Reviews (page 5 of 7)
As I've been on this journey, I have come to gain not just an appreciation for hip-hop, but also a more discerning ear for quality within the genre as well. I've been handed albums that I would elevate above others (Biggie's debut, all Tribe albums, Kanye's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy). The music snob in me tells me that these albums aren't just art in the common sense of the word, but *art* with that added emphasis, almost like you're adding a syllable to that one syllable word. These are some of the best the genre has to offer. I've been handed some stuff in this genre that I didn't care for (Dizzre Rascal, Ms. Dynamite, Outkast's "Stankonia," and more). I know by now what I do like and don't like in hip-hop and rap. That is something I could not really have told you 257 albums ago, but here we are. I'm pretty proud of that. So where does Cypress Hill fit in here? Well, let me start by saying that I knew them almost only by name. I couldn't have named you one Cypress Hill song...except for "Insane in the Membrane" which isn't on this album. So I at least knew that their peak of popularity and probably artistry came in the 1990's. The stuff I've liked the most from hip-hop and rap came from the 90's, so we're off to a good start. I honestly really liked this album. It wasn't my favorite of the albums I've had from these genres. But it still carried that raw energy, excellent sampling, and great lyrical flow. As with a lot of music from the 90's and earlier, some of the lyrics haven't aged super well. But all you can really do there is try to understand that it's a product of its time and try to appreciate it as a work of art. I think it does work as art, but I can also tell that this is a debut. I don't get the sense that this is 100% put together thematically, or that this is the peak of their songwriting and production abilities. I have a feeling they'll have at least one more album on the list, and that they'll blow me away on that one. For now, I have to settle and give it three stars. That feels harsh, but seeing as how my average score thus far is a 3.45, I don't feel too bad. Besides - I think they can do better. Standout tracks: Pigs, How Could I Just Kill a Man, Hole in the Head, The Phuncky Feel One, Real Estate, The Funky Cypress Hill Shit
I was between a 2 an 3 here, some good beats and head-bobbing moments. Definitely not my taste but probably a 2.5
Some interesting beats/loops. Just not my vibe.
The beats on this are really impressive, and B-Real’s flow and energy are always a lot of fun - I can definitely see how his quite unique nasal vocal timbre has influenced modern rappers like Danny Brown as well. Despite this, Cypress Hill have just never really clicked for me. Maybe it’s the lack of memorable hooks (Insane in the Brain isn’t on this one) or the lyrics just not resonating with me, but I just found myself appreciating this more than enjoying it
First time listen. Highlights: hand on the pump, phuncky feel one, how I could just kill a man
The band sounds like an olive oil brand but these are no extra virgins
Good beats and grooves.
A pleasant enough noise
I don't listen to much hip-hop, but I didn't mind this. It sounds very 90s, and there isn't a lot of variety between songs, but it's a fun sound at least.
Very 90s rap but very good 90s rap. Sometimes it's the vibe. For some reason Cypress Hill never stood out to me as much as some of their contemporaries but listening now I appreciate it more than I expected. The Latin vibes give it a bit of a unique spin.
For an album that seemed so much "of its time," this has held up surprising well over the past three decades.
These dudes sure do like weed. Interesting sonic feels here and there that compare to some Beastie Boys sounds which makes sense given they ran some tours together. Most songs on this album seem to sound and feel alike though given their similar tempos, with some others thrown in for filler. An ok album, but not a revisit for me.
Track one - We hate cops! Why are they harassing us?? All remaining tracks - admissions of various crimes that could reasonably be expected to draw the attention of law enforcement
Not sure I would seek this out and also crazy that we would get a cypress hill album that doesn’t include the 2 songs I know. This is fine. Some good beats and enjoyable rhymes. “Sawed off shotgun, hand on the pump Left hand on a forty, [puffin onna blunt]” I can see me rolling down my nice suburban neighborhood blasting that. I also saw they performed last July at the Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra. That seems wild. 2.75
Some thoughts: 1. Cypress Hill bros are no fans of cops. 2. Cypress Hill bros enjoy the weed. 3. Their signature sound (that kinda wailing noise in the background) got a little annoying on the first few tracks. 4. I learned that Rage Against The Machine's "How I Could Just Kill a Man" was a cover of a Cypress Hill song. All in all, an ok album. Not my cup of tea, but I can def see the appeal. 3.25/5
Cypress bout to kick it! Classic early 90s hip hop from one of the OGs. 3.5/5
Thoughts before listening: Well this is fun. These guys were the soundtrack to many high school and college parties even if I never owned any of their albums. I am sure I will recognize quite a few of these songs. Review: This is good although I am more familiar with and prefer their later albums, especially Black Sunday. Cypress Hill definitely have an iconic sound, largely thanks to B Real's unique voice. His high pitched, sing song style really stands out against the other rappers of their era. The backing tracks are reminiscent of the west coast style of the time with Cypress Hill being early to the game with their laid back, bass heavy beats. My favorite songs are "How I Could Just Kill a Man" and "Hand on the Pump". 3-stars
I can understand the importance, but I can't feel the music; it sounded too bland for me. Maybe when I'm in a better mood, I should try again, but today, it's a 3-star album because of its historical influences.
For whatever reason, 90s hip hop always feels like more of a musical time capsule compared to other genres. Cypress Hill is no different. I feel like I don't really hear many elements of 90s hip hop appear elsewhere. It has its own, very 90s vibe that can be oddly comfortable, aside from the lyrics. Speaking of lyrics, they deal with the usual topics of violence, with some being systemic. They flow well. Too many record scratch sounds though, good god too many. It's a sound that feels very much of its time, and it gets annoying after a while.
Some very good tracks. Groundbreaking when it came out and some great production. But I'm glad that (some) hip-hop has moved on from all of the glorification of violence, drugs and homophobia.
One or two hits but that's it
Eh 3.5
This album seems to be important to its genre and to those that are fans of hip-hop, but I can’t say that this was an album I enjoyed much. I’m honestly not the biggest fan of hip-hop. It’s either something I can enjoy or something that can bore or even annoy me. This album kinda got boring to me at times. There were good spots, though. One of the popular singles “How I Could Just Kill A Man” was good and I enjoyed “Psycobetabuckdown”. I appreciate the influence this album had. But for the most part, this was not exactly my cup of tea. Favorite track: How I Could Just Kill A Man Other Hits: Psycobetabuckdown, Hand on the Pump
This project is teaching me that there’s a definite limit to the amount of 90s hip-hop I need in a day. Not sure where it is, but it’s definitely less than an entire album.
This Album had just the right amount of Scooby Doo representation that I want out of an album without it feeling like pandering. I felt a little numb to the lyrics in these songs and sorta tuned them out after a while. Some of the beats they have are really good though. How I Could Just Kill a Man is a classic and the best part of the first half, I honestly preferred everything in the 2nd half of the album a lot more.
I really like the samples and instrumentals, reminds me of Jet Set Radio at points. 'How I Could just kill a man' I really like the overdriven guitar trills, it sounds awesome. Each of the tracks had their own instrumental and sample quirks which are really cool. I generally don't think this album is for me, I'm not a big fan of the vocals. Some of the bars were quite funny, 'hand on the pump' had some bangers. If it wasn't for the solid instrumentals this album would have been a real chore to get through.
For a second I glimpsed into into how most members of this group feel about every other album. Complete apathy. So fucking front heavy, very strong opening. I don't actually think there's anything that's overwhelmingly bad like you could play just about any random song from this album and it'd be alright. It's just the the kill people slonk gang weed gets old quick and it really feels like come on get to the point. There's so many bands that garnered an audience just from singles around this era, this feels like another one. Fav tracks - Pigs, How I could just kill a man, Hand on the Pump, Hole in the Head, The Phuncky Feel one, Real Estate Least Fav - Ultra Violet Dreams
HANGING OUT MY WINDOW WITH MY MAGNUM. Wow a lot of N words, ain't these guys latinx? Is that a mother fucking Scooby-doo reference? All that aside I wouldn't say this is my favourite rap album and kind of surprised it is here in this list. That said there is something special about Cypress Hill, sure the content of the songs ain't too deep but when you here these MF's start rapping you can tell right away that its Cypress Hill. No one out here sounding like these guys that's for damn sure. 3/5.
Super tight 45. Production and mixing is great, lyricism is hit or miss but overall a good album. How I Could Just Kill A Man and Hand On The Pump are classic and those songs bring back memories of sitting with my mate's older brother in his room, PC wallpaper is either a hot chick or a skyline and the place smells like shit. Not a whole lot to say about this album, it's not really my kind of music and I don't see myself giving this a spin out of the blue.
It’s ok
Close to giving this 4 stars if it had some more hype within
Expected worse
The kind of music my parents would tell me to turn down, and they wouldn’t be wrong
Starts to feel pretty samey after the first few songs. Still manages to be a fun listen despite that.
2.5 stars rounded up. A whole album is a lot.
Wish I was chilling smoking a joint listening to this vs driving to work. Still a fun classic hip hop album.
For the longest time, I thought Cypress Hill was named after the neighborhood in Brooklyn and represented East Coast hip hop, but they’re actually named after a street in the LA area. Generally not super interested in these guys but “How I Could Just Kill a Man” and “Hand on the Pump” are solid. Also anyone else think B-Real sounds similar to Danny Brown? Both have sort of weird slightly grating high pitched voices while rapping which turned me off at first but I grew to really like.
I really enjoyed this album, even though I wasn’t expecting to.
Phuncky samples and beats don’t save this one from being just another run of the mill Hill. Cops, amirite?
While I wouldn't die on this Hill, the Cypress branches aren't my favorite limbs of the hip-hop tree.
Liked this better than I thought I would.
I was happy to see another hip hop album appear on this site for me, and I wasn't disappointed. It has a distinctive sound with some fun lyrics, but it's far from being among the best hip hop albums in this list.
Fun enough, but ultimately didn’t change my opinion on Cypress Hill.
I enjoyed it. 3.5
Idk, I’m just not feeling it. I can hear that it’s not bad. I’m not the biggest rap fan but sometimes I really like it, and this isn’t one of the times. Not that I actively dislike it. Pretty clearly a three star for me.
Never was a huge fan, but I like them enough to respect it
Pigs - 3.75 How I Could Just Kill a Man - 3 Hand on the Pump - 3 Hole in the Head - 3 Ultraviolet Dreams - 3 Light Another - 3 The Phuncky Feel One - 3 Break It Up - 3 Real Estate - 3 Stoned is the Way of the Walk - 3 Psychobetabuckdown - 3 Something for the Blunted - 3 Latin Lingo - 3 The Funky Cypress Hill Shit - 3 Tres Equis - 3 Born to Get Busy - 3 Not for me. But not bad.
Great DJ and percussion. Don't much dig the gangsta aspects of the lyrics but really good rhyme and flow.
Massa
Great memories of buying and listening to this . Some of the lyrics don't hold up , and the ‘getting high ‘ themes get tedious after a while. But! The production really keeps it afloat . Black sunday is a lot better.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
First time listening to this. I liked some of the throwaway tracks more than the big singles. The delivery of one of the rappers gets on my nerves. I liked a lot of the flow. Started as a 2 but got to a 3 by the end of it. "Just click on the chumpy and feel the funky flows"
I'm sure they are hard as hell or whatever. but it just sounds like stoners trying to prove they are bad ass. I'd probably give them a 4 but fags are way better than cops.
Black Sunday is the better album. Is that one on the list too? I remember seeing them in concert around year 2000, that was a good time
Decently entertaining. Got jumpscared by the f slur in the first song I don't they can say that. The funky cypress hill shit was really annoying and went on for so long. No favourites, nothing really stood out. It wasn't the best and some lyrics were questionable but still listenable. 3/5
It was okay, I was listening while applying to co-op jobs and nothing really stood out to me that much. Maybe I'm just in a crummy mood because I hate applying to jobs plus I won't be getting one. It's whatever though, favourite was probably Hole In the Head, though I don't even know if I actually liked it or it was the only one that was annoyingly catchy enough to stick in my memory. Please manifest me getting a co-op for Fall 2024. 3
Итс окей. Увидел в этой группе/альбоме огромное влияние на Дэнни Брауна, что довольно забавно. Лучшая песня - Real Estate.
Classic West Coast hip hop with homegrown Latin vibes. I love the silly tone. 3.4 stars
Fun, but dated lyrics keep it from regular listening.
I liked it, not a huge fan of rap/hip hop
basi e flow? belli. testi che dicono solo quanto sono gangsta, quanto ti fanno fuori se vai nel loro quartiere e quanto gli piace la Mary Jane? un po' meno belli. le canzoni in spagnolo? carine, alzano un pelo il voto, ma comunque non si può dare più di tre agli amici bilingue.
Io sono ancora sconvolta che How I Could Just Kill a Man dei Rage Against the Machine sia una cover di How I Could Just Kill a Man dei Cypress Hill. Ah. Forse continuo a preferire la versione dei Rage Against the Machine, però.
Feels weird giving this and Johnny Cash both 3, but here we are
Quite pleasant
I do enjoy the nasally raps of Cypress Hill and thought it was an enjoyable listen. Many points lost, however, due to every song being about smoking weed. We get it, you smoke. 5.5/10 (2.75/5)
OG LA rap that's good background for chillin'.
Takes me back to GTA
my type of hip-hop, but not their best album
Least favorite rap album so far, not bad but didn’t match the others I’ve had so far.
boring but not unlistenable.
Pretty good rap. That’s it I’m sorry
Incredibly disruptive, and yet kind of same, same.
Good
Cypress Hill was big during some very important years of my life! This isnt their best album, it's before their biggest hits I believe
It's Sunday, ain't in the mood for this. Gonna pass, sorry lads. Yeah but ya know what, I had something to eat and then I thought, ok, I'll listen to one song and see .. this is actually kinda fun to listen to. It's goofy and irreverent and odd. Huh. I might give this 3 stars!
No skits, easy to listen to. Everything is consistent. Easy 3
Police are bad, m'kay?
Was definitely made in California. Despite the gangster themes, it's an upbeat, summer vibe all the way. Not really my cup of tea, but I'll add it to the 2 rap albums I listen to once a year.
I can hear their influence on so much hip hop today. Love the energy and drive.
This is a big step forward in West Coast Hip Hop after what NWA started. Still some gangsta lyrics, but balanced with some jokes and less serious topics. They had a good time with the album, and the beats especially helped mold the new sound
This is the eponymous debut album of Cypress Hill. Innovative and raw, Cypress Hill found critical and commercial express with this hip hop album. Cypress Hill is credited with being one of the lead artists in creating the West Coast hip hop genre of the 90's. This album is filled with iconic sounds.
Yep! An album I needed to listen to. It was such good fun. They’ve never been my fave as they get 10/10 for vibe but are best enjoyed song by song. The repetition across a whole album just bores me a bit. So a great listen but returning often is unlikely for me.
Good fun.
Cypress hill have the quintessential old school hip hop sound, this is almost certainly what all of the other groups of the time wanted to sound like. It just sounds so authentic, nostalgic and cool. It's a shame the content is 90% guns, 10% weed. I think if it was even slightly toned down I'd be coming back to this but it's just really hard to stay engaged when every bar is the same. It's a shame because the flow is great and if you don't listen to closely it's brilliant but I can't strongly recommend the album.
Probably appealing to Jack. Didn't mind it overall though, How I Could Just Kill A Man was decent. Would say I'm more into East Coast rap - lyrically frequently less interesting but much harder beats.
Went through a big cypress hill phase when I was a teenager.... Or rather a big skull and bones on repeat phase. Actually saw B-Real with prophets of rage at download festival a few years ago, they were great. He's got a really distinctive rap voice. I did enjoy this, but now my personality is not based on smoking weed, it isn't as appealing as it would've been 20 years ago. Actually got a bit much by the end. "How I could just kill a man" is the stand out track for me. Better than a lot of the west coast artists from a similar point in time we've had so far, but not up to the east coast standard. 2.5
3.5 Excellent beats and flow but the lyrics leave a lot to be desired. The first listen where I wasn’t paying much attention to them was the best run through.
3.5 stars leaning toward 3.
Honestly great but I'd probably not listen to it regularly
1. pigz - 1 2. kill a man - 1.5 3. hand on the pump - 2 4. hole in the head - 1.5 5. ultraviolet - 0 6. light another - 1 7. feel one - 1 8. break it up - 1 9. real eztate - 1.5 10. the uualk - 1 11. pzychobeat - 0 12. the blunted - 0 13. latin lingo - 1.5 14. the funky - 2 15. trez equiz - 1 16. born to get buzy - 1
This site is honestly not my favorite in terms of its rap suggestions but this one is great. Definitely seems to be in the vein of their contemporaries in N.W.A. and Public Enemy but their production isn't as aggressive and closer to a group like Tribe called Quest. Even the fun energy of the Pharcyde. I also here in one of the M.C.'s a bit of Danny Brown and it may be the tone or just me believing things. All this being said, an enjoyable rap album even though it's not their most popular/lauded.
Pigs - 7.5/10 How I Could Just Kill a Man - 8/10 Hands on the Pump- 8.5/10 Hole in the Head - 8/10 Ultraviolet Dreams - 7.5/10 Light Another - 7.5/10 The Phunky Feel One - 7.5/10 Break It Up - 7.5/10 Real Estate - 7.5/10 Stoned is the Way of Walk - 7.5/10 Psychobetabuckdown - 8/10 Something for the Blunted - 7.5/10 Latin Lingo - 7.5/10 The Funky Cypress Hill Shit - 7.5/10 Très Equis - 7.5/10 Born to Get Busy - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 92.5/160
Still great even 20+ years later. Full of great tracks that prove their range far beyond Insane in the Brain.
Enjoyed it. As with all hip hop from this era. Love the individual tracks but by the end of the whole album it all feels a bit samey and tedious. I have to really concentrate to pick up the lyrics! Happy I listened to it. 3.2
Hip hop con ritmo. Me ha gustado.
Fine I guess 3/5
3.4 Good, bonged out high hip hop, a bit samey but good faves: funky cypress hill shit, how could i just kill a man
of all the old school rap ive come across so far, this has been the better of it all. still room for improvement as seen by the changes in rap over time, but this is still servicable
Very fun album. Love the languid, relaxed toe-tapping beats. Very infectious. Apparently very influential album that pioneered the fusion of rock and rap along the same lines as Beastie Boys. I never really caught the Beastie Boys vibe, but I like this album better than anything I've heard from the Beastie Boys. 3.5 stars
I get a little more out of this compared to some of the older rap on this list. It's in your face, but not obnoxiously so, and still holds a good sense of hooks to keep it memorable. 5/10
I don't know if this is absolute shit or amazing...
It was alright, whole
I like the hip-hop style, and lyrics dealing with other subject matters then just girls and money. But like Beasty Boys, many songs end up too similar to eachother.
I know the Black Sunday album incredibly well from back in the day. But I never investigated anything by Cypress Hill outside of it. Again, 1001 Albums seems to be suggesting an album by a band without their best stuff on it!? This, their first album, seemed like a tough first draft of Black Sunday to me. I was amazed how many of the same phrases and motifs and sounds were used again. If you liked Black Sunday, this is more of the same but without the hits. I guess that’s why I never explored further - that one album had covered all they were about. If, however, you didn’t like Black Sunday or were put off by the lyrics of violence, homophobia etc, this is also not for you.
Not Insane in the Brain…. but getting close.
Like the warm up album for Black Sunday
Quite varied, borrowings from Arrested Development and De La Soul can be heard in my opinion
Cypress Hill's eponymous debut album, released in 1991, is a trailblazing exploration into West Coast hip-hop, leaving an indelible mark on the genre. The love for the album extends beyond its lyrical prowess, as the instrumentation proves to be a standout feature for me. DJ Muggs' innovative production elevates tracks like "How I Could Just Kill a Man" and "Hand on the Glock," creating a fusion of beats and rhymes. The album not only showcases Cypress Hill's raw energy but also offers a distinctive blend of hip-hop and Latin influences. The nostalgic aura of the record gives off vibes reminiscent of classic 90s American coming-of-age film soundtracks, contributing to its timeless appeal. For avid sample enthusiasts like myself, recognising Kriss Kross' "Jump" in "How I Could Just Kill a Man" and Method Man and Redman's use of "Hand on the Pump" in "Da Rockwilder" adds an extra layer of excitement, highlighting the album's lasting impact on hip-hop culture. Cypress Hill's debut not only laid the foundation for their successful career but also solidified them as pioneers, resonating with both hip-hop aficionados and fans of the era.
Like most hip-hop bands, I first heard the sound of Cypress Hill coming from my son’s bedroom - the track was Insane In The Brain, which was a big hit off Black Sunday, the album that followed this one. I don’t think any other hip-hop band sounds like Cypress Hill. It’s the music & samples they use ( and the weed). Ultraviolet Dreams might only last 42 seconds but what a track, no vocals but it ends with someone declaring that it’s “good shit”, and is followed by a track called Light Another. I love the funky tracks in the second half of the album. Especially Born To Get Busy, which is based on some sample that’s straight out of Muscle Shoals. I love all the wah-wah & I really enjoy Latin Lingo.
I really enjoyed this. Cypress Hill were weirdly influential for their stoner vibes and loose-to-the-point-of-falling-apart production. I really enjoy the sound of the tracks, formed up out of sloppy funk samples, carelessly cut together to create shuffling grooves. I can dig it. While I generally don't enjoy the violence of gangsta rap, it is hard to take this bunch of affable stoners seriously when they talk about 'killing a man'. And they seem to avoid the misogyny that blights gangsta rap. So, 3.5 stars, rounding down.
Some cool beats and production but gets monotonous. The lyrics aren’t too groundbreaking either.
Album 270 of 1001 Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill Rating : 3 / 5 Not really my thing. It was better than some yet not as good as others. I didn't dislike it. Good debut album.
B Real’s voice annoys me, but I do appreciate the production of DJ Muggs
Hey ja bin überrascht wie sehr mir da gfalle het obwohls sust nid so mini Musik isch. Han aber s gfühl s album nimmt so chli ab gege endi, chent aber au dra liege das für mich d songs alli sehr ähnlich töned unds drum wie langwilig wird. 2.8/5
- Interesting sound. Didn't pay that much attention to the lyrics, as I was working. - The album is a bit repetitive, could be shorter.
Production is good but the hooks are not. Why is Black Sunday not on the list? I was expecting to listen to this and be blown away as this has been picked over that, but no, Black Sunday still takes it.
It bops
A fun record indeed, but is it good?
Those are some funky beats. It’s almost too ridiculous at times, but it’s still fresh and fun. Extra credit to Cypress Hill for producing better metal covers than a lot of metal bands.
While this shows that Cypress Hill really didn't do anything new after this album, it's still a really good album. 3*
Good. Funky. Never heard before, rap and stoner rap..and something about pigs and donuts. Kind of a tired trope after the 6th-7th song. Glad I got to listen to it.
Pretty good production and good verses, good flows, and great vibe, but nothing too crazy to say about. 6/10
I like the first half better
Good sound, love the beats.
Decent old school
I don't know what to say about this one. I kind of like it.
Right in between a 3-3.5 for me. The beats are the best part, consistently interesting. I have a feeling these guys don’t like cops. 3/5
Fun & angry. Reminds me of Eminem & Beastie Boys... goofy hip hop at times, but solid blues and funk samples throughout.
Not a regular listen for me. But this obviously had a huge influence on the genre.
I quite like these style of rap albums- samples, drum and bass and in-your-face lyrics. I've got to be in the mood but good when I am. Prefer Black Sunday.
Enjoyable.
Not really my style, but is an iconic album in the genre. Probably not one I’d own, but would listen to now and then if I’m the mood.
Good!
Solid early rap album that clearly influenced a lot of west coast rap in the 90s, and not to mention other bands from the area. Production has held up despite its age, solid sampling that builds a lot of good grooves. Although its subject matter is mostly violent, the production really keeps it upbeat and fun. The rapping is also pretty innovative, B-Real nasally drawl blends well with the beats.
Every song kind of sounded the same.
This is fine. It's not really my thing.
"It's another one of them ol' funky Cypress Hill things, you know what I'm sayin? And it goes like this..." --- Favourite Tracks: Real Estate Summary: While I enjoyed the funky sound and the use of the samples the lyrical content hasn't aged gracefully (minus the life experience with the police) - it's pretty aggressive on the violence, at least by modern standards, and I think maybe the anger took over the message in a few ways. But it was enjoyable all the same considering the time it was released.
You know, this actually sounds pretty good. Like G-Funk, but there's a rickety grime to it. Very disorganized, but it works for the intended meaning they seem to have. A lot of these songs sound like "Jump Around" by that other group, but I guess it's better?
Taken on their own, each track is pretty good. As a whole album, however, you get the feeling that your listening to the same two or three song over and over. It would have been better if they had trimmed the album by about 15 minutes as it is just too much of the same as it is.
Pretty laid back and chill. The samples are well picked but as they get used as the core structure to every track this might bore a bit… Still 3.3
Solid early 90s rap. The lyrics weren’t anything special to me. However, where this project really shines are the beats. The sampling and instrumentation is top notch.
Great attitude, chemistry, pretty fun and bouncy production. I wouldnt say it was lyrical genius but theres good hooks and punchy bars throughout. I often have maybe a half hour cap with this kind of music and this didn't quite do enough to get me past that - my focus waned in the back half. Three and a half. Fave track: How I Could Just Kill a Man
Solid record - lots of style and some great beats and samples. Fave track: Psycobetabuckdown
I'm sure this was an important album to its time, but having experience Black Sunday, this one doesn't live up.
3-4
I was always more of a Black Sunday guy, has a few of their classics though
the themes are a little down for me today! i think i appreciate the hip hop on a level. sort of liked hand on the pump
Hmmm, meh. Could be good if I wanted a gritty rap album. Giving it a 3 for benefit of the doubt.
I'm a sucker for The Hill. But the beats drag a little. It's still great, but I was a little bored.
With the rise of gangster rap in the late 80's and early 90's on the west coast, there was bound to be a few hits. NWA was perhaps the earliest, but Cypress Hill certainly made a splash. Hard to describe my grievances with this album. At 16 tracks, it feels like they've barely left an impression on me. It was certainly hip hop. Good? Bad? I don't know! It was probably harmless.
HL: "The Funky Cypress Hill Shit", "The Phuncky Feel One", "Light Another" rounding up to a 3 for the attitude & Latin elements; it has some good songs but I found the samples (see: "Hand on the Pump") overwhelmed and distracted from the vocals. Actually it may be genius, as trying to listen to the lyrics was exactly like trying to follow a conversation stoned May 14, 2023
Smooth and groovy
I can appreciate it's good but it's not quite my style.
I can respect this, but I didn't enjoy it.
Não entendi um monte de coisa porque é um album muito cultura americana. Mas é uma vibe boa. Latin Lingo é boa demais
Good, but blurred together as the album went on. Would have liked a little more variety just generally.
A couple good songs. A bunch more OK songs but the albums has a unique sound. Too many swears to make it acceptable around family.
Tiene muy buenas canciones, mi favorita fue "psycobetabuckdown" que fue un rolón al igual que la mitad de las canciones pero la otra mitad sonó un tanto diferente, no sabría como explicarlo pero no fue tanto de mi agrado.
Me gustó, aunque preferiría algo más. Líricamente está bien en su mayoría, "Pigs" es mi favorita por bastante. Por otra parte, si tuviera que resaltar lo peor de él en este ámbito, "Tres Equis", como se espera por su nombre, parece una canción barata de reggaetón hecha rap. se queda hasta atrás por muchísimo. En general está bien, en gran parte es disfrutable y, a comparación de la mayoría de álbumes de Hip Hop que eh escuchado de esta lista hasta ahora, es más que bueno, pero, personalmente, creo que pueden haber cosas mejores. Por último, le pongo 3 porque no creo que esté mal y en verdad espero que los demás álbumes del genero suenen mejor, pero si todos van a estár entre "mas o menos" y mal, entonces se merece las 4 de sobra.
Toevallig net deze week Cypress Hill gedraaid omdat ik het hoorde in een trailer van een film. Dat was eigenlijk boeiender dan zo'n heel plaatje draaien.
Tja, wel geinig. Blijft eens soort muppet show als die gast begint te rappen. Maar het heeft ook wel iets.
Best leuk.
This is another slow burn for me. I did not like Cypress Hill at all back in the 90's, but they grew on me over time. Solid album.
This album over Black Sunday makes me seriously question this list. Black Sunday is a 5.
mmm
Take what you will from this, but this is as good as Cypress Hill got/gets.
Glad to get some old school in the mix. I loved the beats throughout and some of the Latin influence, but the rapping was pretty lackluster even by 90s standards.
This is the most aggressive music about smoking weed I’ve ever heard in my life. There were some good tracks in here, and lots of good rapping but it was just too long.
Cypress Hill a un aspect minimaliste qui me plaît bien. La vocation sociale aussi, le flow impeccable.
Some ok songs but overall didn't fully do it for me. Didn't hate it either.
Pretty enjoyable, but repetitive. Might save a couple of songs (e.g. The Phuncky Feel One) for when I get in a stoner rap mood.
It's eye opening that people in 1991 were rapping about the same things they are rapping about now when it comes to police brutality.
Lots of sounds Definitely can tell this album was from the early 90s Not really my type of music
Can recognize the influence these guys have made and wish I had a blunt to smoke with it. How I Could Just Kill A Man slaps hard.
Funky beats en wat een teksten; hole in your head, broomstick in your ass. Tempo wisselingen houden het spannend maar had van mij iets korter gemogen. Favoriete nr: the Phuncky Feel One.
Vind het wel lachen, beter dan verwacht iig
Vond dit wel Nice! Ik was alleen bekend met ‘Insane in the brain’ dus ik wist niet zo goed wat ik kon verwachten. Goede beats en een bijzondere stijl.
Ik dacht aanvankelijk ‘O dit wordt zo’n album’ maar hoe langer ik luisterde hoe leuker ik het vond. Nummers als Real Estate of Stoned Is The Way To Walk (tribe sample!!) zijn bangers. Tweede helft vh album was beter dan de eerste.
Decent album I suppose. Felt like I was listening to the same beat for 45 minutes. Didn’t rustle my jimmies in a positive or negative way.
Tbh its quite good but i guess im just biased that i dont really enjoy 90s hip hop too much. Lyrically very good, but i get a bit tired yas the album goes on. Would rate 3.75/5 if possible
Not their strongest but still a lot of fun.
Musically interesting for a while, but once you've heard four or five tracks you know what you're getting for the rest of the album. Lyrically, the usual braggadocio.
Good but didn't love it
Not for me
Fun, good wallpaper
This is a landmark West Coast Rap album that features phenomenal funk/soul samples and beats with a little Latin flavor. For me the music is solid. The delivery gets a bit stale after a while though. I found some of the lyrics a bit lazy and the homophobic lyrics in the opening track was jarring an unnecessary. I understand the historic context, but it just doesn't hold up. Overall, the album is solid even if it's not my favorite.
Cypres Hill heb ik nooit helemaal begrepen. Leuke beats, een beetje vervelende stemmen. De hits hoor je nog wel eens in een kroeg en dat is voor mij genoeg. Helaas is dit ook niet het album met die hitjes.
osea bien mejor que otros de este género la vdd. 7/10 igual
I've perhaps only listened to a song or two from Cypress Hill. The music was okay. There is a jovial nature to the tone of the music, even though the topics of the lyrics are more serious in nature. If I had to listen closer to the content my rating would probably dip below 3.
Not really my jam, but I enjoyed a few of the songs
How I could just kill a man
Está mejor de lo que creía pero no estoy en el mood.
Tää kyl toimii meikälle ihan hyvin! Tulee yläaste mieleen, vaikka todellisuudessa levyhän on julkaistu ennen syntymääni. 3/5
Toimii, vaikka parempaakin west coastia on tälläkin listalla jo ollut.
Ihan hauskaa tää west coast-räbä myös, vaikkei sinänsä ookaan mun genre. Sanotaan 2.5/5, pyöristetään ylös.
I can appreciate the skill involved but it's not a genre that I've ever been able to enjoy.
This was a lot of fun!
Good rhymes and good beats that kept me interested and wanting to hear more. With that being said, I'm not a fan of Hip Hop or Rap and found it nu-relatable, but it was listenable and guiltily pleasurable.
Interesting
Meh. It was fine. 🤷🏼
Good rap album, such a great flow and doesn’t sound as cringe as some of the other gangsta rap albums from the 90’s. Love I can just kill a man and the RATM cover of it.
While this has some classic tracks (most notably "How I Could Just Kill a Man" and "Hand on the Pump"), the rest of the album's a little too uneven to justify four stars. I'd give it 3.5 if I could.
Interesting record. I can see why they are a classic rap act.
This is an album where I understand the cultural importance, and I really like a couple of the tracks, but as a whole, the album doesn't do much for me. Still, I get why it's here, and people who know and understand this genre better than I do appreciate this album. I would probably give it a 2.5/5 but I'm rounding up in recognition of its place in the history of hip hop. I do love hearing hip hop in Spanish and these guys do it well.
Enjoyable in a m ephemeral way
I gave Beastie Boys 2. This is better than Beastie Boys. Still repetitive for me
I can see how this was such an influential album to the genre, and music overall, but it's not my thing.
Impressive early 90s rap rock with beats.
It had some good songs
A few fun tracks, great lyrics. The bears get a bit repetitive.
Well I Like this a lot more when I was 20. It's not bad but after about 4 songs I had my fill of nostalgia and was done with it.
Started out interesting enough, but quickly grew tiresome. It’s that voice.
The godfathers of latin rap. This album didn't hold up super well, but they deserve all the respect. Best track: Latin Lingo
I've only known them for their hits from Black Sunday, but I like their stoner hip hop aesthetic, which works well with their wacky vocal style and metallic funky samples. It has an industrial dark sound to it that stands apart from the rest of their contemporaries, more closely aligning itself to grunge and stoner rock, so I can see why they were especially accessible to those types of crowds. This record however has a ton of weak tracks, with many of them hard to stand out beyond a couple unique sample usages. The middle third is all excellent, but then it loses its momentum in the last third. Would be higher if cut to an EP with my favorites. Favorites: How I Could Just Kill a Man, Phuncky Feel One, Real Estate, Stoned is the Way, Psychobetabuckdown, Funky Cypress Hill Shit
Pigs- Obvious police song with some good lyrics and linked to that nursery rhyme that I didn’t like How I could just kill a man- Catchy hook, if not repetitive, and quite interesting. guitar in background👍 Hand on the pump-Think we’re getting a theme, this is pretty engaging👍 Hole in the Head- This is a bit obnoxious and we get it at this point Ultraviolet dreams-short interlude Light another- Probably a more positive life philosophy, to abuse drugs rather than kill people👍 The phuncky feel one- Funky enough👍 Break up- Didn’t realise this was a separate song Real Estate- Quite annoying tbh, also what is his obsession with ducats Stoned is the way of the walk- doesn’t do much for me, doesn’t feel like beat matches flow psychobetabuckdown- No idea what this means, but I like it👍 Something for the blunted- stoner interlude Latin lingo-this is a fun concept, we love a language mix and match👍 The Funky Cypress Hill Shit- This is quite long and lyrics are quite generic, not my fave Tres Equis- This truly is TripleX Born to get busy- Almost a reiteration of mission statements- smoke weed This album is a little too long for me, with many phrases noticeably repeated between songs. I think production elements are interesting and there are a variety of styles, but just not really for me 3/5
Sure, why not. It's pretty fun. I don't have anything to say about this one.
It grooves..(much like the second album that i am more familiar with). It gets a bit repetitive though it is also distinctive. I like the nassl tones of the main vocalust and the old school samples are warm. Would I play again, prob not. 3
Decent, fairly funky hip hop album without any standout heights
Decent
Pretty enjoyable, consistent without ever being boring! No song made a specific mark but as a whole, it intrigued me and kept my attention as someone who is not too familiar with hip-hop but who also won't avoid it. Provoking lyrics (in a good way) but could certainly have done without the homophobic slur. (Maybe nitpicking? I'm honestly just appalled at how many of my older generated albums use slurs and/or violently bigoted, times truly have changed) Three stars. I feel like I need another listen to fully form an opinion, though.
The beginning of 90s rap. Organic, unique use of samples. Not quite my cup of tea but I did get yelled at a few times for playing this at high school dances.
Jeez this takes me back. Some fun tracks but by God it's so 1991.
thank god its not some lame rock and roll. finall some good fungickin food
Ok, but done much better by others.
Pretty cool but after a couple of songs it starts blending all together
It’s fine but not really for me
A middling album that showcases the lyrical talent and, at the time, uniquely bilingual rapping of the group. Unfortunately does not have insane in the membrane so it only rates a 3
Revolutionary album for stoner rap.
3.5/5
Amazing beats and samples.
Better than others in this genre
I expected to dislike this, but was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn’t listen to it again, but it was alright.
Cypress Hill has a few good tracks. Album was ok, but the sample changes were minimal and didn’t draw me in
I dunno what I thought of this, repetitive beats
Not bad at all, good lyrics, recognisable vocals and beats
This is obviously a landmark album for the whole hip hop genre, even if with this debut, DJ Muggs had not yet reached the full-bodied, weed-scented sounds Cypress Hill would later become famous for. Admittedly, he was getting to such hypnotic impact with hits (from the bong) "How I could Just Kill A Man", "Hand On The Pump" or "Stoned Is the Way of The Walk"... But as groundbreaking as those tracks were, most of everything else was still under the sway of late eighties production habits. And those might fare a little less well for certain rap fans, depending on where their mileage on old-school instrumentals is... That being said, "Pigs" is a terrific opener, whose cartoonish yet pointed lyrics about the police haven't aged a day--minus one or two passing details we won't delve into right now. With an opener like that, you instantly know what to expect from this record. Too bad its second half doesn't have enough musical or lyrical highlights in that vein, though. So if you want to listen to a Cypress Hill album that doesn't peter out on its midway point, I suggest you give a try to *Black Sunday* or *Temples Of Boom*. I will certainly add the first on my own list of 1001 albums you should absolutely listen to. Not that this one here is so bad--it's just not the best, is all. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 834 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 90 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 41 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 36
I can understand the success of Cypress Hill, but I gotta say that when you listen to an entire album of them you fall out of love pretty quickly. By track 8 I was already ready to stop listening and that's when I realized I was only halfway. "How I Could Just Kill a Man" was early enough in the album that I was able to appreciate it. It was the only song I already knew. "Hand On the Pump" surprised me because I didn't know Method Man/Redman borrowed those lines for their song. I love learning things like that.
Fun but a little undemanding. Ultimately didn't hold my attention for the duration, but what does these days? Liked the 'Duke of Earl' sample. Uh, haven't got a huge amount more to say. It's fine - sawed-off shotgun, hand on the pump, etc. These guys sound sincere, at least
Solid rap/hiphop album. Easy to listen to the whole album without really realising its gone from song to song, all pretty samey. Good though.
Good 90's party rap, some songs are pretty bland
Ragbrai album 4 of 4: While it’s before my time, I definitely buy that this was a influential, innovative hip hop album in the early 90s. However, it’s not quite my style of old school hip hop plus the typical homophobia is always a turn off. Call cops pigs is one thing but calling cops fags is just lame
Like biting into a crispy shell, full of unexpected flavours. Pretty fun listen
bedre enn forventa
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
It was solid but a bit repetitive.
It was fine. Did sound a bit dated but I guess it was a step in the direction of where west coast rap was moving.
Pigs 2/5 How I Could Just Kill a Man 4/5 Hand on the Pump 3/5 Hole in the Head 2/5 Ultraviolet Dreams 3/5 Light Another 3.5/5 The Phunky Feel One 4/5 Break it Up 3/5 Real Estate 3/5 Stoned is the Way of the Walk 2/5 Psychobetabucktown 3/5 Something for the Blunted 2/5 Latin Lingo 3/5 The Funky Cyprus Hill Shit 4/5 Tres Equis 4/5 Born to Get Busy 2/5 Better hip hop than the other 2000s album we listened to.
Not a genre that's for me, but there were good beats and I appreciated some of the clever choices they made (like the irony of lighthearted singsong voices while singing about violence and weapons)
Cool west coast hip hop vibes. Repetitive but fun.
quite repetitive but not bad
The good stuff is pretty good,but it gets a bit exhausting after a few songs. Much better in bite sized servings in my opinion. I still can't hate on it too much.
A favorite that I still play on occasion. Cypress Hill's debut is their best and they rode in on a part of the wave of west coast gangsta rap in the early 90s. While not the best example of the genre, their latin roots and glimpses into the barrio's of the west coast make for a great album. They won't match the success or quality of this album, but some 30+ years later, it still holds. 3.5/5
Good hip hop
-"How Could I Just Kill A Man" and "light Another are pretty catchy -Crazy bass intro on "Real Estate" -"Psycobetabuckdown" has a very cool digital robot-y intro/beat. Also parts of it remind me of the Red Hot Chili Peppers -Cool instrumental on "Tres Equis." The mix of horns and the spooky guitar sounds almost Mexican/wild westish or something. When the intro begins it does not sound like a rap song at all -Overall one of the stronger rap albums I've had. I'd say its potentially bordering on 4 star territory.
Rap de los 90, mucho loop y mucha voz nasal. Divertidos y en su momento interesantes hoy en día se me hacen monótonos. Me han gustado "How I Could Just Kill a Man" y "Hand on the Pump". El resto se deja escuchar. Creo que con su otro disco "Black Sunday" quedarían mejor representados en esta lista de 1001 discos.
I've been a casual Cypress Hill fan for years, but never heard this album before. A sign of things to come I guess, but not their best.
hip hop, considering I'm not a big fan of it there's some head bopping songs still. But wouldn't listen to it again tbh.
Some good beats and what not. West coast rap is definitely more enjoyable.
Some fun beats
I feel like all the songs kind of sounded the same
I liked the guitar riffs sampled by CH. Although that did get a little tiresome after a while. B Real has a very interesting voice, it has a kind of cartoony feel. I like the funkiness of the beat for most of the songs. I was surprised that many of the songs were shorter than I expected. The first song, "Pigs," made a statement about the establishment, but I felt that Public Enemy (the next album up) made better statements about the establishment. I always felt that Cypress Hill was not as serious, so it was weird to hear them rapping like they were. Don't get me wrong, I don't think they're the Fat Boys or the Beastie Boys "Licensed To Ill"-era. But I just didn't think of them on the same level as Public Enemy. So I dug it, but as a person who is not into stoner rock, it's hard to listen to you know?
Hip hop
wel oke, niet speciaal
eh
It’s a little tedious, the first three songs all revolve around gangster posturing about killing people, the rest didn’t really hold my attention. Solid beats though.
Fun
It sounds like Cypress Hill but where is Hits From The Bong, oh it's mentioned in Stoned Is the Way of the Walk.
Oldie. Not my fave. The voice gets too redundant.
variations on a theme of squeak
This was fine.
It's not Black Sunday, is it?
Honestly, I expected to hate this one, so I'm giving it bonus points fot being way better than expected and for not hating it. The vocals are occasionally annoying, but fit the music well and I got used to them after a while. The instrumentation is actually nice - I like the funk-rock influences apparent in the music. Usually I listen to at most a minute of the first 5-6 tracks of rap albums before giving it 1 star. But I listened to this album from start to finish and it was totally fine. Probably a 2.5 for me, rather than a 3 but rounding it up because it's so rare that I can listen to an entire rap album.
Tiene un par de canciones que recuerdo, pero el rap no es mi género favorito, así que suelo escuchar algunas canciones. Es muy díficil que aguante un disco completo.
Pretty good
Repetitive bangers. I mean…
I didn’t listen to it all but I got the idea. I didn’t enjoy the samples, especially the “what does it all mean”, which is used by someone else in another song. I’m tired. Brain not work.
Ik ben absoluut geen fan van rap, maar ik kan Cypress Hill prima luisteren. Ik vind de beat wel relaxt en de rap-stem heel toegankelijk. ***
cypress hill has its own style in the rap genre that is a bit hard to compare to other groups from the same era but its entertaining enough
Very nice contrast to yesterday's mc solar french rap. Cyress hill comes as 'grittier'. Good weave of music and lyrics
Good rap and great production. Not quite my style overall, but well done.
I remember not liking this at all when it first came out. Now, I quite like it. That's largely reflective of my views of hip-hop at the time vs now.
Pretty sure I would have had very little of good to say about this when it was first released. I can say in my defence, I would not have understood a thing about the album, or where it came from, but looking back and listening to it now just makes me realize musically how out of touch I was.
6/10 had some cool moments but falls pretty flat compared to the other 90s rap i've heard.
The lyrics are on point and the groove is really good, though I'm not a huge fan of the nasally vocal delivery. Still pretty enjoyable... how i could just kill a man and hand on the pump are just stellar.
The first song was a hard no. I understand problems with policing in America, but this song isn't going to win me over to your cause. Then a series of gun violence songs left me wanting to turn this off. Fortunately at track 5 we get into some other subjects (getting high mostly - although I recommend you not drink 'that funky Cypress Hill shit'). I was actually enjoying some of the songs that didn't seem to focus on killing, abusing or slurring people. The beats are great on this - I enjoyed a lot of the music. But those first 4 songs...
2/22/22
What I remember. Not really gangsta rap, but still loud and edgy enough to make suburban parents freak out and for their kids to want to listen to it. Big beats and some booming vocals.
This list has turned up a little more 90s hip hop than I strictly feel a need for. The rolling delivery and wit to these lyrics carries this along, but all the typical issues of the genre and era (homophobia, sexism, glorification of gun violence) has begun to sour it a little much for me.
2nd listen. First time I gave this a 2/5. I think the album starts really strong and tapers off a bit at the end. Maybe I just get tired of the style too quickly. Still, I like it much more this time around. 3/5. Next time, maybe it will be a 4/5. :)
Fantastic production, especially for an early 90's release. Starts off with some strong tracks and kind of mellows out after that. It's consistent, just not all too exciting.
Rating: 6/10
Sehr starke Beats und auch eingängige Flows, viel mehr kann ich da denke ich nicht zu sagen, eben ein gut gealtertes 90er Rap-Album. Nicht viel für mich rauszuholen
dieser old school hip hop ist wirklich nicht mehr meins und sowas habe ich auch seit jahren nicht gehört. hier sind ein paar gute tracks dabei, die produktion ist meist gelungen und die lyrics sind ok. irgendwas über diese musik spricht mich nicht an, vielleicht bin ich auch einfach einen anderen rapstil gewöhnt. hier werde ich wohl nicht so schnell zurückkehren. tut mir fast leid, dass eminem nur einen stern weniger hat, aber was soll man machen...
Die Beats sind mega nice, extrem funky und vielschichtig. B-Real und Sen Dog? n@j@. Die beiden können nicht wirklich gut rappen, B-Real hat wenigstens noch seine charakteristische nasale Stimme, die seine Performance ein bisschen interessanter macht. Wenn Sen Dog das Mic in die Hand nimmt muss ich nur gähnen. Bei beiden viel zu viel Monotonie. Spricht auf jeden Fall für diese Beats, dass es trotzdem über die ganze Laufzeit nicht langweilig wird.
Pretty good - though I like Black Sunday better
I'm tapping out. I just don't low rap well enough to know how important this was or wasn't.
The vocals have always grated a bit for me, then the disappointment that “Insane in the Brain” is not on this album…but it’s okay, not as adventurous as The Beasties but alright.
Good
I saw Cypress Hill at the Hordon... That was B-Real.
3.5/5 While parts of the album definitely place it in a specific time frame the beats and samples on most of the songs still sound great. The unpolished feel of the album compliments the delivery and flow of the lyrics. I start to get a bit tired of the constant energy about halfway through. I’m not a huge fan of stoner rap, but this album showed me that the group is definitely more than their hit “Insane in the Brain”. Fav Songs: How I Could Just Kill A Man, Hand On the Pump, The Phuncky Feel One, Psycobetabuckdown