Word: cypress
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...These people are trying to be like hip-hop, I say to myself. I simply am. If KRS-1 claims that one can "be hip-hop, standing in line at the supermarket," why can't I be hip-hop while concentrating in C.S.? Don't I listen to Cypress Hill's "Hits From the Bong" in the Science Center terminal room? Don't I fight for my right to party? I smile as I recall the wealthy, cookie-cutter suburb of New York City where I grew up. Maybe I'm not quite ready to break out the turntables...
...trio's image of endearing pot-addled goofballs, which they established on Black Sunday, may have faded with the evolution of their music, but they are still one of rap's most vital groups. Cypress Hill IV shows that rap has not taken its final breath just yet. This offering, together with the impending release of Ice Cube's new album, shows that there is still some hope out there...
Over the last few years, Cypress Hill has made a notable shift towards gloomier, more pessimistic sounds that are complemented nicely by the ultra-scratchy voice of lead singer B-Real, who sounds as if he's suffering from one too many hits from the bong. The extremely somber Cypress Hill III had a number of serious, grave successes, such as the grim "Killafornia" and the spooky, spiritual "Illusions." Thus it is not surprising that the best songs on Cypress Hill IV are the ones that boast the most chilling sounds. "Dead Men Tell No Tales" is a pleasingly eerie...
What distinguishes Cypress Hill IV from previous the group's previous albums though, is the diversity and variation of the music. The album's most experimental song, "Tequila Sunrise," is a sharp and satisfying piece of Southern music that is peppered by the sounds of Spanish guitars. B-Real spits out "Tequila Sunrise/Bloodshot eyes/Realize we are born to die/SO GET THE MONEY!," which is quite ironic since Cypress Hill is one of the few rap groups that is yet to become a sell out. The album ends with a powerful one-two punch, first with the epic-styled "Clash...
...course, it could never really be a Cypress Hill album without at least one pro-drug song. On their new release, there are two. The first is the hilarious "Dr. Greenthumb," which starts with a clever infomercial for a home-marijuana kit and a special screen to keep "those pesky porkchoppers" at bay. The song itself is a strong mix of bass, horns and Indian chants. The other drug song is the lackluster "High Times," which does little more than evoke memories of "Hits From the Bong" and "I Wanna Get High." Despite a couple of duds other, such...