On 18th April 2019, Cypress Hill made history as the first hip hop group to have their very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Latino group, which hails from California, joined forces over 30 years ago to form Cypress Hill and are widely considered as the pioneers of West Coast and 1990s hip-hop. The group comprises four members: B-Real, DJ Muggs, Sen Dog, and Eric Bobo. Cypress Hill are often labeled as the “pot rappers” due to their first hit single, “Insane in the Membrane,” which was a description of weed. The group released their debut self-titled album in 1991 through Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records.
The album’s lead single, “The Phuncky Feel One,” and its B-side “How I Could Just Kill A Man” were radio hits, with both peaking at position one in the Billboard’s Hot rap Tracks. As a result, the album sold over two million copies in the US alone. Their popularity had soared through the roof, and they had landed their first contribution to a soundtrack for the movie, Juice with the song “Shoot Em Up.” The band also got an opportunity to perform alongside major hip-hop and rock acts such as Ice Cube, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Stone Temple Pilots.
Their 1993 album, Black Sunday, was also a significant success, making its debut on the 1993 Billboard 200 at the top position. The album contained tracks such as the popular crossover hit “Insane in the Brain,” making the album achieve triple platinum status and earning the group their first Grammy Award nomination. The band’s rap style features some excessively high-pitched nasal vocals from B-Real. The music also features some spooky sound and heavy-bass rhythms with a slight psychedelic element. The band has released nine albums, with the latest release being, Elephants on Acid, which was released in 2018.
10. Dr. Greenthumb
We open up our Cypress Hill songs list with the classic track “Dr. Greenthumb.” Hands down, this is one of the strangest videos we have ever seen, It’s also one of the most addicting to watch over and over again. This is why we love these guys. They were just so original in every definition of the word.
9. Lowrider
The number nine song in our list of the top ten Cypress Hill songs is considered one of Cypress Hill’s funkier songs. “Lowrider” is the second song from the group’s 2002 album, Stoned Raiders. The video of the song features members of the group rapping in lowrider cars. The song peaked at position 33 in the UK charts, and it is featured in the UK TV series Soccer AM.
8. I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That
Black Sunday is one of Cypress Hill’s darker albums. The album cover looks a bit spooky, and most of the songs are gloomy and scary. This song led to the group being banned from performing at Saturday Night Live after DJ Muggs lit a blunt while performing before trashing the set right after. “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That” is the second track from the group’s 1993 album, Black Sunday, and it was revealed that the group recorded this track while they were high on mushrooms. The song contains one of the illest bass lines and is worth a listen anytime you want to relax.
7. The Phuncky Feel One
Are You Ready? Ladies and Gentlemen if your in the mood for a little bit of groove then lay this one out right besides you on the funky streets blasting from a sony boombox while you dance around in you cool retro Converse standing on the corner celebrating the sounds of the legendary Cypress Hill. Funky baby!
6. Throw Your Set in the Air
I simply like how B-Real raps due to his unique vocals and expressions. In this track, you can feel how passionate he is in his craft. “Throw You Set in the Air” refers to throwing your hands in the air and making a sign to indicate what gang or side you belong to. The song was a diss track to Ice Cube, who had allegedly stolen their track, “Friday.” after listening to it in the studio.
5. (Rock)Superstar
(Rock)Superstar is one of the best crossover songs ever. It was the first song I heard from the group, and it left me amazed at how perfect they could sound. B-Real’s verse rap is quite impressive, and the instrumentals are top tier.
4. Tequila Sunrise
“Tequila Sunrise” is another classic from this group. The instrumentals to the song are incredible, and the flow of the music is fantastic. I love the chorus also because you can feel a lot of emotion in it. “Tequila Sunrise” is the tenth song from Cypress Hill’s 1998 album, Cypress Hill IV.
3. Make a Move
The song begins with an extract from the movie “Pulp Fiction” when Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) quoted the Book of Ezekiel before killing Brett. The track continues with some hard-hitting lines from B-Real, who kicks off his verse rapping, “Smokin’ MC’s like a bowl of Buddha Burnin’ in my bong now,” which is a slight dig at his competition. He goes on with his verses amid a thumping bass and a fantastic instrumental. “Make a Move” is the eighth track from the group’s 1995 album, Temples of Boom.
2. Hits from the Bong
Before the likes of Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa came to the scene, Cypress Hill were the pioneers of weed culture in the hip-hop scene. Apart from promoting weed like no other group, they were one of the most commercially successful groups of the 90s. “Hits From the Bong” has a hypnotizing beat and is a feel-good song with one of the best intros. The song captures the feeling one gets after rolling and puffing one big joint.
1. Insane in the Brain
“Insane in the Brain” is arguably the group’s most famous song, and it comes at number one in our list of the best Cypress Hill songs of all time. The song was a diss track aimed at Chubb Rock after he ridiculed Cypress Hill’s style on his 1992 album, I Gotta Get Mine Yo. The song peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993 and has been certified gold by the RIAA.
Top 10 Cypress Hill Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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Ok I’m comenting on the top ten cypress hill songs. How can how I cannot kill a man not be in their top 10 songs I’m having a hard time figuring that one out it just doesn’t make sense to me there’s so many good songs that they have it’s almost Injustice to rate a top 10 it should be more like a top 25