I remember the first time I heard Cypress Hill–11 years old in the summer of 1993, “Insane in the Membrane” blasting from a boom-box stowed inside the sweltering sauna of a gym where I played ball every day. A chubby French kid saddled with the name, Robaire, had just copped the Black Sunday tape. Between games he let me study its cover; mystifying my pre-teen mind with its gnarled cypress, interred skeletons, cadaverous sky, and sepulchral vibe seemingly out of The Fall of House of Usher. Four years prior to my first hit from the bong, I was hooked.
Besides the “stoned was the way that I walked” aspect of the article, I wanted to do a feature on B-Real because Cypress rarely get mentioned among greatest 90s groups talks. I’m not claiming that I’d take them over Outkast, the Wu, Tribe, etc., but they dropped two classics,* plus a windfall of excellent non-album material. Plus, Muggs is all-too-rarely acknowledged as one of the most influential and best producers of the decade. I mean, Cupress Hill dropped in ’91.
I’m still planning to post the B-Sides from the B-Real interview, discussing the making of Cypress Hill and Temples of Boom, so watch for the hook. In the meantime, download this comp. If you live in California, this is as good an excuse to get your Cannabis Club card, as any.
*Three, if you count Temples of Boom, which you should.
Tracklisting after the jump.
ZIP: Roll It Up, Light It Up Smoke It Up-Cypress Hill Rarities Collection
1. Cypress Hill–Roll It Up, Light It Up, Smoke It Up from Friday OST (Priority, 1995)
2. Cypress Hill-“Freak Tha Funk from Ghost Rider/Freak Tha Funk 12′ (?)
3. Cypress Hill ft. Fugees-“Boom Biddy Bye Bye” from Boom Biddy Bye Bye 12″ (Ruffhouse, 1995)
4. Cypress Hill ft. Redman & Method Man-“Cisco Kid” from How High OST (Def Jam, 2001)
5. Cypress Hill ft. Sonic Youth-“I Love You Mary Jane” from Judgment Night OST (Epic, 1993)
6. Cypress Hill-“Ice Cube Killa” from Ice Cube Killa Promo (1997)
7. Cypress Hill-“Illusions (Q-Tip Remix)” from Illusions 12″ (Columbia, 1996)
8. Cypress Hill-“Scooby Doo” from Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That 12″ (Ruffhouse, 1993)
9. Cypress Hill-“When the Shit Goes Down (Diamond D Remix)” from I Ain’t Going Out Like That CD-Singles (Ruffhouse, 1993)
10. Cypress Hill-“The Last Assassin” from The Cable Guy OST (Work, 1996)
11. Cypress Hill ft. Funkdoobiest-“Stoned is the Way (Reprise)” from Latin Lingo 12″ (Ruffhouse, 1991)
12. Cypress Hill-“Crossfire”
13. Cypress Hill ft. PMD-“Champions” from Tequila Sunrise 12-European Version (Ruffhouse, 1998)
14. Cypress Hill-“Untitled” from Soundbombing 3 Advance (Rawkus, 2002)
15. Cypress Hill-“Smuggler’s Blues”from III (Japan Release) (Ruffhouse, 1995)
16. Cypress Hill-“Ready to Die” from What’s Your #
17. Cypress Hill-“Shoot ‘Em Up” from Juice OST (Fontana, 1992)
18. Cypress Hill ft. Redman, Erick Sermon & MC Eight-“Throw Ya’ Hands in the Air” from Unreleased & Revamped (1996)
