Cypress Hill
is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California.
Cypress Hill was the first Latino-American hip hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide. They are considered an early and seminal West Coast rap and Hip hop, being critically acclaimed for their first two groundbreaking albums. The band has also been important for the advocacy of medical and recreational use of cannabis in the United States.
Formation (1988)
Senen Reyes (also known as Sen Dog) and Ulpiano Sergio Reyes (also known as Mellow Man Ace) are brothers who initially lived in South Gate, California. In 1971, their family had immigrated to the United States from Cuba. In 1988, the two brothers teamed up with Lawrence Muggerud (also known as DJ Muggs) and Louis Freese (also known as B-Real) to form a hip-hop group named DVX (Devastating Vocal Excellence). The band soon lost Mellow Man Ace to a solo career, and changed their name to Cypress Hill, after a street in South Gate.
Early works and mainstream success (1989–1995)
After recording a demo in 1989, Cypress Hill signed a record deal with the major label, Columbia Records. Their self-titled first album was released in August 1991. The lead single was the double A-side “The Phuncky Feel One”/”How I Could Just Kill a Man” which received heavy airplay on urban and college radio. The other two singles released from the album were “Hand on the Pump” and “Latin Lingo”, the latter of which combined English and Spanish lyrics. The success of these singles led to the album selling two million copies in the US alone. The group made their first appearance at Lollapalooza on the side stage in 1992.
Black Sunday, the group’s second album, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in 1993, recording the highest Soundscan for a rap group up until that time. Also, with their debut still in the charts, they became the first rap group to have 2 albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 at the same time. With “Insane in the Brain” becoming a crossover hit, the album went triple platinum in the U.S. and sold about 3.25 million copies.
The band headlined the Soul Assassins tour with House of Pain and Funkdoobiest as support, then performed on a college tour with Rage Against the Machine and Seven Year Bitch. In 1993, Cypress Hill also had two tracks on the Judgment Night soundtrack, teaming up with Pearl Jam on the track “Real Thing” and Sonic Youth on “I Love You Mary Jane”.
The group later played at Woodstock 94, introducing new member Eric Bobo, son of Willie Bobo and formerly a percussionist with the Beastie Boys. Rolling Stone magazine named the group as the best rap group in their music awards voted by critics and readers. Cypress Hill played at Lollapalooza for two successive years, topping the bill in 1995. They also appeared on the “Homerpalooza” episode of The Simpsons. Prior to Bobo joining the crew, Panchito “Ponch” Gomez sat in as a percussionist when not acting.
Their third album III: Temples of Boom was released in 1995, the album was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Cypress Hill also contributed a track “I Wanna Get High” to the High Times sponsored Hempilation album to support NORML.
“Latin Lingo” Lyrics
Maagghhh, let’s start the fuckin show, ah?
[Sen Dog]
Freak to the funk that no-one else is bringing
Sen Dog with the funky bilenge
Yeah thats the nombre, heard the homey
Peace to Mellow and Frost en el deporte
Sen Dog is not kid of veterano
Im down, another fried hispano
One of the many of the latin de este año
And I got plenty for the Jennies tryin to hound dog
But wait, they’re clownin on me cause of my language
I have to tell em straight up, its called Spanglish
Now who’s on the pinga tha gringo
Tryin to get paid, from the funky bilingual
[Chorus: B-Real and Sen Dog]
Latin lingo baby (funky bilingual) funky bilingual
Yeah, funky bilingual!
Latin lingo baby (funky bilingual) funky bilingual
It’s the latin lingo!
[Sen Dog]
Cuando entro, when I come in, suckers fronted
Me mira another bilingual from villa
Vengo con un ejemplo, check the tiempo
Ahhh… esta chingon el instrumento
Ya oiste, como somos
Yo no jodo, I gots the soul dose
And you can hear it, en las congas
Tribal ceremony as the Hill gets stronger
Don’t be such a leper, what u got for la cabeza?
Hey homes, pass the cervaza
Before I have to go and push up on your resa
Hhhmm she’s fine, son que fresca
Here homes have a hit of this yesca
Di yo enseño the leño lo prendo
Now you know, that I am in the centro
Where you live, si tu puedes
Nowadays you ain’t shit without your puentes
Something like it’s gangbang, vatos quieren BANG BANG!
Could of hung out with them now you callin me a insane
Salte de mi cara, sal de mi camino
Make way, for the the funky bilingual
[Chorus: B-Real and Sen Dog]
Latin lingo baby (funky bilingual) funky bilingual
Funky bilinguals hoe!
Latin lingo baby (funky bilingual) funky bilingual
It’s the latin lingo, baby!
Latin lingo baby (funky bilingual) funky bilingual
Funky bilingual…
Some of that old Latin funk, knowhatI’msayin?
[Sen Dog]
(What’s up homey? Don’t you know me?) Simon!
(Ain’t you the brother of the mas pingon?) Straight up
And I’m down with La Raza
Kid Frost got my back, BOO-YAA! in la casa
Cause everyday things get a little crazier
As I step to the microphone area
First I claim my city, puro Los Angeles
Yeah (you know homes) that’s where the calles is
Vato wouldn’t know me, along with the heinas
Catchin all them slippin, for they such a one-timer
So when you see me at the party or the baile
Before I got here I was gaffled in the calle
Troop like a vacho who said I was baracho
Had an attitude, tried to play me macho
Just relax, calmado mijo
Sen Dog with the funky bilingual
[Chorus: B-Real and Sen Dog]
Latin lingo baby, funky bilingual
Funky bilingual
Latin lingo baby, funky bilingual
Funky bilingual
Latin lingo baby, funky bilingual
Funky bilingual… funky baby!
Yeah, I’d like to send peace, to my homeboy B-Real
Mellow Man Ace, Kid Frost, Ralph M the Mexican
And we’re out
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/cypresshill/latinlingo.html
[00:01] — Tres Deliquentes
[04:23] — Lower East Side
[08:12] — Juvy
[11:57] — What It Be Like
[15:59] — I’m Addicted
[19:39] — The Realm
[22:42] — S.A.L.T.
[26:15] — Good Times
[29:43] — Break ‘Em Off
[33:00] — What’s Real Iz Real
[36:58] — If You Want Some
[41:06] — Another Fix
[44:55] — Underground Connect.
[49:49] — When Stakes Are High
