Their first album, which was self-titled, was released in August 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 in the US alone. Subsequently, DJ Muggs produced the first House of Pain album, then worked on other projects like Funkdoobiest. The band made their first appearance at Lollapalooza on the side stage in 1992.
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. Also with their debut still on the charts they became the first rap artists to have 2 albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 at the same time. With "Insane in the Brain" becoming a crossover hit, the album went triple platinum in the U.S. and sold about 3.25 million copies.
Cypress Hill was banned from Saturday Night Live after Muggs smoked cannabis on-air 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.
The band played at the 1994 Woodstock Festival introducing their new member Eric Bobo, formerly a percussionist with the Beastie Boys. Bobo is the son of 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 the The Simpsons episode "Homerpalooza".
Their third album Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom was released in 1995 selling 1.5 million copies and reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200 on the strength of the hit single "Throw Your Set in the Air". Cypress Hill also contributed a track "I Wanna Get High" to the High Times sponsored Hempilation album to support NORML.
Feud With Ice Cube
Ice Cube asked to put "Throw Your Set in the Air" on his Friday soundtrack, but B-Real refused, prompting Cube to record a new song "Friday" with a similar chorus; Cypress Hill responded with the track "No Rest For The Wicked." Westside Connection replied with the diss track "King Of The Hill" and "Cross Em Out & Put a K", to which Cypress Hill replied with "Ice Cube Killa," which uses the same beat as "King Of The Hill" and disses Ice Cube and Mack 10. "Ice Cube Killa" has never been released officially. In 1997 B-Real of Cypress Hill and Ice Cube were invited to a late night talk show in order to reconcile their differences for the benefit of the hip hop community, and the feud thus ended. Cube And B-Real would work together later that year as guest features on the track "Men of Steel" for the soundtrack of Shaquille O'Neal's film Steel. B-Real and Cube did even feature as guests in Warren G's single "Get U Down" which also featured Snoop Dogg.
Continued career
Sen Dog took a break from the band to form a Los Angeles based punk-rap band SX-10. Meanwhile in 1996, Cypress Hill appeared on the first 'Smokin' Grooves' tour, 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 focused 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 RBX, Nas and KRS-One on "East Coast Killer, West Coast Killer" on Dr. Dre's Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath album, and released an album entitled "The Psycho Realm" from his side project of the same name. Though the focus that year was not on Cypress Hill, the band played Smokin' Grooves with George Clinton and Erykah Badu.
Cypress Hill released IV in 1998 which went gold in the U.S., even though the reviews were somewhat negative,[citation needed] on the backs of hit singles "Tequila Sunrise" and another tribute to smoking cannabis "Dr. Greenthumb." Sen Dog also released the Get Wood sampler as part of SX-10 on the label Flip. In 1999, Cypress Hill helped with the PC crime/very mature video game Kingpin: Life of Crime. Three of their songs from the 1998 IV album were in the game ( "16 Men Till There's No Men Left", "Checkmate" and "Lightning Strikes"). B-Real also did some of the voices of the people in the game. Also in 1999, the band released a greatest-hits album in Spanish, Los grandes éxitos en español. Cypress Hill then fused genres with their two-disc release, Skull & Bones, in 2000. The first disc, "Skull" was comprised of rap tracks while "Bones" explored further the group's forays into rock. The album reached the 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 Live at the Fillmore, a concert disc recorded at the Fillmore (in San Fransico) in 2000. Cypress Hill continued their experimentation with rock on the Stoned Raiders album in 2001. However, its sales were a disappointment, as the disc did not even reach the top 50 of the U.S. album charts. In 2001, the group appeared in the film How High.
Cypress Hill recorded "Just Another Victim" for the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a theme song for Tazz. At the time, WWE was using original music for almost all of the wrestlers, so this was an unusual step for the company to take, but it remains one of the more memorable songs to emerge from the wrestling organization. The band released Till Death Do Us 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 guitar and Rob Aston of The Transplants on backup vocals. It is based on the classic song "Guns of Brixton" on The Clash's London Calling and has proven to be a success on the modern rock charts. However, the album represented a further departure from the signature sound of their first four albums. The album also features appearances by Damian Marley, son of Bob Marley, Prodigy and Twin of Mobb Deep and producer the Alchemist.
In 2004, the song How I Could Just Kill A Man was included in the popular videogame Grand Theft Auto San Andreas created by Rockstar Games, playing on West Coast hip hop radio station Radio Los Santos. In December of 2005 a best of compilation album titled Greatest Hits From the Bong was released including 9 hits from previous albums and 2 new tracks. The group's next album was tentatively scheduled for an early 2007 release. In the summer of 2006, B-Real appeared on Snoop Dogg's single "Vato". Pharrell Williams produced the track, and originally sang the hook, but because of the video idea, B-Real was asked to sing the hook. Sen Dog is now currently touring with the Kottonmouth Kings, Kingspade and Dogboy on the Joint is on Fire Tour
In 2007 Cypress Hill toured with their full line up as a part of the Rock the Bells tour, held by Guerilla Union, and headlined with Public Enemy, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and a reunited Rage Against the Machine. Other acts included Immortal Technique, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, The Roots, EPMD, Pharoae Monch, Jedi Mind Tricks, Erykah Badu, MF Doom, Sage Francis, Brother Ali, The Coup, Blue Print, Lucky I Am, Living Legends, Felt, Cage, Mr. Lif, Grouch & Eligh, and Hangar 18.
Departure from Sony
Having fulfilled their contractual obligations with Sony Music, Cypress Hill will release an as-yet untitled album through a different record label in 2008.
Recently, it was announced that Cypress Hill will be members of the Kannabis Kartel along with the Kottonmouth Kings and Potluck. Their album will be released on Suburban Noize Records.
STYLE
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Production
One of the band's most striking aspects is B-Real's exaggeratedly high-pitched nasal vocals, which fits and emphasizes the lyrics' concentration on parodied gangster stories.
Sen Dog's lyrics are progressively more violent and tend to involve fewer rhyme schemes compared with B-Real's. In addition, as the style is today, some words are emphasized by adding a background voice to say them, however, Sen Dog's emphases are always more prominent, mostly shouted alongside with the rapping.
The sound and groove of their music, produced by Muggs, is also notable for its influence and stoned aesthetic; with its bass-heavy rhythms and odd sample loops ("Insane in the Brain" is notable for having a horse neigh looped in its chorus), it carries a psychedelic value, which lessened in the later albums.
The band is also known for involving rock instruments in their songs. This has caused the band to sometimes be classified as a rapcore group. In IV, there is Lightning Strikes which doesn't truly use electric guitars, but a synthesized version of it. Skull & Bones has an entire disc using such instruments, labeled Bones. As for their later works, their involvement in rock ended with the album Stoned Raiders (the tracks Trouble (also the first single of the album), Amplified and Catastrophe being the songs).
The band's music is constantly subject to change; while the first album follows a more minimalistic and funky sound, Black Sunday, the successor, has a slightly darker side to it. III (Temples of Boom) and IV are mostly influenced by psychedelic music. The band abandoned that on Skull & Bones and got closer to the modern rap as it is today. Stoned Raiders has a more authentic sound than the rest, and Till Death Do Us Part carries reggae influences.
The band is also known to involve horns in their songs, and often have guitar and horns together in the instrumentals. What's Your Number?, Trouble, Tequila Sunrise, and (Rock) Superstar have become some of the bands most popular songs featuring these elements. Cypress Hill's experimenting in different genres of music even includes reggaeton in their track "Latin Thugs" which features Tego Calderon.
Some fans feel that the band has drifted somewhat from the values of their earlier albums. For example in "Strictly Hip Hop" from Temples of Boom, the band complain about hip hop artists who have an album of hardcore tracks but have one or two pop songs which just so happen to be the singles. Cypress have arguably fallen into this trap with the single "What's You Number?"
The sound contribitions of DJ Muggs seems to be clearly influenced by marijuana consumption. Since one of the effects of a cannabis high is an altered audio sensual perception, the often slow paced and deep bass can be better appreciated. Furthermore, psychedelic sequences underly some parts of certain tracks such as "I Wanna Get High" for example. This is an interesting feature of their music, that had also been used before, especially during the 60's and 70's (e.g. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles).
Lyrics
The lyrics of tracks like "How I Could Just Kill A Man" offer an insight into the cultural expression of social stratification in L.A. at that point in history. Many other songs have cited topics such as police brutality, racial profiling, gang violence and anecdotes about invasion of privacy by police.
Furthermore the celebration of marijuana consumption is what they are often associated with in songs like "I Wanna Get High", "Stoned Is The Way Of The Walk" or "Hits From The Bong", the themes of recreational use of marijuana are prevalent.
Many of their songs also protest the current marijuana laws and voice their opinions on the hypocrisy of drug enforcement institutions.
Their lyrics often reflect the hip hop culture of Los Angeles in their earlier work such as their self-titled album and Black Sunday, which were very influential not only to Latino hip hop of the time but to many other hip hop groups around the world as well.
Throughout their career they have commonly incorporated Spanish into their lyrics as well as slang used by some Latinos in Los Angeles on songs like "Latin Lingo". Their album "Los Grandes Exitos En Espanol" features Spanish translations of many of their hit songs.
Years active 1987 - present.
Killafornia
Cypress Hill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shisty motherfuckers, can't even trust my own brothers
So who can I choose to trust, me, that's who
Niggas want a piece of the pie, fuck off and die!
Jealous, envious fools want to rush this
Loco, trooping ass nigga with the cash, shit
Motherfuckers just get your own, and leave mine alone
Forty-five places to get done
To the party of your elimination
I got peeps that play for keeps, (Hardball)
Now I'm laying your ass down to sleep
But every hustler wants to be bawling
But I got the balls for the shot calling
I pull strings, the Don King, only in America
Then I hustle, and flex my muscle
Yeah, man, I've been out here
running game for eight years
I know I'm getting tired of standing
on this corner
Nigga, I want a fat pad, and fly ass pool
Finest motherfucking bitches, jewels
and all that shit, if I got to take it
from a nigga
Shit, let him run for me then
I can work for myself, don't have to
work for nobody, I'll be my own hustler
Where can I roam to get my hustle on
Killafornia, stacking the chips, got the full clips
Loaded and cocked, I'm used to running with the Glock
Nina Millimeter, lighting up the fucking block
Now, who you gonna trust?, who can you trust?
I don't know, but if you coming on my corner
I think I'm gonna bust
You can't handle us, devious, dangerous
Criminal mentality, insanity
I move weight, from state to state
All the niggas moving weights, can you relate?
Damn, what's up, I see you
pushing that big time weight
I told you, I wasn't bullshitting
You coming up, alright!
When I seen you three or four
months ago I told you
Got respect for a man now
Handle your shit!
Where can I choose to get my hustle on?
In the alleyway, lighting up all night long
Fuck working at McD's, I'm rolling with the O.Z's
In the QP's, puffing on trees
Who can I trust?, who can you trust?
Not that shady motherfucker in the city Los Scandalous
Well, well, little man came up a little bit
It feels good having money in the pocket
Fuck that nine to five bullshit, right?
Yeah, kick that shit to the curb
But you got to look out for the scandalous motherfuckers
'cause niggas is tricky than a motherfucker
Yeah, but motherfuckers got to look out for us too
You know what I'm saying
I'm just as shisty as a nigga
Shit, set me up and niggas are gonna die
You get set up back, 'cause we ain't having that bullshit
I got your back, you got mine, that goes without saying
Twenty-seven and mo' baby, twenty-seven and mo'
Let's get the fuck out of here"
The lyrics to Cypress Hill's song "Killafornia" paint a vivid picture of a world in which trust is in short supply, and everyone is out for themselves. The singer is a hustler who has been running game for eight years and is tired of standing on the corner. He dreams of a luxurious life with a fat pad, a fly-ass pool, and the finest bitches and jewels. However, in the city of Los Scandalous, where shady motherfuckers abound, he knows that he must rely on his own cunning and ruthlessness to survive.
The refrain of the song, "Who can I trust?", echoes throughout the verses, underscoring the central theme of the lyrics. The singer is surrounded by jealous, envious fools who want to rush him and take his money. He has peeps that play for keeps and is not afraid to lay an ass down to sleep. He hustles and flexes his muscle, pulling strings like Don King, and stacking chips in Killafornia.
The lyrics to "Killafornia" provide a window into the harsh realities of life in the inner city, where every day is a battle for survival. At its core, the song is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of those who live on the margins of society, hustling to make ends meet.
Line by Line Meaning
Living in the city of the Scandalous
Residing in a town full of deceitful individuals
Shisty motherfuckers, can't even trust my own brothers
The people around me, even those I am related to, are dishonest and untrustworthy
So who can I choose to trust, me, that's who
The only person I can rely on is myself
Niggas want a piece of the pie, fuck off and die!
Others desire what I have achieved and they can die trying to take it from me
Jealous, envious fools want to rush this
People with envy and jealousy are trying to ruin my success
Loco, trooping ass nigga with the cash, shit
I am the crazy and fierce man with the money
Motherfuckers just get your own, and leave mine alone
People should get their own wealth instead of trying to take what I've earned
Forty-five places to get done
There are many options for getting business done
Send out your invitation
Invite people to participate in your business
To the party of your elimination
Invite them to their own demise
I got peeps that play for keeps, (Hardball)
I have reliable associates who are willing to do anything to succeed
Now I'm laying your ass down to sleep
I am putting you out of commission
But every hustler wants to be bawling
Every entrepreneur wants to be wealthy
But I got the balls for the shot calling
I am not afraid to make bold decisions
I pull strings, the Don King, only in America
I have control and power, and that is only in America
Then I hustle, and flex my muscle
I work hard and show off my success
Yeah, man, I've been out here
I have been working hard in this life
running game for eight years
I have been in business for eight years
I know I'm getting tired of standing
I am weary of waiting and standing still in life
on this corner
In this same place without progress
Nigga, I want a fat pad, and fly ass pool
I desire a nice house with a fancy pool
Finest motherfucking bitches, jewels
I want the best women and jewelry
and all that shit, if I got to take it
I'll do whatever it takes to have those things
from a nigga
Even if it means taking them from someone else
Shit, let him run for me then
He should work for me instead
I can work for myself, don't have to
I can be self-employed without the need to
work for nobody, I'll be my own hustler
Work for myself and create my own success
Where can I roam to get my hustle on
Where is a good place to find success?
Killafornia, stacking the chips, got the full clips
California is a good place to make money, and I have plenty of firearms
Loaded and cocked, I'm used to running with the Glock
I am always armed and prepared for anything
Nina Millimeter, lighting up the fucking block
I have a powerful gun and am willing to use it
Now, who you gonna trust?, who can you trust?
Who is trustworthy in this world?
I don't know, but if you coming on my corner
I'm not sure, but if you come near me
I think I'm gonna bust
I might have to use my weapon
You can't handle us, devious, dangerous
You can't handle us, we are shady and a threat
Criminal mentality, insanity
We are criminals and insane
I move weight, from state to state
I transport drugs from one state to another
All the niggas moving weights, can you relate?
Do you also understand what it's like to move drugs?
Damn, what's up, I see you
Hello, I notice you
pushing that big time weight
Moving a lot of drugs
I told you, I wasn't bullshitting
I told you the truth, not lies
You coming up, alright!
You are making good progress
When I seen you three or four
When I saw you a few
months ago I told you
Months earlier I warned you
Got respect for a man now
I respect you now
Handle your shit!
Take control of your business
In the alleyway, lighting up all night long
Doing illegal activities all night in the alley
Fuck working at McD's, I'm rolling with the O.Z's
I prefer drug dealing over working at McDonald's
In the QP's, puffing on trees
Smoking marijuana in large quantities
Not that shady motherfucker in the city Los Scandalous
Don't trust anyone in the deceitful Los Scandalous city
Well, well, little man came up a little bit
You've made some progress, even if just a little
It feels good having money in the pocket
It's nice to have some cash
Fuck that nine to five bullshit, right?
Regular jobs are not worth it, correct?
Yeah, kick that shit to the curb
Yes, throw it away and do something else
But you got to look out for the scandalous motherfuckers
However, you need to be careful of the untrustworthy people
'cause niggas is tricky than a motherfucker
Because people are more deceitful than you can imagine
Yeah, but motherfuckers got to look out for us too
However, we are also a threat to others
You know what I'm saying
Do you understand what I'm trying to say?
I'm just as shisty as a nigga
I am just as sleazy as anyone else
Shit, set me up and niggas are gonna die
If someone tries to cheat me, they could be killed
You get set up back, 'cause we ain't having that bullshit
If someone tries to cheat us, they will be retaliated against
I got your back, you got mine, that goes without saying
We have each other's support, that's a given
Twenty-seven and mo' baby, twenty-seven and mo'
We will continue to succeed, there is no limit
Let's get the fuck out of here
Let's leave this place
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LARRY MUGGERUD, LOUIS M. FREEZE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind