The Funkiest but they didn't do a video to that until later, and they didn't put the push behind it.  They put the push behind Bow Wow Wow.  I think the timing was off, you know?  More than anything, more than anything, just the timing...timing's important man.

HHG: Next year is going to be the 20th anniversary of the first Cypress record.  Are there plans to re-release it or take it out on tour and perform it from beginning to end?

Muggs: Man, I haven't toured with Cypress in about 4 years and I'm really not involved in it like that, so I really don't know what's going on.  I'm not involved with the management, B-Real pretty much took over the reigns for the creative direction for the group...so I really couldn't tell you what the plans are.

HHG: Is that why you're not really featured on the latest Cypress record Rise Up?

Muggs: Right, he wanted a new sound and a new style and had his vision of the way he wanted to do the group.  I was like, cool, you got my full support.  Whatever you wanna do brother.

HHG: In closing, Kill Devil Hills hits stores on Tuesday, August 30.  One track off the record that I'm really curious about is Trouble Shooters with Sean Price, OC and Sick Jacken.  How ridiculous is that cut?

Muggs: The shit is hypnotizing man.  It's fucking ILL.  It's a knocker, one of my favorite beats.  It bangs, just a real hypnotizing beat, real fuckin' dirty hip hop.  I come from this whole fuck the radio, fuck the video...you know...the people who inspired me were Public Enemy and N.W.A.  Chuck D is one of the reasons I'm making music PERIOD.  Yo! Bum Rush The Show and Nation Of Millions is like organized noise, you know what I mean?...organized chaos.  Turn off that bullshit, turn off the radio, fuck MTV and I still make my shit like that man.  That record really got that attitude, this whole record does. 


- Flatline for HIPHOPGODS.com