In kind of obvious but not really news, Muggs is/was sorely underrated. Retrospectively, and at the moment of first bong rip, the production on those first three Cypress Hill albums is black lights-out great. Also, I had completely forgotten that Rza and U-God pop up on “Killa Hill Niggas,” the latter turning in one his best guest appearances ever. Although, really I don’t need to hear Golden Arms telling me to “smell his aroma.”
Download:
MP3: Cypress Hill-”Illusions”
MP3: Cypress Hill ft. Rza & U-God-”Killa Hill Niggas”
7 comments
floodwatch says:
August 28, 2008 at 3:34 am (UTC -7)
Really? I may have to go back and revisit this, then. I believe I listened to it exactly once upon purchase, smacked my palm against forehead, and stashed it away since.
How metal is that cover, though?
Sach says:
August 28, 2008 at 9:03 am (UTC -7)
For my money, actually their best over all album. It’s definitely not as ground-breaking as their debut and it completely moves away from the singles approach that got them on MTV, but the whole smoked out vibe out-trickied Tricky. If I had to make of list of “California albums” that go completely against the public perception of the state this one might top the list.
I guess they thought the left turn would fly in the alternative era but the window for that kind of stuff was closing fast. Kind of a shame, a turn towards the psychedelic would have been way more interesting than the frat-rap they ended up going with.
Passion of the Weiss says:
August 28, 2008 at 12:00 pm (UTC -7)
Flood: Yeah, Sach is pretty much dead-on. I think this might be their most consistent record from start-to-finish. Definitely worth re-visiting. Muggs’ production here pretty much rivals anything that ever came out of Bristol.
guodisdoug says:
August 28, 2008 at 2:46 pm (UTC -7)
I’ve always been a fan of this album, Muggs really got into a zone. When I bought this in ’95, I thought this was the future of Cypress Hill. “Illusions” is classic Cypress, and “Funk Freakers” is one of my favorite songs to listen to riding in my car on a rainy night. Makes you feel like creepin!
ekko says:
August 28, 2008 at 4:30 pm (UTC -7)
Muggs’ team up with GZA on Grandmasters was phenomenal. If you haven’t heard it, get it.
Passion of the Weiss says:
August 28, 2008 at 6:30 pm (UTC -7)
Yeah, that’s a great album. I really like the new one a lot too.
Ray Jackson says:
September 4, 2008 at 11:30 am (UTC -7)
Man i can’t believe you forgot how classic this record is brother.
In my mind, Temples is the best Cypress album…hands down. I’ve always thought of it as Muggs’s own personal version of Srgt. Pepper.
“Killa Hill Niggas” gives me goose bumps every time i hear it.
But the stand out track for me is “No Rest for the Wicked.” Never heard Ice Cube get served like that before or since.