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Cypress Hill Guns, violence, and smoking weed like Cheech & Chong may not be the most appealing aspects of life. But on their self-titled debut, Cypress Hill made them sound better than ever. Assisted by producer Larry Muggerud (a.k.a. DJ Muggs), the group turned hip-hop heads everywhere, coming with a style equal parts gangsta and ganja. Muggs blends rich horn and guitar samples with rapid-fire, bass-heavy beats. Coupled with lead rapper B-Real's (Louis Frieze) high-pitched nasal vocals and Sen Dog's (Senen Reyes) powerful baritone, he crafts a distinct and captivating sound for the Latino trio that hits like…well, really good weed. The most surprising aspect of Cypress Hill is its striking uniqueness, when lyrically, it appears as if B-Real and Sen Dog spew the usual gangster rhetoric that went stale not long after the album's release. But that's just skimming the surface. Gangs and violence aren't necessarily glorified on this record. They are merely depicted as a way of life for many living in South Central Los Angeles. It's a lifestyle that is tough to comprehend for those who haven't lived it, but a reality for the members of this group. "How I Could Just Kill A Man," the album's second track, is one clear example. Over Muggs' up-tempo, no-frills beat, B-Real expounds on the gang lifestyle, with the blunt chorus: "Here is something you can't understand / How I could just kill a man." He asks listeners "How do you know where I'm at / When you haven't been where I've been? - Understand where I'm coming from?""Hand On The Pump" is an even more graphic gangster narrative, and undoubtedly the album's standout track. Here, B-Real and Sen's vivid description of gang lifestyles and the smooth, head-nodding beat are livened by a "Duke of Earl" sample and a classic call-and-response chorus. Lyrically, B-Real and Sen Dog paint a haunting picture of life in South Central, with bold lines like: "Being the hunted one ain't no fun / Here I come son, yo I think you better run."And while gangster lingo is all over the album, the pot imagery is relentless. The trio leaves no question as to their indelible support of marijuana on several tracks. Intoxicating interludes like "Ultraviolet Dreams" nearly induce a contact buzz, while "Light Another," with a funky guitar loop, and the groggy "Stoned Is The Way Of The Walk" further solidify their stance .And it's all done with a proper touch of humor: "Kickin' like a steel toe / Real slow hits from the bong/ Make me feel like Cheech / And I'm kickin' it with Chong."Guns and weed seems like a tired and overused formula, but Cypress Hill's 1991 debut takes part in introducing the formula with unparalleled brilliance and originality, thanks to Muggs' genius behind the boards as well as B-Real and Sen Dog's distinct vocals and striking lyricism.
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"Cypress
Hill's debut taught us about rap from different angles." Troy Carpenter Related Links
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