Cypress Hill stands as one of the most important hip-hop groups of the 90s. Powered by lyricist B-Reals pinched-nasal delivery and DJ Muggs dark, hyperactive production, the L.A.-based foursome fired-up the culture with paeans to bong hits and black comedy riffs about being pushed to kill a man. That they were the countrys premiere Latin group only added to their importanceand mystique. Then, in February, nearly 20 years after Cypress Hill emerged on the scene, B-Real released his long-awaited solo debut, Smoke N Mirrors. Featuring guest spots by other West Coast rappers from the same era, including Snoop Dogg and Kurput, the disc finds B-Real cruising down familiar palm tree-lined lanes, from spitting odes to herb to warning of the perils of street life. Conspicuously missing from the disc are his Cypress Hill cohorts, especially DJ Muggs beatshard-driving hallucinations that gelled perfectly with B-Rea ls twisted clown falsetto. Guess well just have to wait for the upcoming reunion album, set for release sometime this year. With Bizzy Bone, Bruce ILLest, Jay Barz, DIV, Sadistik.
Tue., June 9, 8 p.m., 2009