Reviews (page 4 of 8)
The hits are great and I enjoyed the rest more than I thought I would but felt like a lot of the same to me
Minimamente legal, eu daria 2,5 estrelas.
The birth of a legend. Solid Latin drenched vibes with SoCal hip-hop. I think Black Sunday is more approachable and recognizable, but this sets the foundation for what Cypress Hill delivers. My Rating: 5/5
2 stars I’m sure it sounded good at the time. And it’s not bad. But it all starts to sound the same and just does not have the bandwidth to take up a whole album. Dated and kind of cheesy sounding now.
Very middle of the road album, not bad, but not great either. It started to drag by the end.
De har det sjovere mig. Jeg fik hvad jeg forventede.
Bedre end meget andet Hip-Hop
This isn't bad, but I don't want to listen to it anymore.
Classic! Great old-school!
92/1001 Cypress Hill - s/t Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ 46 minutes of essentially the same sounding beats and flow just became a somewhat frustrating listen. I honestly don't like the flow either. The only bit of real difference came in the extremely short penultimate song and the final track, where they embrace more of a jazz and funk sounding backgrounds. Basically gangsta rap with the addition of lyrics about weed. Tiresome.
Pretty decent west coast rap album. Felt a little musically dated for my taste, but there are more than a few tracks to really enjoy here. Pointed and unapologetic, I feel this album particularly shines most when bringing in Latin influence to it's songs. Top tracks: Pigs, Latin Lingo, Tres Equis
Passe seg for dissa
0.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Ganja-fried and trigger-happy, this L.A. trio stumbled out the smoky haze with a debut that made the East Coast take notice—and for good reason. B-Real’s nasal whine is so distinct it borders on parody, but like Flavor Flav’s squawk or Eazy-E’s squeak, it sticks, slicing through DJ Muggs’ sample-heavy stew like a boxcutter through fat vinyl. The beats are dusty, funky, and unrelentingly dank—like if the Bomb Squad smoked out instead of wigging out. The menace is all blunted bravado, where shootouts sound more like Cheech and Chong sketches than crime reports, and the humor undercuts the horror just enough to keep things moving. Lyrically, it’s all 40s, forties, and firearms, but the combination of surreal delivery and stone-cold funk makes it irresistible. “How I Could Just Kill a Man” sounds like the soundtrack to a hotboxed drive-by, “Hand on the Pump” flips "Duke of Earl" into a paranoid groove, and “The Phuncky Feel One” delivers on the promise of its title, while “Stoned Is the Way of the Walk” lets the horn flourishes puff out their chests. If your idea of consciousness includes chemical enhancement and the occasional shootout, step right in.
Enjoyable listen. Definitely some classics in there but feels slightly repetitive.
Why are there so many Hip-Hop albums in this list? As far as I can tell there's nothing to distinguish this from virtually every other Hip-Hop album.
If I had discovered this album when it came out, I probably would have been totally into it. It’s such a reflection of music at the time. It made me nostalgic. The beats are great and had me bopping, but I can’t say it’s something I’ll listen to much again.
gave this a few listens, did quite enjoy it. i don’t generally like hearing about fucking people in the ass but big fan of pigs. reeaaaally cool work
Thoroughly okay.
Reminded me of A Tribe Called Quests simple beats that were catchy and great for rapping over, but was a departure as it seemed like an intro to gangsta rap as well, interesting period of time and listen for sure, appreciated it, not my fav.
Tsja, rap het is niet mijn grootst liefde om het zo maar te stellen. Echter kan ik de duidelijke 90s vibe in dit album wel waarderen en het luistert prima weg. Geen grote ergernissen, best leuk. 3 reten.
Sian only
Hits from the bong. Fucking smoke told and stroke brother man. Finger in the bum.
I'd love to visit the year of my birth as a thirtysomething. This came out just a couple weeks after I was born. Delighted to learn the producer was an Italian American born in Queens, NY. And the two rappers are of Afro-Cuban descent. "The Phuncky Feel One" is the standout track but I don't have much to say about it or any of the other tracks as I didn't try to follow the lyrics. The beats are fine but I need some really special melodies in rap to draw me in. Excellent design on the album cover.
not for me, but fine, quite a lot of swearing
Not for me.
no me gusta
4 for the genre, but 3 overall
Solid rap album. not sure it should be in the 1001
Fun 90s rap album
Definitely some bangers and some nostalgic tracks on this one but Cypress Hill just doesn't hit for me anymore. Not adding this one to my Library.
Much better than I thought
Very familiar with their second and third albums but didn’t know this one very well. Crazy to think that this and Gang Starr’s “Step Into the Arena” were released the same year because of how wildly different they are. No bad tracks on the album but no real memorable ones either.
Well, it's Cypress Hill. I appreciate the album for what it is, stoner style rap, with just a hint of funk. The beat is relentless and the lyrics are "lighter" and fun. Certainly not in my wheelhouse, but ok nevertheless.
I guess it's good in its genre, I liked some of the sampling and Latin flavour, but there's very little rap I can engage with and I was relieved to get to the end.
Goated, liked it a lot
Blind album, know the artist and hits. I enjoyed this album more than I thought!
I am ambivalent towards the instrumentals and the vocals. They are merely okay. But the lyrics are so... meh. Guns, police, drugs, speaking shitty Spanish. Meh.
Don't get why this deserves a spot in this list. Everything sounds the same and not meaningful at all
I remember some people I knew had this album. They were much cooler than I or my friends were. When Cypress Hill came to town they went to the concert and came to school the next day wearing tour shirts. The principle of the school made them turn them inside out because there were cannabis leaves on the shirts. The shirts were allegedly made from hemp making them seem that much cooler. I really wish I went to a show like that, it must have been legendary. I really like this album. Great beats and excellent lyrical delivery. It's very unique and hits we with some serious nostalgia. This isn't an album that I will get tired of. It comes in and out like waves in my life.
2-3
Listening to this album was like oh hey! it’s Cypress Hill ! To quickly oh hey… it’s cypress hill…. They’re great for a mixed tape but just not on their own.
Starts interesting and fresh but ends up not the most dynamic of albums, a lot of the same, but the same is cool
Some fantastic beats and great trumpets are featured in this album to create some really catchy tunes, showing the quality CH can achieve But the lyrical focus on gun violence (Kill a Man / Hole in the Head), drug culture and disposable attitude towards women is really not my thing, then or now
Favorite Track: How I Could Just Kill a Man
So when this came out in 1991, I actually bought it based on the cover alone. I was browsing my local Tower Records and saw this in the New Hip Hop section, and looked at the cover and looked at the tracks on the back of the CD, albeit hard to do because of the giant plastic theft protection device on it, but based on the name of the songs and the cover, I bought it. I was not disappointed. 34 years later and it still kicks. 5/5
Another album that is completely out of the music that I'm comfortable with. I understood about 10% of the lyrics, but I still understood the overall story of the album. It's weird how the whole album works so well together. That said, this album was not made for me. I would not choose to listen to this again. As someone who doesn't listen to hip hop, I noticed there were elements of rap, punk, and reggaeton in here. I liked the album more than I thought I would, if that counts for anything. The first track, "pigs", caught me off guard. As someone who works in a law enforcement adjacent career, I immediately recognized it. I don't necessarily sympathize with anything said in the song, but it drew me in. I was excited to hear the rest of the album. I'm torn on how to score this. I can tell it's a great album, and I enjoyed listening to it, but I also didn't like it. Trying to decide a score, I can see either a 2 or 3. I'll see how I'm feeling when I rate it tomorrow.
The album is funky. I like funky. I don't like murder or weed quite as much though. That's most of what this album is. I like the flow and rhythm, but can't get behind the lyrics. I wouldn't really listen again, but I can say I'm glad to have listened to it. It did overstay it's welcome, though.
Grauenvoll
Great samples, silly lyrics, very 1990s.
Kul med tidigare hiphop
🐣🤷🏻♂️
not that bad, ig just not my style
Really good example of 90’s hip hop. The funky beats are there, the distinctive vocal style, catchy tunes etc. The follow up, Black Sunday, still has the edge over this as the definitive Cypress Hill record though, for me. Their sound evolved on there, incorporating a darker tone. Hearing the sounds of a stormy night with a raw standup bass and an ethereal female vocal are very iconic.
# In-Depth Review: Cypress Hill's Self-Titled Debut Album (1991) ## 1 Introduction and Historical Context Cypress Hill's self-titled debut album, released on **August 13, 1991**, marked a revolutionary moment in hip-hop history. Emerging from the streets of South Gate, California, the **Latino-led trio** consisting of B-Real (Louis Freese), Sen Dog (Senen Reyes), and DJ Muggs (Lawrence Muggerud) created a sound that was entirely unique within the West Coast hip-hop landscape. At a time when gangsta rap was dominated by artists like N.W.A. and Ice-T, Cypress Hill offered something different—a **psychedelic, stoner-friendly** approach to hardcore hip-hop that maintained street credibility while pushing artistic boundaries. The album was recorded at Image Recording Studios in Los Angeles between August 1990 and May 1991, with DJ Muggs serving as the **primary producer** and architect of the group's sound . The group formed from the remnants of DVX (Devastating Vocal Excellence), a collective that included Sen Dog and his brother Mellow Man Ace, who left to pursue a solo career before the album was completed. DJ Muggs, originally from New York but raised in Southern California, brought an **East Coast sensibility** to the production while maintaining West Coast grit, creating a hybrid sound that would become their trademark. This geographical blend allowed Cypress Hill to appeal to audiences across the United States, helping them achieve **commercial success** that few could have predicted for such a sonically challenging album . ## 2 Lyrical Content and Vocal Delivery ### 2.1 Lyrical Themes and Subject Matter - **Street Violence and Survival**: The album's lyrics paint **vivid pictures** of urban life in early 1990s Los Angeles, focusing on themes of violence, police brutality, and survival. Tracks like "How I Could Just Kill a Man" offer unflinching depictions of how violence begets violence, with B-Real rapping: "How do you know where I'm at when you haven't been where I've been/Understand where I'm comin' from/When you're up on the hill, in your big home/I'm out here, riskin' my dome" . This track, which became one of the group's most iconic songs, presents violence not as glamorous but as a **necessary evil** in their environment . - **Anti-Authority Sentiment**: The album opens with "Pigs," a confrontational track that establishes Cypress Hill's **revolutionary stance** against police brutality. B-Real reworks the nursery rhyme "This Little Piggy" into a tale of revenge against corrupt officers, set over a jarring Chuck Cornish guitar loop . The group's disdain for law enforcement wasn't just posturing; both B-Real and Sen Dog had been affiliated with the Bloods street gang, and B-Real had survived being shot in the back, experiences that lent authenticity to their lyrics . - **Cannabis Culture**: Cypress Hill was arguably the first hip-hop act to make **marijuana advocacy** a central part of their identity. Tracks like "Light Another" and "Stoned Is the Way of the Walk" celebrate cannabis consumption not just as recreation but as a way of life. Their approach was groundbreaking at a time when most rappers only alluded to drug use rather than making it a primary theme . The group presented getting high as a form of **escapism** from the harsh realities of their environment, making it more relatable to audiences who shared similar struggles . ### 2.2 Vocal Style and Delivery The vocal dynamic between B-Real and Sen Dog became one of Cypress Hill's most distinctive features. B-Real's **high-pitched nasal delivery** was initially something he resisted, preferring to use his natural voice, but Sen Dog and Muggs convinced him that this unusual approach would give their music a unique character . This contrasted perfectly with Sen Dog's **gruff, baritone voice** (described as "Beta Bass" vocal tone), creating a call-and-response dynamic that one reviewer compared to "a blazed Chuck D and Flavor Flav" . Sen Dog's contributions, while less frequent than B-Real's, provided crucial **counterpoints** throughout the album, particularly on tracks like "Hand on the Pump" . Another innovative aspect was Sen Dog's use of **Spanish and Spanglish** rhymes, particularly on "Latin Lingo" and "Tres Equis." This wasn't entirely unprecedented (Mellow Man Ace had scored a hit with "Mentirosa" in 1990), but it helped cement Cypress Hill's identity as Latino artists who could succeed in a predominantly African-American genre . On "Tres Equis," Sen Dog rhymed entirely in Spanish, detailing sexual escapades with a boldness that thrilled live audiences . ## 3 Musical Elements and Production ### 3.1 DJ Muggs' Production Style DJ Muggs' production on Cypress Hill was nothing short of revolutionary, creating what many have described as a **"sonic blueprint"** that would be widely imitated in hip-hop for years to come . His style was influenced by the Bomb Squad and Ultramagnetic MCs but took their approaches further into **darker, dustier** territory . Muggs specialized in creating sonic collages that incorporated elements from soul, rock, jazz, and blues, layered with palpable grit and frequent beat switches to maintain interest . One of Muggs' most innovative techniques was his ability to make music that **sounded stoned**, creating what one reviewer called "marijuana-style psychedelic" atmospheres . Tracks like "Ultraviolet Dreams" and "Something for the Blunted" were brief instrumental interludes designed to enhance the listening experience for cannabis users, though they sometimes tested the patience of sober listeners . Muggs' production often featured **slow, lazy beats**, fat bass, weird noises, and distant yelling in the background, all contributing to this effect . ### 3.2 Sampling and Musicality Muggs' sampling technique was both **creative and resourceful**, pulling from unexpected sources and transforming them into cohesive tracks: *Table: Notable Samples on Cypress Hill* | **Track** | **Sample Source** | **Usage** | |-----------|-------------------|-----------| | "How I Could Just Kill a Man" | Lowell Fulson's "Tramp" | Primary loop | | "How I Could Just Kill a Man" | Jimi Hendrix | Sped-up sample during hook | | "Hand on the Pump" | Gene Chandler's "Duke of Earl" | Chopped vocals | | "Hand on the Pump" | Jr. Walker, James Brown | Additional elements | | "Stoned Is the Way of the Walk" | Grant Green's "Down Here on the Ground" | Bass and percussion | | "Hits From the Bong" (Note: Actually from Black Sunday) | Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man" | Opening phrases | Muggs almost scrapped "How I Could Just Kill a Man" when he discovered that EPMD had used the same "Tramp" loop on their song "Rampage," but after contacting them personally, they encouraged him to proceed with his different approach . This decision resulted in one of the album's most iconic tracks and demonstrated Muggs' ability to transform potentially derivative material into something entirely new. The album's **sonic diversity** is remarkable, ranging from the aggressive, bombastic production of "How I Could Just Kill a Man" to the funky, Latin-infused sounds of "Latin Lingo." This variety kept the album engaging throughout its 46-minute runtime, though some critics noted that the second half contained slightly weaker material . ## 4 Thematic Analysis ### 4.1 Street Life and Violence Cypress Hill presented **street violence** not as glamorous but as an unavoidable aspect of their environment. Unlike some gangsta rap contemporaries who occasionally veered into cartoonish violence, Cypress Hill maintained a **grim realism** throughout their depictions of urban life . Tracks like "Hole in the Head" followed a Latinx gang member navigating hostile territory, forced to deal with rival crews and rogue police officers . This unglamorous approach to violence was occasionally tempered with **macabre humor** similar to what would be found in films like Reservoir Dogs, but never at the expense of the serious underlying message . ### 4.2 Cannabis Culture and Escapism The group's **pro-marijuana stance** was groundbreaking in its frankness. While other artists had mentioned cannabis use before, Cypress Hill made it a central part of their identity, baking it into their album's very DNA . This wasn't merely recreational; the group framed marijuana use as a form of **medicinal escapism** from the trauma of street life. As one reviewer noted, Cypress Hill expressed their "need" to get stoned as a way to escape the dangerous realities of their environment . This approach helped destigmatize cannabis discussions in hip-hop and paved the way for later artists like Dr. Dre to build entire albums around similar themes . ### 4.3 Latino Identity and Representation As one of the first **successful Latino rap groups**, Cypress Hill broke new ground in hip-hop representation. They incorporated their heritage into the music without making it a gimmick, seamlessly blending Spanish and English rhymes while incorporating Latin musical elements . This was particularly evident on tracks like "Latin Lingo" and "Tres Equis," which celebrated their cultural background without compromising their street credibility . Their success opened doors for future Latino artists in hip-hop and demonstrated the genre's ability to transcend cultural boundaries . ## 5 Cultural Impact and Influence Cypress Hill's debut had a **profound impact** on hip-hop culture and beyond: - **Latino Representation**: The group proved that Latino artists could achieve commercial success in hip-hop without diluting their cultural identity . They paved the way for artists like Kid Frost, Lil Rob, and later Latino rappers who could point to Cypress Hill as proof that success was possible. - **Mainstreaming Cannabis Culture**: Their open advocacy for marijuana use helped **normalize the topic** in hip-hop and popular culture more broadly . By the time Dr. Dre released The Chronic in 1992, weed-infused content barely caused raised eyebrows, thanks in part to Cypress Hill's pioneering efforts . - **Production Innovations**: DJ Muggs' production style was widely imitated, influencing both East and West Coast producers . His approach to sampling and beat construction created a template that would be followed by countless artists throughout the 1990s and beyond. - **Crossover Success**: Cypress Hill was one of the first hip-hop acts to achieve significant **crossover success** with rock audiences . Their inclusion in the Lollapalooza 1992 lineup demonstrated their appeal beyond traditional hip-hop boundaries and helped pave the way for the rap-rock fusion that would become popular later in the decade . The album's influence extended to unexpected places; House of Pain's "Jump Around" was essentially an imperial-phase Cypress Hill track with different rappers . Meanwhile, their hit "How I Could Just Kill a Man" would later be covered by Rage Against the Machine, further cementing their rock credentials . ## 6 Critical Analysis: Pros and Cons ### 6.1 Strengths (Pros) of the Album - **Innovative Production**: DJ Muggs' production was **ahead of its time**, creating a sonic landscape that sounded like nothing else in hip-hop . His sampling techniques and beat construction established a new standard for hip-hop production that would be influential for years to come . - **Unique Vocal Dynamics**: The contrast between B-Real's **nasal delivery** and Sen Dog's gruff interjections created a distinctive sound that set Cypress Hill apart from their contemporaries . This vocal approach became their trademark and was widely recognized even by casual listeners. - **Thematic Cohesion**: The album maintained a **consistent vibe** throughout—grimy, funky, and slightly off-kilter—while exploring different aspects of street life and cannabis culture . This cohesion made the album feel like a complete statement rather than a collection of unrelated tracks. - **Cultural Impact**: As reviewed in , the album broke new ground in **Latino representation** within hip-hop and helped destigmatize discussions of cannabis use in popular music . Its influence on subsequent artists was immediate and lasting. ### 6.2 Weaknesses (Cons) of the Album - **Lyrical Limitations**: Some critics found the lyrics **monotonous** or overly focused on similar themes . One reviewer noted that while B-Real could spit, he didn't vary his subject matter much throughout the album . - **Filler Interludes**: The album contains several short interludes like "Ultraviolet Dreams" and "Something for the Blunted" that some listeners found unnecessary or frustrating . These tracks were clearly designed for stoned listening and could test the patience of sober audiences. - **Dated Elements**: Some aspects of the album haven't aged well, particularly the **casual homophobia** mentioned in one review . Additionally, certain production choices clearly mark the album as a product of the early 1990s, which could limit its appeal to modern listeners . - **Uneven Second Half**: A few critics noted that the album's second half contained slightly **weaker material** compared to the strong opening tracks . While the album maintained a consistent vibe, some songs were less memorable than others. ## 7 Conclusion and Legacy Cypress Hill's debut album remains a **landmark achievement** in hip-hop history. Its innovative production, unique vocal styles, and unapologetic thematic content created a blueprint that would influence countless artists in the years following its release. The album achieved double platinum status in the U.S., selling over two million copies and proving that unconventional approaches to hip-hop could achieve commercial success . The album's legacy is evident in multiple areas: - It helped pave the way for **West Coast dominance** in hip-hop throughout the 1990s, influencing the G-funk sound that would soon become popular . - It demonstrated the commercial viability of **Latino artists** in hip-hop, expanding the genre's cultural boundaries . - It mainstreamed **cannabis culture** within hip-hop, making it acceptable for artists to openly discuss marijuana use . - It pioneered the **rap-rock fusion** that would become increasingly popular throughout the 1990s . *Table: Album Certification and Chart Performance* | **Achievement** | **Details** | **Source** | |-----------------|-------------|------------| | US Certification | 2× Platinum (2,000,000+ units) | | | UK Certification | Gold (100,000+ units) | | | Billboard 200 Peak | #31 | | | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | #4 | | Over three decades after its release, Cypress Hill still sounds fresh and innovative. As one reviewer noted, "Those Muggs beats have aged like fine wine, still knocking as hard now as they did back in '91" . The album's themes of police brutality, street life, and cannabis culture remain relevant, ensuring its continued resonance with new generations of listeners. While not without its flaws, Cypress Hill represents a **pivotal moment** in hip-hop history when the rules were still being written and anything seemed possible. It's the sound of three artists from Los Angeles carving out their own lane without concern for commercial conventions or genre expectations. The album proved that hip-hop could be simultaneously grimy and intellectual, fun and serious, familiar and completely original—a testament to its enduring power and influence .
not all music is for all people... this would not make my Top 2000.
I never got into Cyrpress Hill as a youth and have maintained a low opinion of them since. Was therefore surprised to discover that I quite enjoyed the album and that it had quite a groove. The songs do tend to sound all the same and lyrically there does not appear to be a lot going on but I enjoyed the listen (mostly in my car being a mean bitch in South Gloucestershire). Its probably a 2/5 but will give a bonus point for surprising me.
They all start like Insane in the Membrane will kick in, even When the Sh** Goes Down, but wrong album. Mah. Funky Hip Hop, but all sounds the same.
Far too long. Great production at parts, specifically the first 1/4
Most of the songs sound pretty similar. Gangsta rap is silly.
Maybe if I were 12 years old I’d think super lame songs about weed, violence, and saying fag would be the height of sophistication. Maybe.
This was dumb.
Kind of unpleasant and boring, but somehow grew on me a little bit by the second listen.
This album came out my freshman year at Los Angeles Valley College. Needless to say this album seemed to be constantly wafting through the air like a secondhand bong hit at a house party. This one gets a 4 for bringing on some serious nostalgia. 4/5 #164
Great album, I love the cover art
Tight, lean and fresh (as once was said), feels a bit like the midpoint between Public Enemy and DeLaSoul/Tribe Called Quest. Does get a bit samey. The loose jazziness is a plus even if it leads them to wear out samples which was kinda the way in this era of hip hop as one recalls.
It’s ok but maybe not for me. Decent background music while cooking but I lost interest pretty fast, especially after “How I Could Just Kill a Man,” which is the big hit from this record, but I didn’t totally care for.
Definitely some catchy songs on this album, but it's hard for me to take this era of rap/hip-hop seriously. I get that they're rapping about how hardcore they are, but it just all sounds so silly.
Can't say I vibe with many of the lyrics, but the music sounds alright.
This is pretty good and I enjoyed the funky vibe. Lyrics are eye rolling at times, but pretty much on par for most hip hop/rap.
Solid rhymthic beats and overall good hip hop music
Fun album with multiple nods to P-Funk throughout. It is a little bit lacking in variety in tone and structure. Any song you would start on would be just as good as the next, just not too different. 3.5/ 5
It was fine. It used some good samples. I didn’t know any songs. The only Cypress Hill song I know is Insane in the Membrane which wasn’t on this album.
Just not my genre
I wanted to like this as it was cool as fuck when i was 15 and i was delighted to get it to revisit. Unfortuantely, it was a bit meh. I found it ok, the beats were fine, the stoner schtick was still there, but it didnt have the hook that dragged me in anymore. God im old
Similar to Tribe, I really enjoyed the tone of this one. Overall very consistent.
Ok I guess. Got annoying after a while.
It was nice, sounds similar to other gangster rap genres
The beat carried most of this album, as the lyricism was obscene. Although it did have its moments and was a fun look into old hip-hop. You can clearly tell that Cypress Hill had a lot of fun making this. Especially the song about lighting another one up. Or the interlude of just smoking a blunt. Overall it was a solid 2.5 in my eyes. As i dont really listen to that kind of hip-hop. But not bad for a first listen to that kind of space.
I have never listened to a whole album from these guys. As anti-cop, sign of the times 90s south central albums go, this one is more engaging from a music stand point than most.
Solid album. Definitely a 3 in my books. Come on, people. Somebody ordered the London Symphony Orchestra... possibly while high. Cypress Hill, I'm looking in your direction.
Me likey
Some solid west coast hip-hop. Very good.
ok
Not crazy about this ine
Before listening- As a kid growing up the 90s, I loved Black Sunday. They seemed to be having more fun that a lot of artists, while brining a previously unheard Mexican slant to hip hop Pigs- anger at the violent policing of the late 80s and early 90s with some homophobic slurs, but also the recognition that the police weren’t going to treat a gay cop much differently than a perceived criminal in the city How Could I Just Kill a Man- definitely not a beat that anyone had rapped over before 1991- weird, squeaky Hand on the Pump- who would have thought you could use the chorus from “Duke of Earl” on a song about shooting someone?- weird to start your album with three songs about killing someone- the video for this is so authentically 1990s LA, Hispanic/Black badass- abandoned warehouse on the waterfront? Probably $10 million condos now Hole in the Head- a hallmark of the best rappers was their ability to write a song about incredibly violent subject matter while also making light of the event Ultraviolet Dreams- brief, unnoticeable interlude Light Another- a funky jam style rap, almost like they were freestyling over a DJ; this is the Cypress Hill that kids raised in the suburbs know The Phuncky Feel One- strong bragging song about how awesome B-Real and SenDog are- they trade stanzas pretty well over DJ Muggs scratching Break It Up Real Estate Stoned Is the Way to Walk Psycobetabuckdown Something for the Blunted Latin Lingo The Funk Cypress Hill Shit Tres Equis Born to Get Busy After listening- I am aware that rap was often about the day to day experience of what people saw in the city- in the early days, usually New York or Los Angeles. But on this album the first four songs are all about murder- was life in the city really that violent? (Definitely more violent than my life in the suburbs- I get that.) I love how Cypress Hill entirely embrace their Hispanic roots and still became a major commercial success.
Not as good as some of the other hip hop albums I've heard so far but still pretty good.
nope
B-real's nasal lyrics are still unique today. The fact they were the first popular rap group to incorporate Spanish in their lyrics is another industry change.
4 stars just for Pigs. Great fun. Enjoyed the rest Yo!
It’s a bit sweary and I'm sensing they don’t like the police, but I actually quite enjoyed it.
This is just a load of fun. I'm about as close to giving this five stars as I can possibly get while not quite committing to it. I can see myself coming back to listen to it more. I've known about Cypress Hill for years but never got into a full album and I have been missing out. Gonna have to listen to the rest of them now.
I enjoyed this a lot more than expected
Oh 90s hip hop, for every banger you make I also have to wade through macho posturing and homophobia.
West Coast HipHop providing a monotonous listening experience by lacking development in the backing beats, in melody and in (cohesive) harmony, which isn't even slightly improved by engaging vocal rhythm and attitude producing unrelatable lyrics. I simply couldn't latch onto something so I tuned out of the music.
Good music
Hip-Hop that is fun!!!!! Best Song: How I Could Just Kill a Man Rating: 7.5/10 Stars: 4/5
Not horrible. I liked their vocals and beats, but the album dragged on about 20 mins too long. By the end I had lost interest. Pretty good at the beginning though. 2.7/5 - > 3/5
Finally some non rock😍😍
Wait this production is actually crazy? How have I never heard of these guys before! Sucks how they open it with repeated use of homophobic slurs, though.
Not my genre.
Mais um disco de anti-música, mais um disco de hip hop. Impressionante o lobby em favor deste estilo que não me agrada e não me convence. Dispensável e desnecessário, e olha que este ainda tem alguns momentos de música, com guitarras e metais, que suponho não serem autênticos, mas copiados/ colados de alguma gravação original prévia.
I don't like the vocal delivery from b-real which really knocked the rating down. Won't listen again
It was pretty good, not really my thing though. I wouldn't mind hearing a song or two now and then but an entire album was a bit much
2.5 stars This didn’t grab me. A while back we reviewed Wu-Tang’s debut. I’m probably not supposed to compare East Coast vs West Coast but the two albums are from the same era and both very influential. Wu-Tang’s storytelling, lyricism, and sampling was consistently engaging. I found Cypress Hill kind of boring, but the album got more interesting as it went on.
For better and for worse, this is some Funky Cypress Hill shit. Going into this, I knew a little bit of Cypress Hill... Insane in the Brain and Hits from the Bong (sadly neither of these songs are on this album). The tracks on this album felt like less catchy versions of those songs. The best part of this album is definitely the funk and soul sampling. Now this is super common, but I imagine in 91 this was mind blowing. I assume this album influenced a lot of people (jump around by house of pain definitely rips off this sound). The beats on this album still hold up though. Very cool. A lot of great guitar parts sampled and weaved into the beats. A lot of great samples I'm surprised they were able to get cleared. Unfortunately, the rap style is just not for me. The flows are very monotonous and the one guy is very nasally (I think this rapper was a big influence on Danny Brown, who I also have mixed feelings about). I kind of wish another rapper could have a shot at these beats. I think there's a much better album in here with a better vocalist. The beats feel like there is some variety, but the rapping is so same-y across the tracks that it gives the whole album this repetitive vibe. It's just a wall of funk rap. I vaguely recall it improving near the end but I can't say for sure. On the plus side, there were no dated cringey skits. I feel like that's always a risk with old rap albums. So good for them. O and one more complaint... i'm not a fan of the album cover. But rap album covers from this time are normally pretty rough. (I just flicked through the rest of their album covers... and this actually might be one of the best ones. Yikes.)
fine, kind of boring, but like beastie boys but not as cool
no quite my cup of tea
En aktiivisesti vihaa mutta enpä tykkääkään. Aika tylsä mut rytmikäs.
This was a tough listen. I get this is probably some fundamental 90s rap album but I just did not enjoy this. Probably has something to do with dropping the f slur not even a minute into the album. I know it was different times but idk it just turns me off. The album as a whole though was just really not enjoyable either. It sounded mostly monotonous to me and I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I’m honestly on the verge of giving a 1 out to this album but I think I’ll be merciful today.
Weed, murder, speaking Spanish, being Cypress Hill: these are the topics of Cypress Hill songs. Be it the nasally lead to the strange pitched guy who repeats things other people say most of the album slaps. The backing beats are great and add a ton of character to each song. The biggest downfall of Cypress Hill is that the songs do tend to sound very similar on all fronts. I thought this was an album that I had listened to fully but I guess I only ever made it through like halfway as there was some stuff I had never heard on here although I thought I had heard it because of how similar and they repeat lyrics from earlier songs man thats insane makes you feel like you are going crazy insane in the membrane is not on this album. 7/10
Hiphoppp
In the present day, it feels like Cypress Hill is underdiscussed in the context of early West Coast hip hop, maybe due to their rock crossover appeal that they would eventually lean into, but their self-titled debut came out in '91, and they existed in some form since '88. This puts them on the scene at the same time, maybe a *little* later than people rightfully held highly as the progenitors of West Coast hip hop, like Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Tupac, Dr. Dre and more. Just for reference, this came out about 16 months before The Chronic. And it took some time, but by now I think this album's influence can be heard pretty widely. I don't want to say Cypress Hill invented "weed rap" but I'll say that I don't know who else would have. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if this album, on some level, inspired the direction that artists like Snoop Dogg would explore a little later. Even so, Cypress Hill sounds pretty singular. At this time, Cypress Hill was B-Real, Sen Dog, and DJ Muggs, and this line-up achieved a really interesting balancing act. DJ Muggs may be the star of the show here on some level, the palette and atmosphere of his beats were *extremely* important to this album. He made a kind of spacey, funky, almost psychedelic beats that still went pretty hard. And B-Real and Sen Dog both brought something unique to this sound. B-Real has a nasally, idiosyncratic sound, leaning into the more quirky, left-field aspects of the sound, and Sen Dog had a gruffer, more conventional delivery that helped to keep the sound of Cypress Hill sort of grounded. This combo gives us songs like Hand On The Pump, which has a weirdo vox beat, sing-song chorus and lyrics as gritty as anything else coming out of the West Coast at this time. And Cypress Hill's sound is just as bold and unique across this whole album. Pigs has kind of an offbeat, almost goofy presentation, but it's just about as strong a statement as something like Fuck Tha Police, it just has a very different presentation. This kind of exemplifies, lyrically, what is different about Cypress Hill, they rapped about a lot of the same stuff, but they did it with a left-field sense of humor, and an almost stylized sort of imagery and word play. It comes across as fun, almost playful at times. How I Could Just Kill A Man is another highlight, with its electric guitar sample, ultra-effective chorus, and beat switch. And Cypress Hill is just as effective, funky and unique through its whole runtime. Stoned Is The Way of The Walk is kind of like the group's mission statement, Psychobetabuckdown is as psych-y as they get, and Real Estate is centered on a super funky bassline, just to name a few. This is a really under-appreciated classic, and it's still a super fun listen with great rapping, a great beat selection, and a super cool aesthetic and vibe.
hip hop
Fun, but far from a favorite of the rap genre. 3.5/5
Love the samples; funky, fun, rebellious. I'd listen to it, and them again!
enjoyed it more than expected
Interesting album that was surprisingly easy to listen to.
Wish I coud enjoy this more i love the energy and messages here but most of this album is pretty mid imo 6/10 Favourite: How I Could Just Kill A Man Least Favourite: Latin Lingo
I’m not a huge fan of rap, but I like this. Great rhythm, I can understand the lyrics, and it’s got some great beats.
# 519 : Cypress Hill Well, I can listen to it, but its not real exciting. A lot of repetition, kind of made it boring. Nothing stood out and I know why I don't choose Hip Hop when I am jamming tunes LOL. If I had to pick a track : PSYCOBETABUCKDOWN Listened : 08/07/2025
Sucks
Their debut album. Hip Hop. Great beats. Fun lyrics mixed with violence and darker themes. Stoner Hip Hop. Good production and funky album. I prefer their album Black Sunday but this is fun and pretty chilled out.
Kinda repetitive but in a good way. Nothing wrong with similar sounding bangers. Emphasis on the repetitive part. Can get pretty tiring. Highlights: Pigs, Light Another, Latin Lingo is pretty solid,
5/10
Porządny rap. Na granicy bardzo dobrego. Trochę się waham między 3 a 4, ale nie jest to coś do czego bym świadomie wróciła, więc leci 6.5/10 równane w dół. Nie wiem czego mi zabrakło? Ciekawych sampli? Jakiegoś wielkiego hitu? W teorii wszystko było, a jednak czegoś mi brak.
I did not use a private spotify session for this one. I liked it more than I thought I would, lots of the use of the N word that makes me uncomfortable.
Decent beats, decent flow. Pretty much the epitome of the generic 90s rap sound.
Very funky, great debut album with a more beginner and reserved vocals, yet amazing lyrics and beats all throughout.
Catchy for sure, I feel like they have such a distinct sound that the songs can run together a little. I really liked when they did songs in Spanish. They’re unique for sure and I respect their place in hip hop.
One of the worst hip hop albums I’ve heard in the list so far. Just feels cheesy and generic compared to other stuff I’ve heard. It’s not bad just basic.
Nope.
Get high or shoot people, but trying to rap about both is confusing (and actually kind of dull).
not familiar enough with the genre to make any meaningful judgements, but personally I'm into it :)
Pretty good.
Such a unique style. I have vague memories of seeing them in 2010. Really solid album overall here.
Overall an alright album, similar sound throughout which makes sense given it’s an album, wished there was a bit of change up, some songs I thought were the same when not looking at names. 5/10
I fucking love Cypress Hill - this gave Hip-hop an incredible twist, full of influences but still fresh and unique. Great stuff
Cypress Hill's self-titled album is the debut from the Southern California based hip-hop group. They were one of the first successful Latin hip-hop group, and are known as outspoken advocates of marijuana - especially on their later albums. Even on this debut, the tracks "Stoned is the Way of Life" and "Something for the Blunted" make the band's position clear. Cypress Hill is an interesting version of early hip-hop. This is hardcore - with "Pigs" and "How I Could Just Kill A Man" - but it isn't gangster rap. It's angry, edgy, and far more melodic than much of the genre.
extremely relaxing and fun. never knew much about this group but I did know their most popular song "insane in the brain", which has some weird samples and a beat that feels like a train about to fall off the tracks (if that makes any sense?) most of these songs have the same elements, which I appreciate a lot. I also like the psychedelic elements they included. vibes favorite song: "real estate"? overall: 8/10
The shape of left field hip hop to come.
Не зацепило.
Очень приятный хип хоп панк 90х годов! Качает 🔥
We’re really in a trend of 4s. Sampling is great, beats are great, rapping is tight. Fully see how insane in the membrane came from this. Easy comparison but it’s like boombap Danny Brown at times. Only grew a little tired of it towards the end but overall had a good time.
It really felt like I was listening to an ICP record. I think the beats and production are stronger than ICP, but for reasons unknown, I think I prefer ICP more. I think it's because I like goofy ahh beats coupled with even more goofy ahh lyrics and messaging. I like this album and think it has it's place, but I can only take it in small batches. decent 3
i like the concept of cypress hill more than this record. it's enjoyable but also gets pretty stale even tho it's not a terribly long record. I see why cypress hill plays well with the juggalos now tho. soft 3/5
Rap, hip hop, ok
This album is to me proof that west coast can border east coast. 9.5/10
Production is awesome, though it gets a bit repetitive as the album goes on.
It was nice. Pretty okay album, if a little un-unique at times. A lot of stoner themes which I can get down with. 7/10
Not my style.
it's the introduction of these guys not the best but a decent start
funky! i love this. reminds me of ll fav songs: -how i could just kill a man -real estate -pigs -psycobetabuck
Like it 3/5
Still as lit as it was back in the day
This isn't bad really, but it's not something I can see myself listening to. I'm not a stoner. I like Real Estate though.
This is an inflection point between Run DMC and NWA. Kinda special, that way.
Hatte mehr erwartet, aber schon cooler Flow
Gar nicht mein Fall
Awesome
I’m a big hip hop fan but for some reason Cypress Hill never did it for me. DJ Muggs does a great job and I genuinely love the sample flips and bass selections. However the MCs always bounce between goofy to just slightly annoying and it holds the project back for me. Shout out to opening with Pigs though (3.5/5)
Hasn't aged a bit text-wise. Less of the case production-wise. Can't wait to have "Black Sunday" on the list. 8,5/10 fav songs : Light Another & Real Estate & Born to Get Busy
I found this quite repetitive
There was a time in the 90's when my brother tricked out my parent's Jeep Cherokee with oversized speakers and would blast Cypress Hill. Cypress Hill Doppler effect. You could hear him coming from four blocks away. And that's the vibe of this music. Lyrics about guns, cops, pot don't interest me much, but you gotta admit the funk and beats have sway.
They haven't fully developed into the full level of Insane in the Membrane, but there's no mistaking that this is Cypress Hill. Not as musically artistic (get a drumline on repeat, drop some repeating bass line, then focus on the lyrics), but engaging and fun (albeit profane).
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
This was fun and reminds me of high school even though I didn’t really listen to it.
For me this is a perfect combination of hip hop grooves, fun yet smessage based rap with an edge. I know I will go back and listen again several times
Like this 90s rap more than the more recent stuff
Bom álbum de rap com guitarras. QKZxHBB Hades.
IMO album started off really weak. As the tracks progressed, so did the funk. Loved the funkiness. Overall though I am giving it 3 because I don’t think I’d listen to the whole album again, rather pick and choose to listen to the few songs that resonated with me.
Ground-breaking production and all, but B-Real's voice annoys the fucking shit out of me (and songs about weed are boring, although there was more of that on their later albums.)
Some tracks are lowk really quite good, e.g. How I Could Kill a Man, and the sound style is very, very influential. With that being said, the second-half of the album ended up just blending together and becoming somewhat bland, so I didn't really catch any stand-outs - it just started sounding like noise.
How can their aim be that good when they smoke so much? Not an album for me.
It's alright, very 90s sound.
Fun album that ultimately only has one or two stand out tracks. Closer to a 3.5 than a 3.
This was fun, I really like older 90s stuff so it was good. I can see that Danny Brown takes inspiration from the vocal style. It goes pretty hard.
Fun to listen to, but smoking weed isn't a personality
At the moment in my 1001 journey this might be my favorite early 90s hip hop album. I've had a run of them this week, and this was the clear winner (over LL Cool J and Gang Starr). Gang Starr was a soft 3 star, and this is a strong 3 star. They've got good flow, even if it starts to sound a bit affected over the course of a full album.
Not available on Spotify
This is a powerful album and hits hard right from the get go. Love the funky beats and the raw lyrics!
Other than the hits this was a slog. Felt way longer than 45 minutes.
Wasn't bad, a bit samey, but you know. acab/10
Somewhere in the haze of smoke there is a half-decent album here.
01) Pigs - 8,5 02) How I Could Just Kill a Man - 8,5 03) Hand on the Pump - 7,5 04) Hole in the Head - 8,0 05) Ultraviolet Dreams - 7,0 06) Light Another - 7,5 07) The Phuncky Feel One - 8,0 08) Break It Up - 7,5 09) Real Estate - 8,5 10) Stoned Is the Way of the Walk - 8,0 11) Psycobetabuckdown - 7,5 12) Something for the Blunted - 7,0 13) Latin Lingo - 8,0 14) The Funky Cypress Hill Shit - 7,5 15) Tres Equis - 7,0 16) Born to Get Busy - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,69 (77/100) Current ranking: 226/559
People put this on and thought they were cool?
I've never been very interested in Cypress Hill before, I associated them with the whine-ting backing track sound that I hate, but these tracks are pretty varied in sound, mixed out of older tracks. (40s and 50s? Interesting.) Lyrics are also good, clear, good rhymes, everything in looking for. Enjoyed this.
Wasn’t the biggest cypress hill fan. Just never spent enough time with them. Really enjoyed this album, especially the production. Lyrics are what you’d expect. Will absolutely revisit
A unique style in flow and groove. Some fun rhymes.
This is brilliant
I know that this is a critically acclaimed hip-hop album, but something about it was niggling me and it finally struck me on the third track, Hand on the Pump. It opens with a sample of Duke of Earl by Gene Chandler, and I realised that I would much rather be listening to the original. They’ve just taken a classic intro to a song and chopped it up, without adding anything new or it having any relevance to their track. I have nothing against sampling per se, but it needs to have a reason for being rather than artists acting like a kid in a candy store grabbing everything in site.
Yet another band I knew by name but never took the time to listen to one of their records. I was expecting something more rock or metal, as they have a pretty good success in these communities, and that was a name coming back regularly in discussions when I was a nu-metal-listenening-teenager. In the end, it is a pretty good and standard rap album from this period of time, with some light hispano influence that makes them stand a bit out from the crowd (on top of the good production and the flow).
No es un disco que me haya gustado mucho. Pero entiendo que tuvo cierta relevancia histórica. Me recuerda al género de la cumbia villera. Música de baja fidelidad, simple, repetitiva, con mucho peso del trasfondo cultural donde la pobreza, las drogas, la violencia y el sexo son temas centrales sobre los que desarrolla la música y las letras.
Now I know why they ordered the London symphony… to get on this list.
Brutal lyrics and so enjoyable.
Such a unique sound. Not as hit heavy as some of their later albums, but still really good. “How I Could Just Kill a Man” is the standout song. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
Half descent album from back in the day
Probably a bit biased after hearing 'How I Could Just Kill A Man' a thousand times when playing GTA San Andreas, but I really like this album, and Cypress Hill's sound. Another very 90s sounding recording. Feels like a joke by now, but I just generally seem to like music from this era. Not that surprising seeing I was born in this decade, but didn't realize it would subconsciously have such an effect on what I like. Really front-loaded record with the three opening tracks being the strongest of them all. The rest of the record holds up really well though. I think overall they have a very interesting palette of samples to keep it fresh. Lots of funk-like guitar wahs, TV recordings and so on. It does get a bit old with the various "squeel-like" samples they have in many of their songs though ('How I could Just Kill A Man', 'Hole In The Head', 'The Phuncky Feel One', 'Psychobetabuckdown'), but I still think it stays on the right side of the line between overused and not. The nasal rap of B-Real is probably something you either like or hate, but I think it works really work and is a cool standout trademark for the group, along with the mixed in spanish lyrics. Overall really cool record. Got quite some hits, but also a really solid foundation in the other tracks. Perhaps a few weaker ones, but overall really high quality and interesting stuff with heavy beats and good rap. Strong 4!
Early 90s rap is hit or miss for me; this one falls on the hit side. I’m not sure if its just the mood I’m in when listening to it that decides but I enjoyed it. Like most rap from this era, the samples are quite similar to each other but still good. Makes me think of sampling from the game “jet set radio”. Lyrically, just the start with “Pigs” and “How I Could Just Kill A Man” have some very in your face lyrics that flows well with the beats. I don’t think the rest of the songs stick out as much as the first few tracks but all of them keep a nice flow. With a run time of 45 min I think it’s just short enough to not overstay its welcome. Weak 4 from me.
Good fun, bouncy beats and great old schools production. Fun lyrics - I can easily believe they like weed this much, but has B-Real really killed so many guys?
Idk classic 90s hip hop? Didn’t grab me
Som klassens coola kille som låtsas ha varit full men inte har det
Come on, people. Somebody ordered the London Symphony Orchestra....possibly while high. Cypress Hill, I'm looking in your direction.
As 90s hip hop albums go, this one felt middle of the road. Good album for the hip hop heads but I could only stand a few songs entirely about calling cops pigs or shooting someone with a sawed off shotgun. I feel like such a puritan typing this but alas. The middle and later half of the album is stronger than the top imo
I didn’t know what this was going to be before i started listening, and i honestly can’t say i was disappointed. not my usual jam but a cool change of pace
Cool album but I’m not a huge fan of gangster rap. Too unnecessarily violent.
Not a rap fan, but this is kind of alright I guess
I have learned from this undertaking that the older 90's rap is actually ok with me. Stuff like Wu-Tang Clan and such. Never thought I would think this, huh!
Damn. This list really does have just about every notable 80s/early 90s hip-hop group, doesn't it? Oh well. I'm not going to deny Cypress Hill from having an album on here, now am I? This may not be my favorite early 90s group hip-hop album, but it's pretty good, I'll give it that. It's a bit different from something like Run-DMC or Public Enemy, largely in the production front. I like this album's production. It's interesting, especially for the time. I like it. The rapping is also a bit unique, mainly in regards to B-Real's rapping style. I can see why others would be annoyed by it, but I think it works. It's certainly characteristic, I'll give it that. The writing, of course, is the focus of albums like this, I think. The writing on here hasn't aged the best, but it could've aged a lot worse. There's not as much misogyny on here as there is something like that Pharcyde album I got earlier this week. Still, this album does tend to have its writing fall into some general cliches of gangsta rap. Hating cops, loving drugs, killing people, stuff like that! This was 1991 though, so this album did kind of help establish some of the aspects that would become fundamental to West Coast hip-hop especially. Overall, this is a fairly influential album that's also pretty good. It's not my favorite, but I like it and respect it. High 3/5.
First half is sick. Lots of songs about smoking weed and shooting cops in the face. Second half has way too many filler songs.
Rapsy. Całkiem całkiem.
It’s a hard pass for me. Just not interested in this genre.
Verrrrrry Cypress Hill. They have a wheelhouse and they're sticking to it. 3.5
technically impressive within the genre, but not something i'll ever reach for
a whole album of having insane in the brain in my head and it's not on here? fucked up enjoyed this fine but this guy's delivery was SO samey, really started to grate on my by the end
The production on this still feels really fresh and I like a lot of the beats, but taken as a whole album it's...so many songs about weed
Didn’t know these guys were this good! Would love to give this a closer listen some time.
forgot how good these guys are. certainly not mad at this one
Decent
Big letdown, I thought I’d like this one
Very cool beats. I’ve always liked G-Love and the Special Sauce, who I now realize is very heavily influenced by this. This is one of the reasons I’m enjoying this journey. Just a fun group.
listened to again i liked it a lot better this time
Pretty charming for some guys threatening to kill me. Reminds me of Eazy E, but a little higher and less angry. Really like CH in doses, all the hits that have been mentioned. A full album of this tho is too much.
Funky and fresh
some funky sheeet Actually way better than I thought it was going to be. I remember 2 moments where I was shocked about the sampling: Gene Chandler - Duke of Earl Village Callers - Hecktor I don't know when I'd pull this album off the shelf again, but I definitely added a few songs to my rap playlist. Favorites: The Phuncky Feel One Latin Lingo Fucky Cypress Hill Shit
I went through (more accurately, forced) a Cypress Hill phase in high school, right around my big Rage Against the Machine phase and maybe because I wanted to hear who originally recorded How I Could Just Kill a Man. B-Real has a distinctive nasal voice and rapping style – it's kinda corny but it's pretty fun. Of all the rap from 1991, I'd say this has aged on the better side. How I Could Just Kill a Man is an improbably likable song. The hook should be annoying but it's fun, the verses have so much attitude. Great example of early 90s hip hop production – simple repetitive loops that just get the job done. On the other end of the spectrum, sampling Duke of Earl for Hand on the Pump is kinda gratuitous I hadn't heard most of this album – had mostly listened to their bigger hits (Tequila Sunrise, Insane in the Brain, etc.). Other stuff is okay, but some good high points.
Still hits so hard ... "Time for some action, just a fraction of friction/ I got the clearance to run the interference/ Into your satellite, shinin' a battle light/ Swing out the gat, and I know that will gat ya right"
Repeat listen
Great for Danny Brown fans who wish he would put out an album rapping over throwaway De La Soul beats
Goon shit right here. It feels like the influence to a lot of more modern underground rap I’ve heard over the years
3 Stars (8/15)
By Jove! These young gents speak so nonchalantly about such horrible crimes such as marijuana inhalation and acts of violence! I must inform the authorities posthaste!
Too much homophobia and guns to enjoy the performative stunty stuff about weed.
Great album. Very enjoyable and would listen over and over.
I get that it's influential, and they have some cool songs, but this isn't my favorite.
Not my thing
Random critique beyond this being not a great album: it felt like they were saying "Cypress Hill" way too many times per song. I know it's not uncommon for rap groups to say their name in the songs, but it felt like it was excessive in this album.
One of the top albums of it's genre in the decade. Hands down.
OK, I've surprised myself. I only knew the big hit from these guys "Insane in the Brain" and assumed that I would find this album tedious at best. I think the samples are hilarious in places, and the rapping is great in spots, too. Really interesting choices. It's great that they carved out their own niche, leaning hard on stoners and people who like low riders and 40s.
p658. 1991. 1 star.. (C)rap. Foul mouthed, tedious, offensive nursery rhymes about drugs and killing people.
Top 15 rap albums ever. Super fresh, creative, diferent sampling, new instruments, mix between gangsta rap and psychodic rap and its so good the interludes you dont skip. The flow of this album is perfect.
aha too many memories of sitting in various parents backyards smoking cones rushing back to me now. Was reflecting on why this doesn't feel as great as Apocalype '91 or Efil4zaggin. I think it has to do with the fact that those albums were late 80s rappers coming off their peak whereas this is the start of the new wave. Where the heavy looping and scratching style of production is at its peak in NWA or Public Enemy, its kind of being exposed for its limitations here. I think if one of their three later albums with more mid-90s techniques was in this place it would stand up better. A lot of the late golden era stuff can come off as a bit po faced (especially the new york stuff) whereas Cypress Hill is a bit more jokey, you can hear strains of the Biz or Eazy E or even LL Cool J or Slick Rick in their lyrics. At the start of the 90s Cypress would have seemed like upstarts, but in the mid-90s it feels more like they are carrying the torch.
Not reall a rap listener, but this is a classic. How I Could Just Kill a Man and Hole in the Head.
Distinct style, cool beats, just hip hop is too monotonous for me
Klassisk hip hop hippety hop. Typ som nyo sword. Mye f da police i teksten
Debut album. Pure old school 90s hip-hop.
Pretty solid
Love the samples. You can hear the dust in the grooves and the hours put into the crate digging. Unmistakable sound these guys make.
No stand outs, won't listen again.
KINDA FUN
West coast rap made leaps of progress in little time, 420 jokes and still hates the police. 7/10
7/10 I apologize for the stereotype we contribute of Latinos using slurs that they probably shouldn’t but this is fun as hell
Not bad, funky beats and good flow but a little unrefined
Listened Before? N I know of these guys from their later work. They're consistent. Not really 100% my thing but I didn't hate it. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: How Could I Just Kill A Man
West coast best
This was kinda fun.
Me and some mates played Black Sunday to death when it came out and I didn’t hear this till many years later. Although not as good it’s still a cut above most of the other hip hop that’s been on this list so far. You can hear a lot of the ‘motifa’ they used on the later album, pretty damn great overall!
This era of rap seems to have become particularly dated. I personally don't care for the sound, although I didn't start listening to rap until the 2010's.
Shit!
Hip hop just isnt my thing but this was at least different than a lot of the 90s hip hop. Interesting delivery and flow, funky beats and good production.
I can't listen to this - boring, annoying, terrible.
Decent, didn't listen though!
Cuddlin' with my shortie, hand on the rump, Left hand on a tittie, THINK I FELT A LUMP! Finger in her pussy, DIDN'T MAKE HER JUMP! La la la la la la la la
I have the cassette and listen to it frequently. Great album
Alright. Good and upbeat but runs out of steam midday through. Stand out song - how I could just kill a man
Solid flow and lyrics, though I personally wasn't as gripped by this one as much as, say, early albums by A Tribe Called Quest. But still a very good representation of the best that early 90s hip-hop had to offer.
Not bad, not really hitting in 2025 though.
To my teenage-years demographic (North West United Kingdom, mostly but not entirely white, middle-class faux-Mancunians, later prone to giving each other Wu-Tang Clan-style names like “Beany Fingers” - random example there), Cypress Hill acted as a hip-hop gateway to the perceived harder stuff, and I have a faint notion that once inducted we regarded them as light. I think it’s the hooks - playground chant-like, sticky, and more prevalent than on the average hit hip-hop album, the big-voice little-voice carousel that makes me think of Looney Tunes characters, and refrains that leave no doubt as to the subject matter. Listened back-to-back with a production by the Bomb Squad, the instrumentals sound almost minimalist, again playground-like. Though I’ve only ever borrowed this album as a teenager, I could remember almost half of the songs, and found myself muttering “born to get busy” as I trundled through Costco, now facing my dotage. Pretty good!
Juvenile and irritating
This was a pleasant surprise. I remember them but never listened to anything but their radio or MTV hits. Lyrically I don't identify with it, but the music and melodies have good vibes. Something about this album is oddly satisfying. Strong Sunday morning album, I listened through twice. Groovy find on the sonic voyage.
A chill rap record in one of the best ways.
Surprisingly enjoyed
Worth listening to for certain. Interesting layers and very strong feelings about cops.
4/10.Ill be honest I just didn't care that much for this, for starters I've noticed this list seems obsessed with debut albums rather than an artists more popular stuff. All in all this is probably worse than Ice Cube (although a bit less misogynist, however there was quite a jarring use of a slur in the first track). Maybe it's a genre that I just don't quite get as I'm pretty far removed for the culture and it's not even my country. I think the beats were decent but still exactly what I'd expect and nothing really caught me off guard. I think I tuned out for the most of it tbh so I can't rate it too high.
Not in my top 1001 albums
I love Sen-dog and B-real's voices, their flow, basically everything they bring to the table. I enjoy most of what DJ Muggs does, but sometimes the samples don't seem to fit, or they're just too abrasive for what the song is doing (the guitar in "Real Estate" is one example). It works in some places but not as liberally as Muggs actually uses them. I have similar qualms about Public Enemy's production style. Cypress Hill's s/t album has a sense of playfulness I see in The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest, but with the malice and posturing found in gangsta rap. Here it comes off as mischievous.
The production and vocals immediately take me back to hearing Cypress Hill for the first time… an infectious mix of gritty beats, psychedelic squeals, and distinctive nasal raps. And then to hearing them everywhere for the next four or five years when you couldn’t escape them. They were ubiquitous. One of the few ’90s hip-hop crews that got love coast to coast, and everywhere in between (even on The Simpsons), they smartly sidestepped regional beef and made the real villains anyone trying to kill the vibe. Honestly, they’re still kind of fun to listen to, even if I’m nowhere near their demographic and not doing any of the things they’re writing about.
4.5
Just some gangster rappers that love funk 9 out of 10
Pigs // 2.5/5
This moment when DJ/Producers had mastered the art of building collages out of samples and before a judge with no musical background tore the whole thing down with a trademark ruling produced such interesting music. And how B Real can make the abject celebration of violence sound so fun is a total mystery.
Yeah I know about breal
Songs i knew: 0 Songs i liked: a few After only ever listening to probably 3 cypress hills songs in my life I've realised all of their songs sound the same. That's not a bad thing but hard to tell them apart on this album. Still decent and I can imagine this slapped when it dropped early 90s. Low 4.
Such a fun listen. Not my usual genre but I enjoyed this moment in time recording.
I have never really been a fan of gangsta rap, so I came into this hoping it might surprise me. I have always been curious about Cypress Hill given their reputation and influence, but this album just did not land for me. A lot of the lyrical focus revolves around crime, confrontation and hostility toward the police, and there is not enough variety in theme to keep me engaged. The production and sampling are solid, and you can hear why the record had an impact in the early nineties, but overall it feels one dimensional to my ears. I can respect its place in hip hop history, but as a listening experience it did not grip me and it is not something I would return to. Favourite song: None that stood out enough to revisit. Least favourite: The overall tone felt repetitive throughout. Album artwork: A fairly typical early nineties hip hop cover. Striking enough, but not particularly memorable for me
Really fun but a lot of the overly repetitive parts can get annoying
With unique vocals, Funny lyrics, banging beats, Hip hop takes cool turn
Never listened to this before and it’s an absolute banger. Brilliant.
🥴
Love this,
Absolute fire. Will listen again.
Loved it, would relisten
3.7 2x catch up 4/18
Has its moments, enjoyable.
Cops are pigs, weed is awesome, violence is cool. That's the album. It's repetitive and gets pretty boring by the end.
much funkier than i was expecting. i did catch at least one f-slur so i don't love that, but i had fun with this one.
pretty good overall. it really felt like i was there, smokin wit da boys. the album starts strong, gets kind of repetitive in the middle, and draws me back in with the latin-influence tracks. this is a 3.5 for me but i'm rounding down because of how samey 3/4 of these songs are. favorites: pigs, hand on the pump, latin lingo, tres equis
Thought this would be uninteresting but I enjoyed it. Such unique vocals. I'd only ever heard insane in the brain before this.
American shit
CYPRESS HILLLLLL!!!