Hits & spliffs with Cypress Hill in Orange County

Cypress Hill brought their classic west coast sound to the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa for a night of old-school hip hop and Chicano energy. Opening the show was Ozomatli, another band heavily influenced by Cypress Hill. Having both groups on the same bill made sense, because they both have strong roots in the Los Angeles music scene.

Ozomatli formed in LA in the 90s, representing a very Chicano side of the city. Their multicultural sound is almost as diverse as LA itself, with hip hop, funk, rock, salsa, cumbia, reggae, and other Latin influences.

It’s hard to put Ozomatli into just one category, since their songs can change styles in a snap.

Tracks like “Cut Chemist Suite” and “Cumbia de los Muertos” brought a dance party to OC. The combination of horns, percussion, and lyrical delivery made their set feel like a huge fiesta for both older and newer generations. And after Ozomatli finished, it was time for Cypress Hill.

Cypress Hill originally came together in South Gate in the late 80s, before going on to become one of the most successful Californian hip hop collectives to date. The group created music that was different from a lot of other rap artists at the time, with B-Real‘s high-pitched voice and DJ Muggs’ dark and heavy production.

Of course, what they are especially known for are songs about cannabis, as well as how it goes on the streets of LA.

Hearing songs such as “How I Could Just Kill a Man”, “Rock Superstar”, and “Illusions” just hit differently live — especially in today’s sociopolitical climate. Even though some of these songs are over 30 years old, the beats and B-Real’s voice will remain recognizable for the rest of eternity.

One of the biggest surprises of the night was when Cypress Hill brought out Mellow Man Ace for their song “Lowrider”. Before Cypress Hill became Cypress Hill, the group was known as Devastating Vocal Excellence, aka DVX. The original group included B-Real, Sen Dog, DJ Muggs, and Mellow Man Ace — the latter eventually leaving to pursue his own solo career.

The concert was a celebration of old-school music; I’m sure the entire crowd at the OC Fair next door was jealous. If you have been a longtime Cypress Hill or Ozomatli fan from SoCal, I sincerely recommend seeing them live at least twice in your lifetime — never just once. They play such a huge part in the Los Angeles Latin culture, it’s simply a must.

Photography by Celeste Basich

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