Cypress Hill: Still Alive and Smokin'

In the early 90's rap and hip-hop music was at a critical point in its formation and the rap group Cypress Hill kept the party alive with their unique style. The Latino group came straight out of the Mexican-American working class neighborhood of South Gate California with a sound all their own. Their debut disc back in 1991 was a mix of laid back funky beats, the nasal vocals of rapper B-Real and the gruffer sounds of rapper/hype man Sen Dog. Their lyrics were a combination of tales from the streets, party anthems, rhymes in Spanish and "Spanglish" and calls to repeal the existing laws against the use of cannabis. The group (which includes beat maker dj Muggs and percussionist Eric Bobo) has sold 17 million albums world wide and has created a unique multiethnic audience by performing onstage at Lollapalooza, Woodstock '94, the Smoking Grooves tour and by doing shows with 311 and Rage Against the Machine. The group became the first Latino rap act to rack up platinum sales and headline their own massive tours. The group even started their own festival called the "Cypress Hill Smokeout", an all day concert of rap, rock, punk acts and djs handpicked by the members themselves. On Cinco De Mayo this past May, Cypress Hill came to the magnificent Vault 350 in Long Beach California to once again rock their fans with their unique brand of hip-hop.

After an impressive set by Dilated Peoples rapper Evidence, the mighty Cypress Hill hit the stage to the roar (and smoke) of the crowd. Conspicuous by his absence was beat master dj Muggs. Providing the beats on this festive night was 100.3 dj Julio G. B-Real and Sen Dog, backed by percussionist Eric Bobo never let up as they led the crowd through a type of Cypress Hill, history lesson. The group went through all of their underground hits from the 90's to 2000. The group still likes to extol the virtues of marijuana and they led the crowd in an un-relenting chant of "do you wanna get high...so high". As the multiethnic crowd rocked and waved their hands in the air it was clear that on a certain level Cypress Hill have become the Greatful Dead of rap music. They may not still dominate the charts or the airwaves but Cypress Hill still command respect in the rap world and still have a large following among the hip-hop/rock/cannabis friendly set.

If you missed the "Hill" this time around, check them out this summer on the Rock the Bells tour.