Jump Around – House Of Pain | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#3); 1992

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Hip-hoppers House Of Pain hailed from Los Angeles, where Taft High School students Everlast (Erik Shrody) and Ice-T (Tracy Morrow) first threw down some raps together.

Things looked good when Everlast landed a recording deal courtesy of some Ice-T contacts, however, the album bombed. Everlast got back into the game, forming House Of Pain with “Danny Boy” O’Connor and Leor “DJ Lethal” DiMant.

With Lawrence “DJ Muggs” Muggerud of Cypress Hill, Everlast created Jump Around, built on samples from Jump by baby rappers Kris Kross (#1 Pop for 8 weeks; 1992) and Harlem Shuffle by classic soulsters Bob & Earl (#3 R&B; 1964).

Unlike Jump, which hit #1 just five weeks after its Hot 100 debut, Jump Around took four long months to reach its #3 peak. Like Jump, Jump Around also racked up platinum sales.

Unfortunately, HOP became their own worst enemies, getting into trouble with promoters and the law. After two minor charters, House Of Pain disappeared from the scene.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • DJ Muggs

Lyrics Written by:

  • Lawrence Muggerud
  • Erik Schrody

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).