Cypress Hill

Why We Still Love Cypress Hill

By Chaz Kangas Wed., Nov. 28 2012 at 3:00 AM
Categories: Cypress Hill

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Cypress Hill
Tonight, west coast hip-hop favorites Cypress Hill return to the Best Buy theater. With over two decades of nationwide touring, they've developed a reputation as one of the most anticipated and consistent live shows in the genre. Even after departing from their longtime label Sony in 2008, the group have still maintained both their unity and their following as their fans remain as loyal as ever. We decided to take a look back at the group's 20-plus years of classic moments as a refresher on why we all love Cypress Hill.

See Also:
- Q&A: Soul Singer Syl Johnson Prefers Money To Women, Loves Being Sampled By The Wu-Tang Clan, And Is Sorry He Had To Sue Cypress Hill
- Cypress Hill + Action Bronson at Best Buy Theater



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Ten Hip-Hop Covers Of Rap Songs

By Phillip Mlynar Wed., May 18 2011 at 10:00 AM
Categories: Atmosphere, Cypress Hill, Def Squad, Featured, Lists, Mos Def, Nas, Necro, Pharoahe Monch, Phillip Mlynar, QB's Finest, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, Talib Kweli, The Roots

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Last week, the Detroit-based rapper and one-time J Dilla collaborator Elzhi released Elmatic. It's the second time a rapper has re-written and re-made Nas's hallowed Illmatic, with Fashawn attempting a similar feat last year. As a listening experience, Elmatic is less than convincing, leaving you continually pining for Nas's original lyrics (which isn't surprising, as they've been recited like holy hip-hop scriptures by rap fans since 1994). But beyond its artistic merits, Elmatic is more notable for being an addition to the tiny body of hip-hop songs covered by other rap artists.

Cover versions may abound in other genres, but hip-hop has a history of shying away from them. This may be due to the high importance of lyrical originality--as Masta Ace put it on the Juice Crew's "The Symphony," "There's a sign at the door: 'No Biting Allowed.' " Even homaging other artists through invoking short snippets of their lyrics is seen as grounds for a dis (Nas to Jay-Z: "How much of Biggie's rhymes is gonna come out your fat lips?"). So while there's an accepted tradition of freestyling over someone else's beat on a mixtape, and the sub-strain of what are technically answer records like Salt-N-Pepa (as Super Nature) responding to Doug E Fresh & Slick Rick's "The Show" with "The Show Stoppa," whole-hearted rap covers remain the genre's curio. Here then is a tribute to the brave souls who have dared reinvent the raps of others--with varying results.

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