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 (Senen Reyes, Cuban), DJ Muggs (Lawrence Muggerud, Italian-American) and, since 1994, percussionist Eric Bobo.

Career success

Their first album, which was self-titled, was released in November 1991. Its single was "Phuncky Feel One," but it was the B-side "How I Could Just Kill a Man" (formerly "Trigga Happy Nigga") that attracted more airplay on urban radio and college radio. Based on the success of the single and other tracks such as bilingual track "Latin Lingo" and X-rated Spanish track "Tres equis", the album sold two million copies. Subsequently, DJ Muggs produced House of Pain's first album, then working with the Beastie Boys and Funkdoobiest. The band made their first appearance at Lollapalooza on the side stage in 1992.

Related Topics:
Album - November - College radio - X-rated - Spanish - House of Pain - Beastie Boys - Funkdoobiest - Lollapalooza - 1992

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Black Sunday, the group'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. With "Insane in the Brain" becoming a crossover hit, the album went double platinum in the U.S. and sold 3.25 million albums.

Related Topics:
Black Sunday - Debut - Billboard 200 - 1993 - Soundscan - U.S.

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As the first rappers fighting for the legalization of marijuana, Cypress Hill was banned from Saturday Night Live after Muggs lit up a joint and the band trashed their instruments while playing their second single "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That". The band headlined the "Soul Assassins" tour with 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 Judgment Night soundtrack, teamed up with Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth, respectively.

Related Topics:
Marijuana - Saturday Night Live - House of Pain - Funkdoobiest - Rage Against the Machine - Seven Year Bitch - Judgment Night - Pearl Jam - Sonic Youth

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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. 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." 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" in which Homer becomes a performer at a freak show appearing on a tour similar to Lollapalooza.

Related Topics:
1994 - Woodstock Festival - Salsa - Willie Bobo - Latin jazz - Rolling Stone - 1995 - The Simpsons - Homer

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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.

Related Topics:
High Times - Hempilation - NORML

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