Twenty years of making chart topping hits and anthems did not stop Cypress Hill from hosting their 20th anniversary concert at the small, intimate venue of the Troubador in West Hollywood on Saturday August 6th, 2011.
All for the Fans: A Humble Celebration
Cypress Hill held their 20th anniversary concert in a venue that brought them back to their roots, the Troubador in West Hollywood, where a few hundred loyal fans enjoyed a set that rocked the house. The anticipation of the first song’s opening beats was palpable in the packed club, as the DJ’s turntables spun hip hop music gearing the crowd up for what would be an unforgettable night. Cypress Hill was welcomed onstage by a roar of cheering and started off a night that would include a playlist of all of their well-known songs. The entire crowd seemed to know every single word as Sen Dog and B Real spit their lyrics. Their nonstop energy permeated the air along with a good amount of smoke. The balcony view was perfect for observing the whole crowd move as one to the music they have listened to for the past 20 years.
As the night progressed, Cypress Hill rocked more and more hits that kept the speakers bumping and the fans dancing. They chose to perform an average of six songs from each of their albums, beginning with their first album and moving through the night’s set chronologically. The group was joined onstage by Slash, formerly of Guns and Roses, and Shavo from System of a Down, a pair that brought the music to an even higher level for the song “Rock Superstar”. Their guitar and bass playing elevated the energy tenfold and brought a true rock vibe to the song.
Twenty Years of Music
Cypress Hill has paved the way for Latino hip-hop groups as the first to go platinum and multi-platinum with their albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide. Their first album, a self-titled debut in 1991, sold over two million in the United States alone. From this album came “The Phuncky Feel One”, “How I Could Just Kill A Man”, “Hand on the Pump”, and “Latin Lingo”. The heavy rotation of these songs propelled the first album up the charts and proved that Cypress Hill meant business. Following that first album were eight more, each one producing chart topping record sales and hit singles such as “Insane in the Brain”, “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That”, and “I Love You Mary Jane”.
Cypress Hill Stands for What They Believe In
The fans' love for Cypress Hill has provided a following of their music but also has ballooned out to incorporate a lifestyle that is exemplified by the Cypress Hill Smokeout Festival. This is a one day music festival hosting hip-hop, rap and rock artists as well as vendors with merchandise representing a “smokers” paradise. This past year, the Smokeout Festival allowed medical marijuana cardholders a place to smoke without fear of prosecution. Concertgoers could purchase smoking paraphernalia on site as well as sample different types of marijuana. Cypress Hill is known for their affiliation with marijuana as well as their strong political standpoints. They are a group that has not only withstood the test of time in an industry that is known for short-lived acts, but have also grown to be known for standing for what they believe in.
Katherine Ward - Katherine Ward is a freelance writer living in Southern California and a graduate from CSUN with a B.A. in English-Creative Writing.
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