Cypress Hill "Black Sunday" (30the Anniversary Mix by Filthy Rich)

DJ Filthy Rich celebrates 30 years of Cypress Hill's classic sophomore LP 'Black Sunday' with a mix of original samples, remixes, b-sides and original blends. I remember coppin' the 12 of "Insane In The Brain" with the b-side, "When The Shit Goes Down" and knowing the follow-up LP was gonna be a smash. The album cuts were just as hard and while the content wasn't always "my bag", I appreciate the artistry and especially the production by DJ Muggs. You can definitely understand why it crossed over and made such an impact in the rock and hip-hop communities. The 30th anniversary Expanded Edition of Black Sunday includes a remix from Statik Selektah, DJ Muggs and more if you haven't had a chance to cop that release. Meanwhile, dig into the mix from DJ Filthy Rich below...

Cypress Hill "Cypress Hill" (August 13, 1991)

Cypress Hill wants to get two things straight. First, because of their name, many people think they're from Brooklyn; they're not. Cypress Hill refers to Cypress Street in Southgate, a section of Los Angeles about five minutes from Watts and South Central. Actually, it's not really a hill, but as Sen Dog (one of Cypress Hill's rappers) says, "you can't tell us it's not Cypress Hill. We love that street. We've got rock and rollers, we got rappers, we got singers. We take good care of it, too. We don't let anyone come in and mess it up writing graffiti all over the place or anything like that." Or, as B-Real (the group's other rapper) adds, "'Cypress Hill' means we're on top. We have to be on top of business whether it's business of hip-hop or the business of the block." Speaking of "the block" brings up the second possible misconception: While these tough times -- on the mean streets of L.A. in particular -- are reflected in their lyrics, Cypress Hill is not another pseudo-gangsta act from Southern California. "We're not just some more brothers from Compton," explains B-Real, "and some of them aren't even from there, anyway." "Yeah, they've never gangbanged because their moms would let them," Sen Dog quickly adds, laughing. "They want to pump out second-hand information that they never even went through," B-Real continues. "Everything on our record is from our own experience. We don't want to teach you, we don't want to preach to you. We want to be known as funky awareness: first, you've got to be funky, and then it's hardcore awareness, revolving a story around our experiences or our homeboys' experiences." Cypress Hill, their self-titled debut album, is shaped by this group ethic of funky awareness. The record is full of their real-life experiences, and with DJ Mixmaster Muggs' incredibly funky, clever beats and samples, it's bound to raise eyebrows.... 

"Pigs," a rowdy singalong dedicated to some of Cypress Hill's "best friends," is reminiscent of the childhood nursery rhyme ("this little pig went to market"). Wrapped around a lazy, swaggering bass-line, the lyric stance on "Pigs" does not represent the group leaping onto anyone's bandwagon. "We get harassed by the police all the time because we look like gangbangers," says Muggs. "They tell me my tires are too flat, or we match someone's description. I've heard every possible excuse three or four times, not just once." Where "Pigs" is spare and casual, "Kill A Man" rushes at you with a stomping drum beat, peppered by high-pitched horns and random shouts. It would be very easy to look at the title and dismiss the track as ultra-violent, but that's not the point. As Sen Dog explains, "It's not about killing a man, but it's about understanding how one kid could do that. We don't glorify it." Again, B-Real has put his own experiences into the groove. "You know 'Kill A Man' when I go, 'Say some punk tried to get you for your auto/what are you gonna one time play the role model/no, I think you play like a thug.' Well the other night someone did try to steal my car. That happens all the time." Throughout the album, Cypress Hill makes one innovative contribution after another in the hip-hop artform. Check out B-Real's crazy, but engaging vocal style, or the "Duke of Earl" sample at the beginning of "Hand On a Pump"; or the live bass, percussion and guitar on the Spanglish "Latin Lingo." In this age of anti-drug hysteria, Cypress Hill also has the honesty to endorse one of their favorite pasttimes "on the record," with "Light Another" + "Blunted." Cont'd...



One of the reasons that the Cypress Hill album is so comfortable, engaging and inventive is that the members aren't newcomers to the hip-hop scene. Co-writer, lyricist and background rapper, 25-year old Sen Dog was born in Cuba and moved to Southgate at age 14. Sen comes from a very musical family.... Ever since he was young, Sen, his brothers and sisters were stars of the local church choir. After dropping out of high school in 1981, Sen started a group with his brother, Mellow Man Ace called DVX, and invented the Spanglish, Latin lingo style. Some time before Mellow Man Ace embarked on a solo career, he and Sen were joined in DVX by a young, gifted writer named B-Real. Now Cypress Hill's lead rapper, 21-year old B-Real has lived in Los Angeles all his life. For as long as he can remember, his biggest dream was to be a writer or a journalist. B-Real would spend hours in class writing essays and poems, but eventually he was turned off by school and dropped out. "A lot of the things they teach you in school are watered down. That's why I left..." Soon, B-Real's desire to write led him to hip-hop. "I guess I'm a writer now... If you're writing what you feel and if it's getting out, then you're accomplishing what you want...." Soon, Sen and Ace decided to pair B-Real with another young hip-hopper, a DJ and producer named Mixmaster Muggs. Mixmaster Muggs moved to Southgate from Queens right before he started high school. In Queens, he was heavily into breakdancing which led to his DJ-ing... Even though he is only 22 years old, Muggs was down with East Coast hip-hop from the beginning, back in the days when the Treacherous Three, Funky Four Plus One and Run-DMC ruled the day. In tenth grade, Muggs bought his first piece of equipment (a set of Technics 1200's)... After coming to L.A., he briefly hooked up with B-Real; Muggs was also the cornerstone of 7A3, who had a song on the "Colors" movie soundtrack. Soon after, Muggs left 7A3 and began laying down tracks for Cypress Hill. In its present configuration, Cypress Hill has been working together for three years. - Press Kit, 1991. Today marks another anniversary for this classic album! Dig back into it and more from Cypress Hill in the extensive archives below...

Cypress Hill "Black Sunday" (July 20, 1993)

"Insane In The Brain" is the name of the first single and video clip from Cypress Hill's new Ruffhouse/Columbia album, Black Sunday. It's also a warning: that when it comes to the Cypress Hill crew, crazed intensity is more than skin deep; it's a state of mind and a way of life. Cypress Hill -- visionary rappers B-Real and Sen Dog, and DJ/Producer Muggs -- are back again and explosive as ever. The group's self-titled Ruffhouse/Columbia RIAA platinum debut album of 1991 has sold more than 1 million copies to date in the US, establishing them as one of the most popular as well as hardest hitting, musically innovative, hip-hop acts on the planet Earth. The Cypress Hill album remained in the upper reaches of the Billboard's Pop Album chart for over 73 weeks, earning the group the Billboard Music Award for Best Rap Artist. That's a hard act to follow, but B-Real and company remained cool under pressure. "When it came to Black Sunday, people asked 'can we top the last one,' you know? What we did was take all those questions about making a follow-up and asked ourselves that shit." "With everything that had been going on this year, we felt we should have made this album months ago but we were doing a lot of shows and that took time away from doin' the album. We were kind of frustrated that we hadn't started yet, because we were so eager to make this record. We came up with a lot of dope shit that we felt topped the last one. So being that we were hungry to do it, it brought out the best when we finally got to record." They continue, "The new album is named Black Sunday because its whole vibe is ominous. The album was recorded in Muggs' native New York in early '93. (Revisit the LP, the press release continues below)...

"Insane In The Bran" features a hydraulic bass groove and pounding beat being strafed by braying screeches -- classic Cypress Hill. "I wrote "Insane In The Brain" about when people come to our concerts they lose their mind in the adrenaline of it all. It's also talking about some of the people on the street, who are just crazy motherf#ckers." "When The Shit Goes Down," the B-side to "Insane In The Brain," and second video, is also cautionary. Cypress Hill may be stoners, but don't think for a minute they're sleeping. The rap is a reminder for everybody out there to be ready when the going gets rough. "It's saying, 'don't sleep,' because if you sleep and let somebody get the drop on you, whether it's in the business, sports, rap, or out on the street fighting, you just gotta be ready for anything." Muggs cooks up an ultra-funky mix of scratchy deep fried soul guitars and fat bass licks. "Ain't Goin' Out Like That" opens with looped feedback, giving way to saxophone screeches, a jazzy bass figure and crackling drums. B and Sen's raps reprise some of the rhymes from the debut album that helped establish them as the hardest and smartest hip hoppers on the street, promising more of the same and then some this time around. In addition, Black Sunday includes special new, never commercially available versions of "A to the K" (the original appeared on the Juice soundtrack) and "Hand On The Glock" (a radical remodeling of "Hand on the Pump"). In order to make the album more readily available to Cypress' younger fans, there will be a clean, unstickered version. - Press Kit '93. 

Cypress Hill "Back In Black" (Album Stream)

Cypress Hill shifts culture. Since releasing its eponymous debut album in 1991, the California rap group has regularly revolutionized rap. B-Real and Sen Dog’s innovative lyrics, distinctive voices and poignant street-centered subject matter catapulted the group to superstar status. Its first LP sold more than 2 million units and its second album, 1993’s Black Sunday, pushed another 3 million units thanks to the Grammy-nominated singles “Insane In The Brain” and “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That”. Along the way, Cypress Hill earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, sold more than 9 million albums, and were nominated for three Grammy Awards. During a time increasingly defined by singles of the moment, rappers B-Real and Sen Dog wanted to make a statement by releasing an album. Back in Black, the group’s tenth studio project, finds the group flexing its musical muscles and pushing itself creatively. With a mesmerizing mix of celebratory, confrontational, inspirational, reflective, and rugged songs, Cypress Hill shines throughout Back in Black. Entirely produced by Black Milk (Slum Village, Lloyd Banks, Pharoahe Monch), the LP is an homage to Cypress Hill’s return and its collaboration with Black Milk. It's finally here, check out this fresh collaborative album below...

DJ Filthy Rich "Temples Of Boom" (25th Ann. Mix)

Toronto's DJ Filthy Rich is back with another tribute mixtape, celebrating 25 Years of Cypress Hill's 'Temples Of Boom'. It's a very gritty and hardcore album, possibly in response to the criticism they unfairly received after the commercial success of 'Black Sunday'. B-Real admits they were going through a troubled period in their lives, and it shows on this LP. The lyrics and beats are dark, sombre and haunting, and there's no 'radio' track to be found anywhere on the project. This is some of Muggs' best - and most underrated - work, says Filthy Rich. I'll admit, I didn't give this album a lot of attention at the time, for unknown reasons so this 25th Anniversary Mix is really walking me back through it with new ears all these years later. Let me know if the audio link goes down, please.

Below is the album review in The Source (12/95). 4 Mics...

Cypress Hill "Cypress Hill" (August 13, 1991)

"When you really want to hear something different take a trip deep, deep underground and you will find Cypress Hill ominously lamping in a thick cloud of buddah smoke. The Cypress Hill experience is purely pscyho-delic. Imagine a rhythmic, progressive tribe vibe combined with ultraviolent gangsta grooves. The music is dark and murky yet it remains hard and funky at the same time. Cypress takes a straight-up uncompromising look at life in the urban battlefield with songs like "Pigs," "Kill A Man," and "Hand on the Pump." DJ Muggs, formerly of 7A3, provides the heavily blunted beats while MC's Senen (Sen Dog) and B-Real kick ballistics in a crazy offbeat and unorthodox style.... this slamming debut album is one of the best new albums of '91. It will definitely have heads nodding - and nodding out - this summer and beyond." - The Source (August, 1991). That's a big compliment when you consider the classic albums that were released in 1991: NWA "Efil4zaggin," EPMD "Business As Usual," Brand Nubian "All For One," De La Soul "De La Soul Is Dead," Gang Starr "Step In The Arena," Main Source "Breaking Atoms," A Tribe Called Quest "Low End Theory" and Naughty By Nature's self-titled album, just to name a few! Cypress Hill was also named "Artist of the Year - Group" by The Source in '92. The LA Times gave the album a mostly-favorable review, however they felt, "the tracks are built around the simplest of repeated patterns, as if the producers had just figured out how to work a sampler." I think they missed the mark, not understanding the true genius behind Muggs' production. Their debut LP was released on this day in 1991, revisit it below!

Copies of some of the press for Cypress Hill's debut in 1991...

Funkdoobiest 'Which Doobie U B?' (May 4, 1993)

'Doobie, with bonified funk for your fanny...' The LA-based crew, Funkdoobiest, consisted of Son Doobie, DJ Ralph M and Tomahawk Funk, and they released their debut album, 'Which Doobie U B?,' on this day in 1993 through Epic/Immortal Records. The project was executive produced by DJ Muggs, who clearly played a major role in the overall sound of the project along with DJ Lethal, T-Ray, and DJ Ralph M. If not for the Soul Assasins connection and my DJ partner at the time being more open to West Coast influences, I might have missed this release back in '93. To be honest, I was initially more intrigued by the wild artwork by Glenn Barr, the clear vinyl, and the project's heavy production. The big singles on the LP were 'Bow Wow Wow,' 'Wopbabalubop,' 'The Funkiest,' and the B-Side, 'Funk Mode.' Released in the days of cassettes, it was hard not to notice that 3 of those 4 tracks were released in succession to open up the album, with 'Wopbabalubop' on Side B; I can remember fast-forwarding to it, lol. All in all, however, it's a very solid debut release and it does take me back to the basement making those early mixtapes. ''My thoughts are collected for the funk, expect it." As I said, I've always loved the OG art by Glenn Barr, check it out...

Revisit Funkdoobiest's Which Doobie U B? below...

Cypress Hill "Black Sunday" (The Source, 9/93)

"About two years ago, the patriarchs of the Soul Assassins family made their platinum debut with a style not geared towards a specific race or religion; its stoneish message was universally received. Since then, hip-hoppers have been eagerly awaiting the return of the Phunky Feel Ones. This month, Cypress is set to settle all those geeking for another hit of the same flavor with a darker sequel, Black Sunday. The entire album is consistent throughout with a formula of ill funk horns, signature sirens, guitar and piano riffs, all laid over lead-bottom bass that you sometimes feel in back of your throat. The production of DJ Muggs and T-Ray creates a perfect stage for the twisting nasal flow of B-Real, and the cartoonish echoes of Sen Dog. The Cypress Hill style is chorus-oriented and without question, hip-hoppers will be chanting... "I want to get high, so high," and "When the shit goes down, ya better be ready" ... from the album's stronger tracks." Cont'd...

"While the first release, "Insane In The Membrane," is cool, it is far from the highlight of the album. Among the best are "When The Shit Goes Down," with a catchy blues guitar riff, and "I Ain't Goin' Out" - both of which are up-tempo, get-amped tracks.... The album is definitely worth buying as it easily rips the frame out of all of those Cypress bandwagon jumpers. If you liked the first album, or the Soul Assassin's sound, Black Sunday is the real deal. While Cypress Hill isn't particularly educational or enlightening, the musical drug they produce does have recreational properties; it creates atmosphere and attitude to enhance your high. So... just lounge and let the bass flow."

Cypress Hill "25th Anniversary" (Mix by DJ Matman)

To mark the 25th anniversary of Cypress Hill's smoked-out, self-titled debut LP, DJ Matman has cooked up a sweet mixtape featuring album tracks, remixes, and original sample material. You should already be familiar with all the classics included on their debut album, but the real gems lie in the walk through these classic original samples from The Bar Kays, Booker T. & The MG's, Curtis Mayfield, Grant Green, Jack Margolis, Muddy Waters, The J.B.'s, Kool And The Gang, Jimmy McGriff, Willie Hutch, Grand Wizard Theodore and lore more. Peace to DJ Muggs, B-Real and Sen Dog.

Cypress Hill "Insane In The Brain" (The Source, 6/93)

"The much-anticipated return of the boys from the Hill finds B-Real, Sen Dog and DJ Muggs kicking flavor similar to the material on their debut smash LP - and that's a good thing. The A-Side begins with an insane Latino voice saying, "Don't you know I'm loco?" and leads into a hardcore track that sounds like Pete Rock's "The Creator" coupled with deep bass and trademark screechy noise. B-Real shows and proves that his nasal flow never gets played, and after two billion other records have talked about smoking weed, it's almost reassuring to hear the standard Cypress tales of shooting down suckers and puffing mad herb. The hook utilizes Sen's baritone response voice - when B-Real says "Insane in the membrane," Sen calls back with "insane in the brain!" Check out the video...

"The b-side kinda reminds you of the Wild West, with its bouncy bass, long organ sound, and B-Real saying, "I'm comin' out blastin like Yosemite Sam!" Guaranteed: the nearly one million fans of the first Cypress LP will be grooving to these tracks, proving the old saying correct: if it ain't broke, don't fix it." - Sure Shot Single in The Source, June 1993. A full copy of the review is available below.

The Whooliganz "Put Your Handz Up" (1993)

The Whooliganz were a duo consisting of Mudfoot (Alchemist) and Mad Skillz (Scott Caan). They met as young kids in Beverly Hils, performing and making names for themselves when they were introduced to Quincy Jones III and created a demo that caught the ear of B-Real and the Soul Assassins. They were signed to Tommy Boy & recorded a debut album called "Make Way for The W," which featured the lead single, "Put Your Handz Up." The single was released on CD, Vinyl and Cassette in '93 with production from DJ Lethal; copies of which I bought in downtown Manhattan while visiting my mom working at the World Trades Center at the time ... I remember that day very well. The album was shelved soon after, but a second single was released by another label 2 years later. Mad Skillz moved on to acting & Mudfoot became the legendary producer, the Alchemist,; both seeing much success in their respective careers. The shelved album eventually leaked online as a cassette rip, unearthing a couple gems in the 15-track release that featured B-Real on 3 tracks as well as a feature from Everlast. I always liked their logo, their sound was on par for their time & I even recall the VHS tape The Wiz gave out as promo with The Whooliganz on it. Listen to "Put Your Handz Up below" and I'm sure I'll post more in future posts. (Updated: new video added)