DJ Muggs
Album : The Soul Assassins, Chapter II
Release Date : Oct 3, 2000
Label : Rufflife Records

Customer Review :

This is as hardcore as gangsta rap gets. Muggs’ second instalment of the Soul Assassins’ Chapters ranks as one of the better gangsta rap albums released in the millennium. The album borders between straight cadillac crusing-blunt smoking-down the hood and a touch of horrorcore. Muggs, as the genius behind Cypress Hill, sets out on his own to lay a solid foundation to his career as one of the most aspiring producers in the history of hip hop. His second attempt to establish the Soul Assassins is a more matured approach. The groundbreaking Soul Assassins Chapter 1 was only a taste of Muggs’ talent, which evidently stretches out in Chapter 2. He takes a deeper step into his ocean, of eerie undertones and spooky piano riffs laced with deafening bass thumps - only this time, it sounds like a soundtrack to a psychotic murder motion picture.

And of course, assisting him is a cleverly selected group of underrated and gifted emcees from both coasts. The microphone stranglers in this album have styles that coincide with Muggs’ mental probing production with pin point accuracy, and this makes the results a marvel to listen to. Kool G. Rap never sounded so good with West Coast beats ; Infamous Mobb’s G.O.D. spits his best record ever ; X’zibit rises to the peak of hardcoreness with King Tee ; Ras Kass’ guest appearance on a track with underground favourites Chace Infinite, Krondon and Phenam is a surprise - its good to know he’s gone back to his old style ; Kurupt makes two appearances - firstly to tease us with a head bopping interlude only to later cause massive wreckage with Roscoe - this is probably the tightest collaboration I’ve heard from the West Coast since the Dogg Pound. Even Everlast drops a short 2 verses across a nodding bassline and still manages to get the point across. The most astounding and inspiring track has to be Dilated Peoples’ "Suckers Are Hiding" which is extremely addictive and you’ll be rapping along with it in no less than 2 listens.

There are also appearances from artists who made the first album : GZA, Goodie Mobb and Cypress Hill. Muggs produces all but 2 tracks which are contributed by his protégé The Alchemist, whose production is similar to that of Muggs (He would later be inducted in the Infamous Mobb Deep, Cypress Hill and Dilated Platoon families). DJ Muggs’ creativity is exceptional and this album celebrates the brilliant calibre of his skills. Oh yeah, and make sure to check out the remixed GZA hidden track - it clearly shows how Muggs touches two ends of the world with his music (total seriousness toned to happy head bopping over the same lyrics).

Track Listings :
1. Real Life - Kool G Rap
2. We Will Survive
3. You Better Believe It - King Lee
4. When the Fat Lady Sings
5. This Some ’N To - Goodie Mob
6. Armageddon (Interlude) - Kurupt
7. Victory or Defeat
8. Heart of the Assassin - Ras Kass
9. Suckers Are Hidin’ - Dilated Peoples
10. When the Pain Inflict - Kurupt
11. Don’t Trip - Cypress Hill
12. Razor to Your Throat
13. Millennium Thrust

No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.