“House of Pain (Fine Malt Lyrics)” is the debut album of the Hip Hop group the House of Pain, consisting of rappers Everlast, Danny Boy and DJ Lethal. After an unsuccessful solo debut, Everlast recruited his old High School friend Danny Boy O’Connor and DJ Lethal, whom Everlast had met while touring with Ice-T’s Rhyme Syndicate, to form the group. The name the House of Pain is a reference to H.G. Wells’ novel “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” Their first stuido album was released on July 21, 1992 on Tommy Boy Records. Tommy Boy Records signed the group on the strength of their demo which featured “Jump Around” which was produced by DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill. In 1992, “Jump Around” reached #3 on the charts in the United States, #6 in Ireland and #8 in the United Kingdom. Even though DJ Lethal is technically Latvian, the trio celebrated Irish-American culture and their lyrics on the album mostly promote Irish-American stereotypes. Muggs, along with DJ Lethal and Ralph Tha Funky Mexican from Funkdoobiest produced the album. “House of Pain (Fine Malt Lyrics)” went multi-Platinum and has a huge cultural impact. It can still be heard at any event where there more than three people present, as it required by federal law.
Guest review with Mike T. (@mike_t_bvnm)
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Chris: Is it true that the first time you heard “Jump Around” was on the soundtrack for Mrs. Doubtfire?
Mike T.: Haha. To be honest I don't know when the first time I heard “Jump Around” was. It very well could have been Mrs. Doubtfire. That scene is so easy to remember just from listening to the song. I can picture Robin Williams dancing on the dining room table, and then his wife just shows up.
Chris: Haha right? I remember that scene well too. For me, my Aunt Sonya had the album and I would wear it out. Listening to it now, is kind of funny as much of the lyrical content went over my head back then but this album definitely brings up a lot of nostalgia.
Chris: So the beat that became “Jump Around” was actually offered to Cypress Hill and then to Ice Cube, but was turned down by both them. Everlast, who met DJ Muggs through his girlfriend, who was the roommate of Everlast’s girlfriend, heard the beat and wrote the lyrics for what would become “Jump Around” in a couple hours in his car in DJ Muggs’ driveway. I think it’s fair to say it is the most significant thing they’ve ever did, in terms of cultural impact. You can’t go to a sport event or watch a movie without hearing “Jump Around”. Can you think of a particular occasion or event where you heard “Jump Around?” Also, what is your opinion of Pete Rock’s remix of “Jump Around”?
Mike T.: I know I've heard it before at an Isotopes game back in the day. I haven't been to a sports event in years. But "Jump Around" is just a song you can play in almost any place. I've heard it in bars all the time when we could go to bars. The thing is to when the song comes on people are always going to get down to it. Whether it's a head bob, mouthing the lyrics, or even dancing. It's just a song that hits for everyone. So I have mixed feelings with the remix. I like the beat of the remix. The incorporation of the horns was a nice touch. Now the thing that I'm kind of like meh on is the timing change that the remix has. It's a little slower so when you first hear it, it throws me off a bit. If I were to grade it 1 out of 10 compared to the original. I'd give it a 7 out of 10.
Chris: I definitely heard “Jump Around” at a Quinceanera and one time when Bill Clinton came to Albuquerque for a rally in Civic Plaza. “Jump Around” is for everyone, even the Emo kids.
I would say that particular remix is probably one of Pete Rock’s best or at least one of his best-known remixes. I do prefer the original though. It’s some of Muggs’ best work.
House of Pain – “Jump Around” (Produced by DJ Muggs)
House of Pain feat. Pete Rock – “Jump Around” (Pete Rock Remix)
Chris: Mike, I know that you are a Mason and I’m sure you probably aren’t surprised that I found a way to ask you about it on here but did you happen to catch the Masonry reference on the song “Life Goes On”? I couldn’t find anything on the web about Everlast (a.k.a. Erik Schrody) being a Free Mason and after talking to our friend, who is also Mason, it’s very unlikely that Everlast was a 33rd degree Mason considering he was only 23 years old at the time the album was released. Can you comment on this and maybe any other Masonic references in Hip Hop that you are aware of?
Mike T.: So I am glad that this did come up because when I first heard the song I was just driving around just to listen to the album uninterrupted. So when that line came up I had to double take, and rewind the song. So yes, I am a Freemason, but I am not a Scottish Rite Mason. So I don't know a lot about 33rd degree Masons other than it is an honorary degree that you get in Scottish Rite. Scottish Rite is basically like a branch of Freemasonry. I don't personally know of many other Mason references in Hip Hop. Netflix put out a documentary a while back called "Inside Look At Freemasonry" the end credits have a Rap song that is just dedicated to Masonry. It's called "So Mote It Be" by J Row.
House of Pain – “Life Goes On”
J Row – “So Mote It Be”
Chris: There is a lot of promotion of Irish-American stereotypes on this album, particularly drinking and fighting. I remember seeing the video for “Jump Around” and listening to this album as a kid and getting really pumped up by it. There are a lot of Italian-American stereotypes promoted in Hip Hop and just in Pop Culture in general but not by any Italian-American Hip Hop groups that I can think of anyway. What did you think of the lyrical content of this album and being that you come from an Italian-American background, how do you feel about the promotion of stereotypes in music? And I also want to suggest that we find an Italian-American rapper or group to listen to for our next review together.
Mike T.: So personally I didn't have an issue with it. I know people probably do or in the past when the album came out did. In the end it didn't bother me. I think most people would even really know what they were talking about when they say "Dago". When I first heard it I laughed a little and I won't lie, because I hadn't heard the term in a long time. Being in New Mexico you wouldn't hear that, but back East you would know right off the bat. But the vibe I got from them referencing Irish, and Italian-Americans they were just making fun of themselves. From their songs they must have eaten a shit load of corned beef and cabbage. Plus, all the beer and blunts they must have put down haha. I am down to find an Italian-American rapper or group to listen to. That's one thing I really enjoy about doing these reviews. Being that I am not really versed in Hip Hop I get to branch out my music selection that much more from these.
Chris: I appreciate your honesty, Mike. I think sometimes there is power in owning a stereotype, at that point you can’t be ridiculed for it. As far Italian-American stereotypes, there is this fascination with both in Hip Hop culture and Popular culture. We all love a good mob flick and a part of us enjoys rooting for the antihero.
Chris: For me, the best thing about this album is the production. The beats. It is classic, funky DJ Muggs material. In my opinion, you definitely wouldn’t and I probably wouldn’t know who the House of Pain was if it weren’t for DJ Muggs’ contribution on this album. Along with “Jump Around”, he contributed to the production of 7 other tracks on the album. What is your opinion on the production of this album? Are there any beats on this album that you had a particular affinity for?
Mike T.: The beats were dope on this album. So much fun to listen to. I think the production was great on this album. It doesn't give me that feeling of being at a live show like some of the other 90's albums we've done, but I like the sound of this album. This is probably my favorite album we've done so far. I really had a fun time just putting this on the speakers and just jamming out. One beat in particular that really stuck with me was "House and the Rising Son". That saxophone that really hit for me. The beat wasn't just a typical "banger" that sax just gave it this depth that I really liked. "Top O' the Morning to Ya" is another one. That harmonica just was a nice addition to the beat. It already makes you bob your head, but that harmonica just topped it off for me. I really like how these beats are just funky. Then you get that hint of scratching from the DJ. Then I gotta go with "Put on Your Shit Kickers" that little vocal drop to already a gritty beat. I enjoyed how its very bass drum kick heavy. Then they just layer it with other instruments or vocal drops.
Chris: It makes sense that you’d enjoy that saxophone since you played yourself. I’m glad that you mentioned “Top O’ the Morning to Ya” because that is a beat I enjoy too and it’s actually a song that was produced by DJ Lethal and not DJ Muggs.
House of Pain – “Top O’ the Morning to Ya”
Willie Dixon – “I Ain’t Superstitious”
Chris: Other than “Jump Around”, were there any songs on the album that you particularly enjoyed?
Mike T.: So I really try to keep this question limited to 3 songs. This album made it hard for me to pick those 3 because I liked this album a lot. So first I'm gonna go with "Top O' the Morning to Ya". The beat right away pulls you in. Then right off the bat you get "Ya see I'm Irish, but I'm not a leprechaun", and just talking about fighting right away as well. Then next I gotta go with "Danny Boy, Danny Boy". I just got pulled in with that hook in the song. Then "One for the Road" how can you not get into the hook?! "Mickey Mouse, you know he's in the house, I said Mickey Mouse, you know he's in the house, One for the road, this is one for the road". But all in all I think this album had a lot of really good tracks. So this was a real difficult one for me to pick 3 because I could just keep listing songs.
Chris: "Put Your Shit Kickers On" was on that stood out for me. I felt like that was the best track where both Everlast and Danny Boy were featured. The song with B-Real is pretty good as well.
House of Pain – “One for the Road”
Chris: Now that you’ve listened to the entire album, would you consider the House of Pain to be a one-hit wonder?
Mike T. : I would have to say just from this album, yes. I know I don't know much about them, but I couldn't even tell you if i heard a song from them outside of "Jump Around" on anything. I do think the album was great, and don't know why you didn't hear much about them afterwards. But I guess in House of Pain fashion "Life Goes On".
Chris: I didn’t care of the album as much now that I have re-listened to it. True, the production is dope but to me, Everlast and Danny Boy’s lyrics are pretty basic and leave a lot of be desired. "All My Love" is probably the worst shout out songs of all time but it’s a good album, I just don’t hold it in the same regard that once did. As far as a one hit wonder, I would say no. I liked their second album as well and the name House of Pain is firmly entrenched in Hip Hop’s story.
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