I can't believe anyone in their right mind would give this album anything less than 5 stars.

1) If you are a HIP HOP fan(not rock fan who ALSO likes "rap")

2) If you were actually alive when this came out(or at least old enough to ride a bike)

3) If you are an American(props to Euros keeping Hip Hop alive, but you guys have different taste)

4) And finally if you have actually listened to this album start to finish, 2 or 3 times...

...THEN YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS CYPRESS HILL'S BEST ALBUM EVER. STRATIGHT UP PRE-LOLAPALOOZA/MTV/CROSSOVER HIP HOP DOPENESS. Peace to you heads who were around when this joint dropped.

Back when Cypress Hill first started rapping, they utilized beats and lyrics in a way that only they could. But, after they started focusing on only the "weed" aspect of their music, they dropped off considerably. I don't recommend any of their newer albums, but this album is in a class all it's own. Definitely a must-own for any rap fan.

Cypress Hill was a major breath of fresh air when they came out. They were rapping from a latinos perspective, they dropped beats that were more than dope, and wrote lyrics about everything including weed. You can't deny that as soon as you hear B-real, you know just who it is. I'd hesitate to call this the best album of theirs, but I like it just as much as "Black Sunday", "Temple Of Boom", and "Skull And Bones". Top tracks for me are "Pigs", "Hand On The Pump", "Stoned Is The Way Of The Walk", and "Born To Get Busy". It's all good though. It's a fact that in the summer of 1992, if I wasn't playing House Of Pain or the Beastie Boys, i was listening to Cypress Hill. Of course, I could pretty much say that now as well.

This cd is by far one of Cypress Hill's (CH's) best cds; in my opinion, second best to their "Black Sunday" album. However, I am partial as the "Black Sunday" album was the first of CH's that I had ever listened to... back when I was just a lad.

Anyway, the beats are traditional for them (if you have ever listened to any of their stuff); with a heavy bass sound projected from a woofer... along with the frequent "echo shouts" and sirens/screech sounds in the background. The vocals/raps are mainly projected from somewhat nasaly, but talented flow-er B-Beal.

While traditional, it is a style and sound that I have grown to greatly appreciate... no it is not your 2Pac; or even the current talent of somone like The Game for that matter... but it is what it is. If you have heard and liked any of CH's later stuff, I am sure you will enjoy this cd. If you are new to CH's music, perhaps you may find a better respect for them by listening to the "Black Sunday" cd first.

Cypress Hill's 1991 self titled debut is a very original, entertaining album the likes of which hip hop had never seen before. The group of Cuban MCs from Los Angeles had a style that was totally new to hip hop and proved to be pretty influential, and mostly from this album. "Cypress Hill" is full of weed smoking anthems, paranoid tales of ghetto violence, humor, and excellent production. The rappers B-Real and Sen Dog especially stand out, showing a distinct character from any other rappers in 1991. B-Real's high, nasal voice always sounds both funny and disturbed, and Sen's low gruff voice is the source of most of the yells and chants on the songs. DJ Muggs emerged on this album as one of rap's premier beatmakers, with a style as distinct and creatively original as the RZA or Pete Rock. His use of heavy pounding bass and slow drumbeats are coupled with often infrequent guitar licks and sampling. Overall "Cypress Hill" is one of the most unique and interesting rap albums from the early 90s, and I highly recommend it for the hip hop collection.

The album begins with the deliciously funky "Pigs," an anti-police statement with a looping guitar line and good verses from all parties. The classic song "How I Could Just Kill a Man" follows, the song that shot the group to superstardom. This song demonstrates their crazy style and Muggs's amazing beats, with its soaring synth line and horns. "Hand on the Pump" has a good chorus and similar instrumentals to the first song, and the chant-along "Hole in the Head" has deep bass and great verses. The upbeat smoking anthem "Light Another" allows B-Real to demonstrate a different flow, and the funny "The Phuncky Feel One" follows. "Real Estate" represents Los Angeles as only Cypress Hill does, and another pro-weed song, the excellent "Stoned Is the Way of the Walk," comes next. I love "Psychobetabuckdown," a threatening and head-spinning angry song. "Latin Lingo" represents their Cuban roots, and "The Funky Cypress Hill S..." is aptly titled. The horn heavy "Tres Equis" precedes the closer, the great "Born to Get Busy." Throughout the album, short tracks like "Ultraviolet Dreams," "Break It Up," and "Something for the Blunted" provide short, smoked out interludes of heavy Muggs beats.

In my opinion, this debut is Cypress Hill's finest work (if you like this also check out 1993's "Black Sunday"). Funny, lyrical, funky, musical, but most of all just entertaining and enjoyable, this album was very influential but somehow still sounds fresh and distinctive today. I suggest any hip hop fans pick this up, because they won't be disappointed.