About Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is a prominent rap music group formed
in 1988, which has sold 15 million records around
the world. It is composed of members B Real (Louis
Freese or Freeze, Mexican/Cuban), Sen Dog (Senén
Reyes, Cuban), DJ Muggs (Lawrence Muggerud, Italian-American)
and, since 1994, percussionist Eric Bobo. Muggs, when
asked about the new member, said: "As Latinos
we thought it would be a good idea to build in some
of this Latin Jazz Flavor."
Cypress Hill - Early Careers
Cypress Hill hail from South Gate, California. The
three original members formed a group called DVX in
1986 with Sen Dog's brother Mellow Man Ace (Ulpiano
Sergio Reyes). When Mellow Man Ace left in 1988, they
decided to rename themselves Cypress Hill after a
street running through their neighbourhood.
Cypress Hill played mainly to Latino audiences
in Los Angeles and recorded early versions of songs
such as the "Phuncky Feel One" and "Trigga
Happy Nigga." In 1991, Cypress Hill signed
to Philadelphia Ruffhouse label with distribution
by Columbia Records.
Cypress Hill's first self-titled album was released
in November 1991. Cypress Hills first single was
"Phuncky Feel One" but it was the B-side
"How I Could Just Kill a Man" (formerly
Trigga Happy Nigga) attracted more airplay on urban
radio and college radio Based on the success of
the single and other tracks such as "I Wanna
Get High", bilingual track "Latin Lingo"
and X-rated Spanish track "Tres Equis",
the album sold two million copies. DJ Muggs then
produced the first album by the House of Pain then
working with the Beastie Boys and Funkdoobiest
Cypress Hill made their first appearance at Lollapalooza
on the side stage in 1992.
Black Sunday Cypress Hill's second album, debuted
at number one on the Billboard 200 in 1993, recording
the highest Soundscan for a rap group up until that
time. Cypress Hill's "Insane in the Brain"
becoming a crossover hit, the album went double
platinum in the US and sold 3.25 million albums.
Cypress Hill were the first rappers fighting for
the legalization of marijuana and the band was banned
from Saturday Night Live after Muggs lit up a joint
and the band trashed their instruments while playing
second single "Ain't Going Out".
Cypress Hill headlined the "Soul Assassins"
tour with the House of Pain and Funkdoobiest as
support then performed on a college tour with Rage
Against the Machine and Seven Year Bitch.
In 1993, Cypress Hill also had two tracks on the
Judgement Night soundtrack teamed up with Pearl
Jam and Sonic Youth
Cypress Hill played at the 1994 Woodstock Festival
introducing their new member Eric Bobo who was formerly
a percussionist with the Beastie Boys.
Bobo is the son of famous salsa musician Willie
Bobo. Rolling Stone Magazine named the band as the
best rap group in their music awards voted by critics
and readers. Cypress Hill played at Lollapalooza
for two successive years topping the bill in 1995.
Cypress Hill appeared on an episode of the Simpsons
where Homer Simpson became a performer at a freakshow
appearing on a similar tour to Lollapalooza.
Cypress Hill's third album III (Temples of Boom)
was released in 1995 selling 1.5 million copies
and reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200 despite
not having a hit single. Cypress Hill also contributed
a track "I Wanna Get High" to the High
Times sponsored Hempilation album to support NORML.
They were the first rappers fighting for the legalization
of marijuana and the band was banned from Saturday
Night Live after Muggs lit up a joint and the band
trashed their instruments while playing second single
"Ain't Going Out".
The band headlined the "Soul Assassins"
tour with the House of Pain and Funkdoobiest as
support then performed on a college tour with Rage
Against the Machine and Seven Year Bitch. In 1993,
Cypress Hill also had two tracks on the Judgement
Night soundtrack teamed up with Pearl Jam and Sonic
Youth
The band played at the 1994 Woodstock Festival introducing
their new member Eric Bobo who was formerly a percussionist
with the Beastie Boys.
Bobo is the son of famous salsa musician Willie
Bobo. Rolling Stone Magazine named the band as the
best rap group in their music awards voted by critics
and readers. Cypress Hill played at Lollapalooza
for two successive years topping the bill in 1995.
They appeared on an episode of the Simpsons where
Homer Simpson became a performer at a freakshow
appearing on a similar tour to Lollapalooza.
Their third album III (Temples of Boom) was released
in 1995 selling 1.5 million copies and reaching
number 3 on the Billboard 200 despite not having
a hit single. Cypress Hill also contributed a track
"I Wanna Get High" to the High Times sponsored
Hempilation album to support NORML
Til Death Us Do Part - continued career
Sen took a break from the band to form punk-rap
band SX-10. Meanwhile in 1996, Cypress Hill appeared
on the first Smokin' Grooves featuring Ziggy Marley
the Fugees, Busta Rhymes and A Tribe Called Quest.
The band also released a nine track EP Unreleased
and Revamped with rare mixes.
In 1997, band members focussed on their solo careers.
Muggs released Muggs Presents ... the Soul Assassins
featuring contributions from Wu-Tang Clan members,
Dr. Dre, KRS-One, Wyclef Jean and Mobb Deep. B-Real
appeared with Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J and
Method Man on "Hit Em High" from the multi-platinum
Space Jam Soundtrack. He also appeared with Dr.
Dre, Nas and KRS-One on "East Coast Killer,
West Coast Killer" on Dr. Dre's Aftermath album.
B-Real also released a solo album The Pyscho Realm
with Latino rappers Duke (rapper) and Jacken. However,
the band played on the Smokin' Grooves with George
Clinton and Erykah Badu.
Cypress Hill released IV in 1998 which went gold
in the US on the backs of hit single "Tequila
Sunrise" and another tribute to smoking marijuana
"Dr Greenthumb". Sen Dog also released
the Get Wood Sampler as part of SX-10 on Jordan
Schur's Flip Label.
In 1999, the band released a greatest-hits album
in Spanish Los Grandes Exitos en Espanol.
Cypress Hill released Skull & Bones in 2000
with Skull being rap tracks and Bones being rock
tracks. The album reached top 5 on the Billboard
200 and number 3 in Canada. The first single was
"Rock Superstar" for rock radio and "Rap
Superstar" for urban radio.
The band also released a Live at the Fillmore in
2000 recorded at a show at the Fillmore.
Cypress Hill continued their experimentation with
rock on The Stoned Raiders album on 2001. However,
its sales were a disappointment not even reaching
the top 50 of the US album charts.
The band released Til Death Us Do Part on March
23, 2004. The album saw the band experiment with
reggae especially on the lead single "What's
Your Number". The track features Tim Armstrong
of Rancid on bass and Rob Ashton of The Transplants
on backup vocals and is based on the classic song
"Guns of Brixton" by The Clash from the
London Calling album and has proved to be a success
on the modern rock charts. The album also features
appearances by Damian Marley, son of Bob Marley,
Prodigy and Twin of Mobb Deep and producer the Alchemist.
Members
As of 2004, the members of Cypress Hill are Muggs,
Sen Dog, B Real and Eric Bobo.
Discography
· Cypress Hill (1991)
· Black Sunday (1993)
· (1995)
· Unreleased and Revamped EP (1996)
· IV (1998)
· Los Grandes Exitos en Espanol (1999) (Spanish
Greatest Hits)
· Skull & Bones (2000)
· Live at the Fillmore (2000)* Stoned Raiders
(2001)
· Till Death Us Do Part (2004)
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