Through a hazy funk of giant blunt smoke emerged the revolutionary sound of Cypress Hill in 1991, rap pioneers who blended trippy funk elements into the hip hop formula to create an unmistakable and infectious sound. Playlist culls tracks from each of their seven studio releases, with heavy reliance on the self-titled debut and the second release, Black Sunday (8 tracks of 14.) They talked tough and fronted the gangster attitude, but the delivery and the music never really felt menacing. You never got the feeling that they could snap themselves out of the ganja-induced haze to blow someone away as described in “How Could I Just Kill A Man.” The material is delivered as if hatched in a post pot party lyrical contest entitled, `Can you top this?’ The exception is “Looking through the Eyes of a Pig,” which could be the theme song for Vic Mackey, the anti-hero of “The Shield.” This song is a searing indictment of law enforcement; there is not a chuckle to be found. “Tequila Sunrise” is a stellar track featuring some eloquent Spanish guitar and horns as guest Barron Ricks trades rhymes about crime and droppin’ your enemies. I dare you to listen to “Insane in the Brain” without having it trapped inside your head for days. If you don’t have any Cypress Hill or own a greatest hits collection, this is must for you to add. (Columbia/Ruffhouse/Legacy)
