Hip-hop and legal pot: Q&A with DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill

After several decades of recording music inspired by a federally illegal substance, DJ Muggs believes marijuana legalization is a beautiful thing.

Serving as the DJ and main producer of the legendary Los Angeles hip-hop group Cypress Hill, Muggs joined bandmates B-Real, Sen Dog, and Eric Bobo as one of the first groups to heavily reference cannabis culture in rap music. Muggs has also earned the distinction as one of the best music producers in the game under his collective known as Soul Assassins.

Since opening the floodgates to many more 420-friendly music acts through their infamous Smokeout festival concerts, Muggs and crew now find themselves in an era where cannabis is completely legal.

They are embracing the moment with is an upcoming line of recreational products, while Muggs has performed special DJ sets for the globetrotting International Cannabis Business conference.

In anticipation of his next appearance at ICBC’s San Francisco event this February 1-2, we caught up with Muggs to talk about the past and current state of hip hop and cannabis, the status of a new Cypress Hill album, and why today’s rappers prefer prescription…