For those celebrating 420, break out the bongs a day early since Cypress Hill will perform at the Hard Rock on Saturday — a day before national weed day.
Yes, Cypress Hill has always been about marijuana but don't toss the act into novelty status since the group plays a big part in hip-hop history.
Much has been made of how Nirvana’s “Nevermind” changed the course of music and pop culture when the game-changing album dropped in September 1991.
However, the prior month, hip-hop was revolutionized by Cypress Hill’s daring self-titled eponymous album. The slow, trippy beats, bizarre samples and noises and MC B Real’s quirky nasal delivery are just some of the reasons the album is worth celebrating 34 years after it was released.
“1991 was a special year for music,” MC Sen Dog, aka Senen Reyes, said while calling from Las Vegas. “It was an amazing year not just for us during our rookie season but in general. The great Nirvana changed a lot of things. There was something in the water with all of these great bands, and Cypress was right in the middle of it.”
That’s no exaggeration since Cypress Hill, along with the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy, were among the three hip-hop acts who crossed over with alternative fans. By the time 1993’s powerful “Black Sunday” was released, Cypress Hill was performing before some of the most diverse crowds, hip hop, alternative, Black, white and Latino, in the industry.
“We were always an inclusive group,” Reyes said. “Our music is for everybody.”
The seeds were planted with Cypress Hill’s first album. “How I Could Just Kill a Man” and “Hand on the Pump” remain potent and relevant. Expect those songs to be delivered when Cypress Hill when performs in Atlantic City.
Much of the lyrical content is pro-marijuana. That jibes with Atlantic City, which hopes to become a cannabis destination.
Cypress Hill has always been one of the most vocal recording artists who pushed to legalize cannabis. New Jersey and a number of states have done just that, and those born well after the year that punk broke may not understand how much of a limb Cypress Hill went out on during its salad days.
“It was a big deal,” Reyes said. “Nobody rapped about what we were rapping about. I remember when Muggs told me that he wanted B Real and me to be the Cheech and Chong of hip-hop. I was concerned because I thought we would get blackballed or banned.”
Instead, Cypress Hill was embraced by music fans.
“I was so glad about their acceptance since what we did was so outlaw,” Reyes said.
“But we stuck to our guns throughout the whole journey. We came up with something as rebellious as NWA and Public Enemy, but we were on our own tip," he said. "But it wasn’t to get attention. We had an important message. Back in the day, we would read High Times magazine, and we were down with their take on cannabis and hemp and the environment and pollution. We wanted to change the world.”
Much is different today, and Reyes is surprised how many states have legalized cannabis (24 states and the District of Columbia).
“It’s what we fought for our whole lives, but I’ll be honest,” he said. “I never thought you could walk into a dispensary and order some joints just like you could go to a convenience store and buy beer. It was such an uphill battle, but it has finally happened in some places, but there are still places that it’s not legal, and that’s terrible. There is so much good that comes from cannabis. We’re not done fighting for legalization. I’m hoping that someday soon that cannabis is legal in all 50 states.”
Cypress Hill remains a vital act that engages the audience. "We love to perform," Reyes said. "We're as passionate about getting up onstage as we ever were."
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