Cypress Hill

A collision of stoner anthems, rap-rock fusions, and eccentricity, Cypress Hill is a defining voice of West Coast hip-hop. Founded in 1988 by Cuban brothers Senen Reyes (Sen Dog) and Ulpiano Sergio Reyes (Mellow Man Ace), Lawrence Muggerud (DJ Muggs), and Louis Mario Freese (B-Real), the intrepid crew emerged in 1991 with its eponymous debut album. Powered by hazy DJ Muggs production, stark vocal contrasts, and eccentric yet bluntly honest raps, the LP became a landmark. With subsequent albums like Skull & Bones (2000), Cypress Hill only reaffirmed its reputation as an innovator, becoming one of the first hip-hop acts to infuse its songs with Spanish before diving into psychedelia and nu-metal (Stoned Raiders) and inspiring other artists to do the same. With its zany stylings and penchant for genre-surfing, the crew was fluent in an idiosyncratic artistry that made it a legend of the rap game.