Cypress Hill/Black Sunday [Import]

Product Description
Import coupling of Cypress Hill's 1993 album Black Sunday with thier self titled album (1991). Features the song's 'Born To Get Busy', 'Latin Lingo', 'Legalize It' and 'Insane in the Brain'. Sony. 2005.

Cypress Hill/Black Sunday,Cypress Hill,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: The album that got me into rap Can I Get A Hit From The Bong? (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4 stars) "Cypress Hill" Part 2 Fun, but fake... Rap in its prime

Black Sunday Cypress Hill Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Latin Rap | Latin Music | Styles | Music Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music West Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Cypress Hill Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom Skull & Bones IV Greatest Hits ASIN: B00000295Y Release Date: 1993-07-20

Tracks:

1. I Wanna Get High
2. I Ain't Goin' Out Like That
3. Insane In The Brain
4. When The Sh-- Goes Down
5. Lick A Shot
6. Cock The Hammer
7. Lock Down
8. Lil' Putos
9. Legalize It
10. Hits From The Bong
11. What Go Around Come Around, Kid
12. A To The K
13. Hand On The Glock
14. Break 'Em Off Some

Amazon.com

If a case can be made for gangsta rap, Cypress Hill is the act to make it. The trio of L.A. Latinos has the commercial clout and its raps are mercifully free of the misogyny, homophobia, and anti-Asian, anti-Jewish racism that so often mars the genre. Member/producer D.J. Muggs creates an eerily lean soundscape of whining sirens, off-kilter funk rhythms, metallic percussion, nasal taunts, and gruff warnings that's the aural equivalent of today's nerve-rattling cop flicks and mob movies. --Geoffrey Himes

Album Details

Limited Digipack Release

Customer Reviews:

The album that got me into rap.......2007-06-14

Okay, so the first CD I owned with rapping on it was, technically, C+C Music Factory, but forget that. 'Black Sunday' was the album that truly got me interested in hip-hop. Like every other white boy in America, I heard 'Insane in the Brain' on the radio and was hooked. Luckily, it's just about the worst song on the album.

From the siren-call that opens to the album to the syncopated beat in 'Break 'Em Off Some,' this album just doesn't quit comin' with dusty funk loops, rough-edge beats and hilarious herb references. The Amazon.com reviewer said this album presaged the sound of Dre's 'Chronic,' buuuuut according to Amazon's Web site, 'Chronic' was already out when this dropped in '93, so I'm not sure how they came up with that.

Regardless, I would argue that Muggs' and Dre's styles are not really very similar at all. Dre's sound was a lot more crisp, whereas Muggs opted for a smoky, vinyl-scratchy ambience that really suits the treble tones in B-Real and Sen Dog's voices.

I always make the argument that while 'Temples of Boom' was Muggs' best album in terms of production, 'Black Sunday' is the group's best album overall. I stand by it. A true hip-hop classic.

Can I Get A Hit From The Bong? (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4 stars).......2007-03-16

Cypress Hill's (B-Real, Sen Dog, & DJ Muggs) second album "Black Sunday" was an excellent album, from a Latin Hip Hop group based out of Los Angeles. If you haven't already figured out, Cypress Hill mostly rhymes about getting smoked out through out their career. And those rhymes are all over this album. That mixed with DJ Muggs production really makes the vibes in this album easy to catch. I believe "Insane In The Brain" was the lead single on this album, and it's a good song. B-Real handles most of the vocals through out the album. When I hear Sen Dog's voice and his ad-libs on here, he cracks me up because of how he sounds, but his rhymes are dope as well. Along with rhyming about smoking weed, they also rhyme about shooting people like "Hand On The Glock" (aka "Hands On The Pump Part II") and "Cock The Hammer". "When The Ship Goes Down" is another excellent track by B-Real with Sen Dog's background vocals. (I'm aware of the actual song title, but I placed the title in my review from the radio edit of the song.)

As for flaws, the only thing is lack of subject matter. Not too often Cypress Hill detours from the topics of smoking weed and guns on this album (they even put facts about marijuana inside of the linear notes that are interesting). That is the only inferior about this album. It's an excellent album from 1993, a time when gangsta rap was in full swing. If you're a big time smoker, you'll probably relate to this easier than others. But if you want to hear some west coast tunes from the early-mid 90's, you'll probably like this album.

Lyrics: B+
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: N/A
Musical Vibes: A+
Overall: A-

My favorite tracks: I Ain't Going Out Like That, Insane In The Brain, When The Ship Goes Down, Cock The Hammer, Hits From The Bong, A To the K, Hand On The Glock

Peace!

"Cypress Hill" Part 2.......2006-12-19

Cypress Hill's second album, 1993's "Black Sunday," is another great album of funny, pro-weed paranoid lyrics from B-Real, Sen Dog and the crew, amazing beats courtesy of DJ Muggs, and just overall original and fun hip hop music. This album is very similar to their debut, "Cypress Hill," but the quality of the music is just as good, if not better in many spots, than on their debut. They went with the philosophy of if it ain't broke, don't fix it on "Black Sunday," and it works perfectly. On this album you start to see a little bit of the rock influence that they would later explore more in the late 90s, and Muggs steps his production up a little bit while staying with the heavy bass, slow beats, woozy synths, and smoky sampling and instrumentation that made him famous. B-Real and the MCs stay with the same kind of subject matter as on the debut, centering around smoking, humorous recollections of urban violence, and Latino references, but it doesn't sound even slightly redundant. B-Real's nasal rumble and Sen Dog's deep bellows and chants are as awesome as ever. This is the second classic album from the pioneering Los Angeles Cuban rap collective, and I recommend it to all hip hop fans.

The album begins with the self-explanatory "I Wanna Get High," with its great chorus and verses from all parties. The production is laced with deep, funky bass and a distant sounding siren, showing Muggs's signature style. The upbeat and drum-staticky "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" follows, another high point. The next song is maybe the most well-remembered song of early 90s rap, the song that made the group a household name, "Insane in the Brain." This song is a classic, boasting a memorable chorus, great production, and funny verses, creating a legendary song that is still so widely recognized today. "When the S... Goes Down" has a great beat and good chemistry from the MCs. "Lick a Shot" sounds reminiscent of the late 80s LA hip hop style, but the lyrics make it totally Cypress Hill. "Cock the Hammer" displays once again the signature weirdness that is B-Real, Sen Dog, and Muggs. The tough "3 Lil' Putos" preaches tough violence with threatening sounding lyrics. The smoker's anthem "Hits From the Bong" has a great beat and chorus, as does "What Go Around Come Around, Kid." "A to the K" is funny, and "Hand on the Glock" follows in similar procession. The album ends with the excellent "Break `Em Off Some," an upbeat and funky production. Like on their debut, short songs like "Lock Down" and "Legalize It" provide focused, beautiful beats courtesy of the legendary DJ Muggs.

Bottomline is that if you liked "Cypress Hill," you'll love "Black Sunday," because basically it's the same ideas musically and lyrically, just advanced two full years. This album is a consistent classic, and all kinds of rap fans are certain to enjoy it. I could definitely make an argument that this is Cypress Hill's best album, but regardless it is definitely among the finest albums of hip hop's greatest year, 1993, and has stood the test of time, sounding fresh and original even thirteen years later. I think everyone can enjoy "Black Sunday" and I highly recommend it.

Fun, but fake... .......2006-10-06

Don't get me wrong, I really like their songs -- they're catchy as hell...
but like most "gansta" rappers, they are posers. I don't think they have even come close to ever killing anyone. In "When the Sh** Goes Down", they talk about gettin the "sawed off Glock", which makes NO sense. A Glock is a handgun. What are you going to do, saw off the grip?! Even Biggie used to say some totally uneducated things about firearms (taking the safety off a Glock? Glocks don't have external safeties, genius!) Just because you smoke weed doesn't make you gangsta. Try picking up a gun and actually learning about how it works before you spit all this b.s. about your gat-toting hardness. Again, I like these guys, but I know to take it all with a grain of salt. This is a band selling a product.

Rap in its prime.......2006-03-27

Although Cypress Hill is as laid back as they portray themselves to be, they can very much bring color, ingenuity and astonishing lyrics. From tracks like 'I Want to Get High' to 'Insane in the Membrane', this is one of the best rap albums in the past two decades.

This team of three originated from latin poetry in the mid-80s to a hardcore rap format. Influenced by the likes of Wu Tang and Public Enemy, Cypress Hill have managed to make many hits, and along the line influence Naughty By Nature, Redman and Dialated People. This album is exceptional in the sense that the lyrics are humorous, factual, powerful and poetic.

This group is legendary for their constant refrence to weed; a source that potentially helped them become one of the most popular artists in rap. This is a five-star album - enjoyable and a timeless classic.

Average customer rating: The album that got me into rap Can I Get A Hit From The Bong? (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4 stars) "Cypress Hill" Part 2 Fun, but fake... Rap in its prime

Black Sunday Cypress Hill Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Latin Rap | Latin Music | Styles | Music Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music West Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Rap & Hip-Hop General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Rap & Hip-Hop General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Cypress Hill Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom Skull & Bones IV Greatest Hits ASIN: B0000029A1 Release Date: 1993-07-20

Tracks:

1. I Wanna Get High
2. I Wain't Goin' Out Like That
3. Insane In The Brain
4. When The Ship Goes Down
5. Lick A Shot
6. Cock The Hammer
7. Interlude
8. Lil' Putos
9. Legalize It
10. Hits From The Bong
11. What Go Around Come Around, Kid
12. Hand On The Glock
13. Break 'Em Off Some

Amazon.com

If a case can be made for gangsta rap, Cypress Hill is the act to make it. The trio of L.A. Latinos has the commercial clout and its raps are mercifully free of the misogyny, homophobia, and anti-Asian, anti-Jewish racism that so often mars the genre. Member/producer D.J. Muggs creates an eerily lean soundscape of whining sirens, off-kilter funk rhythms, metallic percussion, nasal taunts, and gruff warnings that's the aural equivalent of today's nerve-rattling cop flicks and mob movies. --Geoffrey Himes

Album Details

Limited Digipack Release

Customer Reviews:

The album that got me into rap.......2007-06-14

Okay, so the first CD I owned with rapping on it was, technically, C+C Music Factory, but forget that. 'Black Sunday' was the album that truly got me interested in hip-hop. Like every other white boy in America, I heard 'Insane in the Brain' on the radio and was hooked. Luckily, it's just about the worst song on the album.

From the siren-call that opens to the album to the syncopated beat in 'Break 'Em Off Some,' this album just doesn't quit comin' with dusty funk loops, rough-edge beats and hilarious herb references. The Amazon.com reviewer said this album presaged the sound of Dre's 'Chronic,' buuuuut according to Amazon's Web site, 'Chronic' was already out when this dropped in '93, so I'm not sure how they came up with that.

Regardless, I would argue that Muggs' and Dre's styles are not really very similar at all. Dre's sound was a lot more crisp, whereas Muggs opted for a smoky, vinyl-scratchy ambience that really suits the treble tones in B-Real and Sen Dog's voices.

I always make the argument that while 'Temples of Boom' was Muggs' best album in terms of production, 'Black Sunday' is the group's best album overall. I stand by it. A true hip-hop classic.

Can I Get A Hit From The Bong? (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4 stars).......2007-03-16

Cypress Hill's (B-Real, Sen Dog, & DJ Muggs) second album "Black Sunday" was an excellent album, from a Latin Hip Hop group based out of Los Angeles. If you haven't already figured out, Cypress Hill mostly rhymes about getting smoked out through out their career. And those rhymes are all over this album. That mixed with DJ Muggs production really makes the vibes in this album easy to catch. I believe "Insane In The Brain" was the lead single on this album, and it's a good song. B-Real handles most of the vocals through out the album. When I hear Sen Dog's voice and his ad-libs on here, he cracks me up because of how he sounds, but his rhymes are dope as well. Along with rhyming about smoking weed, they also rhyme about shooting people like "Hand On The Glock" (aka "Hands On The Pump Part II") and "Cock The Hammer". "When The Ship Goes Down" is another excellent track by B-Real with Sen Dog's background vocals. (I'm aware of the actual song title, but I placed the title in my review from the radio edit of the song.)

As for flaws, the only thing is lack of subject matter. Not too often Cypress Hill detours from the topics of smoking weed and guns on this album (they even put facts about marijuana inside of the linear notes that are interesting). That is the only inferior about this album. It's an excellent album from 1993, a time when gangsta rap was in full swing. If you're a big time smoker, you'll probably relate to this easier than others. But if you want to hear some west coast tunes from the early-mid 90's, you'll probably like this album.

Lyrics: B+
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: N/A
Musical Vibes: A+
Overall: A-

My favorite tracks: I Ain't Going Out Like That, Insane In The Brain, When The Ship Goes Down, Cock The Hammer, Hits From The Bong, A To the K, Hand On The Glock

Peace!

"Cypress Hill" Part 2.......2006-12-19

Cypress Hill's second album, 1993's "Black Sunday," is another great album of funny, pro-weed paranoid lyrics from B-Real, Sen Dog and the crew, amazing beats courtesy of DJ Muggs, and just overall original and fun hip hop music. This album is very similar to their debut, "Cypress Hill," but the quality of the music is just as good, if not better in many spots, than on their debut. They went with the philosophy of if it ain't broke, don't fix it on "Black Sunday," and it works perfectly. On this album you start to see a little bit of the rock influence that they would later explore more in the late 90s, and Muggs steps his production up a little bit while staying with the heavy bass, slow beats, woozy synths, and smoky sampling and instrumentation that made him famous. B-Real and the MCs stay with the same kind of subject matter as on the debut, centering around smoking, humorous recollections of urban violence, and Latino references, but it doesn't sound even slightly redundant. B-Real's nasal rumble and Sen Dog's deep bellows and chants are as awesome as ever. This is the second classic album from the pioneering Los Angeles Cuban rap collective, and I recommend it to all hip hop fans.

The album begins with the self-explanatory "I Wanna Get High," with its great chorus and verses from all parties. The production is laced with deep, funky bass and a distant sounding siren, showing Muggs's signature style. The upbeat and drum-staticky "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" follows, another high point. The next song is maybe the most well-remembered song of early 90s rap, the song that made the group a household name, "Insane in the Brain." This song is a classic, boasting a memorable chorus, great production, and funny verses, creating a legendary song that is still so widely recognized today. "When the S... Goes Down" has a great beat and good chemistry from the MCs. "Lick a Shot" sounds reminiscent of the late 80s LA hip hop style, but the lyrics make it totally Cypress Hill. "Cock the Hammer" displays once again the signature weirdness that is B-Real, Sen Dog, and Muggs. The tough "3 Lil' Putos" preaches tough violence with threatening sounding lyrics. The smoker's anthem "Hits From the Bong" has a great beat and chorus, as does "What Go Around Come Around, Kid." "A to the K" is funny, and "Hand on the Glock" follows in similar procession. The album ends with the excellent "Break `Em Off Some," an upbeat and funky production. Like on their debut, short songs like "Lock Down" and "Legalize It" provide focused, beautiful beats courtesy of the legendary DJ Muggs.

Bottomline is that if you liked "Cypress Hill," you'll love "Black Sunday," because basically it's the same ideas musically and lyrically, just advanced two full years. This album is a consistent classic, and all kinds of rap fans are certain to enjoy it. I could definitely make an argument that this is Cypress Hill's best album, but regardless it is definitely among the finest albums of hip hop's greatest year, 1993, and has stood the test of time, sounding fresh and original even thirteen years later. I think everyone can enjoy "Black Sunday" and I highly recommend it.

Fun, but fake... .......2006-10-06

Don't get me wrong, I really like their songs -- they're catchy as hell...
but like most "gansta" rappers, they are posers. I don't think they have even come close to ever killing anyone. In "When the Sh** Goes Down", they talk about gettin the "sawed off Glock", which makes NO sense. A Glock is a handgun. What are you going to do, saw off the grip?! Even Biggie used to say some totally uneducated things about firearms (taking the safety off a Glock? Glocks don't have external safeties, genius!) Just because you smoke weed doesn't make you gangsta. Try picking up a gun and actually learning about how it works before you spit all this b.s. about your gat-toting hardness. Again, I like these guys, but I know to take it all with a grain of salt. This is a band selling a product.

Rap in its prime.......2006-03-27

Although Cypress Hill is as laid back as they portray themselves to be, they can very much bring color, ingenuity and astonishing lyrics. From tracks like 'I Want to Get High' to 'Insane in the Membrane', this is one of the best rap albums in the past two decades.

This team of three originated from latin poetry in the mid-80s to a hardcore rap format. Influenced by the likes of Wu Tang and Public Enemy, Cypress Hill have managed to make many hits, and along the line influence Naughty By Nature, Redman and Dialated People. This album is exceptional in the sense that the lyrics are humorous, factual, powerful and poetic.

This group is legendary for their constant refrence to weed; a source that potentially helped them become one of the most popular artists in rap. This is a five-star album - enjoyable and a timeless classic.

Average customer rating:

Black Sunday/III Temples of Boom ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music ASIN: B0002W1ANW Release Date: 2005-12-06

Album Description

2 CD set features the 1993 & 1995 albums. 29 total tracks with highlights including 'Insane In The Brain', 'I Wanna Get High', 'Legalize It', 'No Rest For The Wicked' and more. Sony. 2004.

Average customer rating:

Cypress Hill/Black Sunday/Temples of Boom ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00007JRO0 Release Date: 2006-06-13

Average customer rating:

Black Sunday-Vinyl Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00064X8HC Release Date: 2006-03-28

Album Description

Vinyl Classics reissue of the group's 1993 album comes as a vinyl look-a-like CD that's packaged in a die-cut see-through slipcase. Sony. 2006.

Average customer rating:

Cypress Hill/Black Sunday/Cypress Hill I ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000GQLBFG Release Date: 2006-10-31

Average customer rating:

Cypress Hill/Black Sunday ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00006J4RF Release Date: 2005-12-20

Average customer rating:

Cypress Hill/Black Sunday ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000ATJZ8Y Release Date: 2005-12-20

Album Description

Import coupling of Cypress Hill's 1993 album Black Sunday with thier self titled album (1991). Features the song's 'Born To Get Busy', 'Latin Lingo', 'Legalize It' and 'Insane in the Brain'. Sony. 2005.

Average customer rating:

Black Sunday Manufacturer: Msi Music Corp ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000DEPPV Release Date: 2002-07-22

Average customer rating: The album that got me into rap Can I Get A Hit From The Bong? (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4 stars) "Cypress Hill" Part 2 Fun, but fake... Rap in its prime

Black Sunday Cypress Hill Manufacturer: Msi Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Latin Rap | Latin Music | Styles | Music Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music West Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Cypress Hill Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom Skull & Bones IV Greatest Hits ASIN: B0000259IE Release Date: 2002-07-22

Tracks:

1. I Wanna Get High
2. I Ain't Goin' Out Like That
3. Insane in the Brain
4. When the Sh-- Goes Down
5. Lick a Shot
6. Cock the Hammer
7. Lock Down
8. 3 Lil' Putos
9. Legalize It
10. Hits from the Bong
11. What Go Around Come Around, Kid
12. To the K
13. Hand on the Glock
14. Break 'Em off Some

Amazon.com

If a case can be made for gangsta rap, Cypress Hill is the act to make it. The trio of L.A. Latinos has the commercial clout and its raps are mercifully free of the misogyny, homophobia, and anti-Asian, anti-Jewish racism that so often mars the genre. Member/producer D.J. Muggs creates an eerily lean soundscape of whining sirens, off-kilter funk rhythms, metallic percussion, nasal taunts, and gruff warnings that's the aural equivalent of today's nerve-rattling cop flicks and mob movies. --Geoffrey Himes

Album Details

Limited Digipack Release

Customer Reviews:

The album that got me into rap.......2007-06-14

Okay, so the first CD I owned with rapping on it was, technically, C+C Music Factory, but forget that. 'Black Sunday' was the album that truly got me interested in hip-hop. Like every other white boy in America, I heard 'Insane in the Brain' on the radio and was hooked. Luckily, it's just about the worst song on the album.

From the siren-call that opens to the album to the syncopated beat in 'Break 'Em Off Some,' this album just doesn't quit comin' with dusty funk loops, rough-edge beats and hilarious herb references. The Amazon.com reviewer said this album presaged the sound of Dre's 'Chronic,' buuuuut according to Amazon's Web site, 'Chronic' was already out when this dropped in '93, so I'm not sure how they came up with that.

Regardless, I would argue that Muggs' and Dre's styles are not really very similar at all. Dre's sound was a lot more crisp, whereas Muggs opted for a smoky, vinyl-scratchy ambience that really suits the treble tones in B-Real and Sen Dog's voices.

I always make the argument that while 'Temples of Boom' was Muggs' best album in terms of production, 'Black Sunday' is the group's best album overall. I stand by it. A true hip-hop classic.

Can I Get A Hit From The Bong? (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4 stars).......2007-03-16

Cypress Hill's (B-Real, Sen Dog, & DJ Muggs) second album "Black Sunday" was an excellent album, from a Latin Hip Hop group based out of Los Angeles. If you haven't already figured out, Cypress Hill mostly rhymes about getting smoked out through out their career. And those rhymes are all over this album. That mixed with DJ Muggs production really makes the vibes in this album easy to catch. I believe "Insane In The Brain" was the lead single on this album, and it's a good song. B-Real handles most of the vocals through out the album. When I hear Sen Dog's voice and his ad-libs on here, he cracks me up because of how he sounds, but his rhymes are dope as well. Along with rhyming about smoking weed, they also rhyme about shooting people like "Hand On The Glock" (aka "Hands On The Pump Part II") and "Cock The Hammer". "When The Ship Goes Down" is another excellent track by B-Real with Sen Dog's background vocals. (I'm aware of the actual song title, but I placed the title in my review from the radio edit of the song.)

As for flaws, the only thing is lack of subject matter. Not too often Cypress Hill detours from the topics of smoking weed and guns on this album (they even put facts about marijuana inside of the linear notes that are interesting). That is the only inferior about this album. It's an excellent album from 1993, a time when gangsta rap was in full swing. If you're a big time smoker, you'll probably relate to this easier than others. But if you want to hear some west coast tunes from the early-mid 90's, you'll probably like this album.

Lyrics: B+
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: N/A
Musical Vibes: A+
Overall: A-

My favorite tracks: I Ain't Going Out Like That, Insane In The Brain, When The Ship Goes Down, Cock The Hammer, Hits From The Bong, A To the K, Hand On The Glock

Peace!

"Cypress Hill" Part 2.......2006-12-19

Cypress Hill's second album, 1993's "Black Sunday," is another great album of funny, pro-weed paranoid lyrics from B-Real, Sen Dog and the crew, amazing beats courtesy of DJ Muggs, and just overall original and fun hip hop music. This album is very similar to their debut, "Cypress Hill," but the quality of the music is just as good, if not better in many spots, than on their debut. They went with the philosophy of if it ain't broke, don't fix it on "Black Sunday," and it works perfectly. On this album you start to see a little bit of the rock influence that they would later explore more in the late 90s, and Muggs steps his production up a little bit while staying with the heavy bass, slow beats, woozy synths, and smoky sampling and instrumentation that made him famous. B-Real and the MCs stay with the same kind of subject matter as on the debut, centering around smoking, humorous recollections of urban violence, and Latino references, but it doesn't sound even slightly redundant. B-Real's nasal rumble and Sen Dog's deep bellows and chants are as awesome as ever. This is the second classic album from the pioneering Los Angeles Cuban rap collective, and I recommend it to all hip hop fans.

The album begins with the self-explanatory "I Wanna Get High," with its great chorus and verses from all parties. The production is laced with deep, funky bass and a distant sounding siren, showing Muggs's signature style. The upbeat and drum-staticky "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" follows, another high point. The next song is maybe the most well-remembered song of early 90s rap, the song that made the group a household name, "Insane in the Brain." This song is a classic, boasting a memorable chorus, great production, and funny verses, creating a legendary song that is still so widely recognized today. "When the S... Goes Down" has a great beat and good chemistry from the MCs. "Lick a Shot" sounds reminiscent of the late 80s LA hip hop style, but the lyrics make it totally Cypress Hill. "Cock the Hammer" displays once again the signature weirdness that is B-Real, Sen Dog, and Muggs. The tough "3 Lil' Putos" preaches tough violence with threatening sounding lyrics. The smoker's anthem "Hits From the Bong" has a great beat and chorus, as does "What Go Around Come Around, Kid." "A to the K" is funny, and "Hand on the Glock" follows in similar procession. The album ends with the excellent "Break `Em Off Some," an upbeat and funky production. Like on their debut, short songs like "Lock Down" and "Legalize It" provide focused, beautiful beats courtesy of the legendary DJ Muggs.

Bottomline is that if you liked "Cypress Hill," you'll love "Black Sunday," because basically it's the same ideas musically and lyrically, just advanced two full years. This album is a consistent classic, and all kinds of rap fans are certain to enjoy it. I could definitely make an argument that this is Cypress Hill's best album, but regardless it is definitely among the finest albums of hip hop's greatest year, 1993, and has stood the test of time, sounding fresh and original even thirteen years later. I think everyone can enjoy "Black Sunday" and I highly recommend it.

Fun, but fake... .......2006-10-06

Don't get me wrong, I really like their songs -- they're catchy as hell...
but like most "gansta" rappers, they are posers. I don't think they have even come close to ever killing anyone. In "When the Sh** Goes Down", they talk about gettin the "sawed off Glock", which makes NO sense. A Glock is a handgun. What are you going to do, saw off the grip?! Even Biggie used to say some totally uneducated things about firearms (taking the safety off a Glock? Glocks don't have external safeties, genius!) Just because you smoke weed doesn't make you gangsta. Try picking up a gun and actually learning about how it works before you spit all this b.s. about your gat-toting hardness. Again, I like these guys, but I know to take it all with a grain of salt. This is a band selling a product.

Rap in its prime.......2006-03-27

Although Cypress Hill is as laid back as they portray themselves to be, they can very much bring color, ingenuity and astonishing lyrics. From tracks like 'I Want to Get High' to 'Insane in the Membrane', this is one of the best rap albums in the past two decades.

This team of three originated from latin poetry in the mid-80s to a hardcore rap format. Influenced by the likes of Wu Tang and Public Enemy, Cypress Hill have managed to make many hits, and along the line influence Naughty By Nature, Redman and Dialated People. This album is exceptional in the sense that the lyrics are humorous, factual, powerful and poetic.

This group is legendary for their constant refrence to weed; a source that potentially helped them become one of the most popular artists in rap. This is a five-star album - enjoyable and a timeless classic.

Dance Music:

1. Da Morgue [Explicit Lyrics]
2. Daylight [EP]
3. Definitive Jux Presents, Vol. 2
4. Doc's Da Name 2000
5. E 1999 Eternal [Import]
6. Espionage
7. Exit Wounds [Explicit Lyrics] [Soundtrack]
8. Family Reunion
9. Featured from Coast to Coast
10. Flawless [Explicit Lyrics]

Dance Music

dance music

Dance Music

Heaven's Open [Import]

Master Sampler

Next [Import]

Groovemasters, Vol. 1

To Thine Own Ruin Be True

Maze

Morgana King Sings the Blues [Import]

Malcolm Sargent Conducts Tchaikovsky; Mussorgsky; Prokofiev...

People Like Us

Low Frequency Speaker Test [Enhanced] [EP]

Mingus Fingers [Import]

Out of Sight [Import]

Portrait of Carrie [Import]

The William Byrd Edition, Vol. 7: Cantiones Sacrae 1589 & Propers for Lady Mass from Christmas to Purification

The Best of Silver Wave, Vol. 2: The Moon