The first thing I noticed as Cypress Hill strolled into NPR headquarters was Sen Dog cradling his signature bucket hat. I asked him if my assumptions were correct; it was indeed the original hat seen in all the videos from the early '90s. Before I could process that confirmation, B Real asked me, "Yo, is your greenroom a greenroom?" We got everything we expected and more from Cypress Hill at the Tiny Desk.

While the term "pioneer" is used loosely in pop culture today, few terms describe Cypress Hill's impact over the past three decades more adequately. They are the first Latino hip-hop group to achieve platinum and multi-platinum status. B Real, Sen and producer DJ Muggs crafted a sound in the '90s that stretched beyond regional boundaries. It was dark, psychedelic and at times directly addressed mental health before the topic was commonplace. Many dismissed the group as "stoner rappers," yet the members were fervent advocates for the legalization of weed long before it came to fruition.

Touring members Eric Bobo and DJ Lord joined the duo along with Money Mark from Beastie Boys fame. The band summoned a horn section to fill out this rare minimalist approach to five, funky Cypress Hill things. Between each song, B Real took his time to shed some historic light on the group's journey thus far.

SET LIST

"When the S*** Goes Down"

"Hand On the Pump"

"How I Could Just Kill a Man"

"(Rap) Superstar"

"Insane in the Brain"

MUSICIANS

B-Real: vocals

Sen Dog: vocals

Eric Bobo: drums

DJ Lord: DJ

Money Mark: keys

Sam Koff: trumpet

Reggie Pace: trombone

John Hulley: trombone

TINY DESK TEAM

Producer: Bobby Carter

Director/Editor: Maia Stern

Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin

Creative Director: Bob Boilen

Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel

Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna

Hip-hop was at a crossroads in the late '90s. The genre was dealing with the aftermath of a senseless war that took the lives of two of its greats. The success of the "jiggy" era was moving rap away from the street to the mainstream, and times didn't look any better with Big L's murder in 1999. The purists needed stability and a voice that proved credibility and quality weren't a thing of the past. That voice was Rawkus Records. By the end of the decade they had a roster of MCs that came to be revered as some of the greatest of all-time: Pharoahe Monch, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli, to name a few. At its peak, the label released iconic records like Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, Monch's Internal Affairs, and Mos Def's Black on Both Sides. 

Still, the classics produced during Rawkus' run are too good to be forgotten. 

I'm a big fan of early Rawkus recordings and I hope you'll like this selection of my favourite tunes from their catalogue.

"I originally did this album in 2010 as my first remix project. I wanted to make it better, so I added some more songs, samples and breakbeats. Strap on your leisure suit and hang onto your afro for 70 minutes of funk." (the Quick Brown Fox)

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