Long before you could trade shares of cannabis companies on the New York stock exchange and it was legal in most states and government-backed in storefront shops in Canada, few did more for the humble green plant in mainstream pop culture than southern California shit disturbers Cypress Hill. From its debut, the group would be MTV darlings, even if their lyrics and image had the critics up in arms.
Firing through the west coast provocateur’s early hits from the golden era in hip-hop, the trend-setting Latin-hip-hop-fusion-rock crew brought along a trumpet, trombone and keys to NPR’s Tiny Desk series, rounding out the group’s psychedelic smoked-out hip-hop sound in a natural way. Touring members DJ Lord and Money Mark (of Beastie Boys fame) provide the stripped-down keyboard flair, and quick turntable cuts while Eric Bobo lays down intricate percussion that gives the music its organic swing and not just a bunch of stacked-up samples.
Storytellers in their own right, it isn’t a surprise the songs transferred so well to the MTV and MuchMusic generations and still hits hard on NPR. The group would also be at the vanguard of the whole rock-rap movement, dropping a double album called Skulls & Bones that showcased each genre in 2000 to critical, commercial and radio acclaim. It would be seen as a touchstone for the nu-metal and rock-rap movement and along with continuing to lay the groundwork for Latin artists spitting in their native language.
During the '90s, the group's hit-making streak helped set the tone for the rise of hip-hop in pop culture across North America. DJs were particularly supportive of the record in clubs and it received heavy rotation on television, further increasing its popularity. Cypress also made several notable appearances on late-night TV shows such as Arsenio Hall, Yo! MTV Raps and SNL (where they were eventually banned), solidifying its status as a cultural phenomenon. In addition to its success on the airwaves, the group's music was also featured in a classic episode of the Simpsons and in several films, including Juice and Judgement Night, as well as in popular video games like Kingpin - Life of Crime and Grand Theft Auto. This widespread exposure helped to cement the group's place in popular culture. The group was part of the zeitgeist at Woodstock in 1994, performing for a massive crowd of music lovers and further cementing its place in the annals of music history.
Add these up and it's hard not to argue that the west coast group were not only pioneers bridging genres, languages and culture but that its impact is still being felt today.
SET LIST "When the Shit Goes Down" "Hand On the Pump" "How I Could Just Kill a Man" "(Rap) Superstar" "Insane in the Brain"
CYPRESS HILL B-Real: vocals Sen Dog: vocals Eric Bobo: drums DJ Lord: DJ Money Mark: keys Sam Koff: trumpet Reggie Pace: trombone John Hulley: trombone
