Cypress Hill and cannabis go together like peanut butter and jelly. As musical legends deeply rooted in both hip-hop and cannabis advocacy, the group’s enduring legacy extends beyond blunt hits like “Insane in the Brain” and “Hits from the Bong.” Their unique sound broke boundaries in the rap genre, characterized by B-Real’s unmistakable and nasally rap flow contrasting with Sen Dog’s deep, hoarse delivery, always complemented by DJ Muggs’ signature slow-looping rhythms and Bobo’s Latin-influenced percussion.
In a recent conversation with the Weekly, Eric “Bobo” Correa reflected on the evolving fanbase, noting the emergence of a third generation of fans thanks to streaming services. “There’s some sort of Cypress Hill resurgence,” he says. “Streaming services give people who aren’t as familiar with us a chance to get familiar—they’ve heard all the stories from either their older brothers or their parents, and now they get to see us live.”
When it came to creating perhaps Cypress Hill’s most famous song, “Insane in the Brain,” Correa recalls the original intention.
“It was actually a diss song to a couple of MCs who, at the time, we had some friction with,” says Correa. “So the way it was perceived as opposed to what it was written about is crazy, because it became a real fun song.”
Lyrically, Cypress Hill was one of the early adopters of bilingual language in their songs. They’d cleverly slip in Spanish slang, and while that especially heightened their popularity within Latino culture, their music has resonated with ethnicities beyond their own.
The group kicked off its We Legalized It tour just a couple of days before the infamous stoner holiday 420 in Boston.
“It’s been great to reunite,” Correa says. “We’re honored to be part of a dope hip-hop tour—The Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief, and us. It’s West Coast representing across the states.”
This tour serves as a celebration of the group’s musical legacy and its unwavering advocacy for cannabis legalization. Cypress Hill has partnered with the Last Prisoner Project, a national nonprofit dedicated to criminal justice reform and supporting individuals incarcerated for marijuana-related offenses.
“It’s crazy to see how far we’ve come. But it’s also a realization of how far we still have to go,” Correa says.
As part of the collaboration, Cypress Hill will donate $1 from each ticket sold on the tour to the organization to help promote awareness and advocacy for policy reform.
Beyond charitable contributions, the music is what keeps old and new fans hyped up. After a 35-year run, the group still holds power on stage through its tight rhymes and engaging crowd interactions.
“To me, our shows now have been some of the best. I say that because now we’re focused,” Correa says. “Back in the ’90s we were rock and roll, living the life—now we’re able to kick back and enjoy it for what it is.”
CYPRESS HILL With The Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief. May 3, 6:30 p.m., $51-$102. Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
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