Hits from the bong: Cypress Hill’s Sen Dog and Bobo

MANILA, Philippines – Ever since their debut album came out in 1991, Cypress Hill has been one of the most influential acts in hip hop.

Their first two albums, Cypress Hill and Black Sunday, are bona fide classics, thanks to their gritty portrayal of life on the East Side of Los Angeles.

In spite of the controversial nature of the band’s lyrics — the band is a notorious advocate of marijuana legalization and their first hit was a song called “How I Could Just Kill a Man” — the band sold platinum records throughout the 90s, even capturing a crossover rock audience, thanks in part to the band’s heavy use of rock samples in their recordings.

Cypress Hill continues their tradition of experimentation to this day, releasing an EP earlier this year in collaboration with dubstep producer Rusko.

Rapper Sen Dog and percussionist Eric “Bobo” Correa were in the country recently for this year’s incarnation of Dutdutan, the biggest tattoo convention in the Philippines.

RAPPLER was there for the event’s press conference to find out what the two members had to say about their respective careers, pancit and what we should plant in our country’s humid climate.

1) On the evolution of the band’s sound over the past 21 years and their love for collaboration with artists from different genres:

Sen Dog: When we first started, we were hardcore hip hop heads. At the same time, we all grew listening to various types of (music, like) rock and roll, heavy metal, salsa, soul, blues and all that stuff.

So when we started to do our second album, we started to incorporate some Black Sabbath samples and things like that, eventually to the point where we said, “Let’s do a completely rock and roll project.”

So from the beginning of Cypress until now, we’ve done everything from hip-hop, to metal, to ska, to Latino hip hop. 

We believe in taking risks and chances. We also believe in evolving hip hop and not just leaving it the same way we found it. Why just be one thing when you can be all things, you know?

Eric Bobo: I think Cypress being able to perform onstage with wonderful, talented musicians like Slash and Tom Morello and Shavo from System of a Down (is great).

We’ve been able to transcend the normal hip-hop realm. To have those kinds of musicians want to even jam with us has been a blessing.

2) On their respective solo projects:

Sen Dog: In Cypress Hill, we encourage side projects.

With all the experiences I’ve learned with other people and (with the experiences of Bobo and B-Real and all these guys, when we come back together as Cypress, it makes the band stronger

Eric Bobo: I think as artists, musicians, it’s good to be able to expand.

And you try different things that you may not be able to do in a group concept (because) when you come back as a group, you come up with different ideas and add that to the formula that’s already there. 

3) On what they think of the Philippines:

Sen Dog: It’s f*cking humid here man! 

Bobo: Also, it’s great food here. I’m a big fan of the pancit. I love that.

It’s good and the people have been great to us. We’ve felt welcomed by everyone here.

Sen Dog: And also, we look forward to bringing the whole Cypress Hill to the Philippines one day.

One day, we will definitely hit the Philippines just basing on the reaction that we’ve had from being here. 

4) On what’s next for Cypress Hill and their individual projects:

Sen Dog: We’ll be releasing album number 9 in January, I think. Maybe number 8, it could be number 10 for all I know.

We plan to keep on recording and keep on coming up with good material to entertain the world.

Eric Bobo: Right now, I have a project out with a Chilean DJ named Latin Bitman. It’s called Ritmo Machine. It’s a mixture of hip-hop, dub, rock and other things. We have a bunch of good artists on there, namely Chali 2na, Sen Dog, Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys.

I also have a project with DJ Rhettmatic of the World Famous Beatjunkies. It’s called Bobo meets Rhettmatic. You can get that on free download. We’ll be working on a new record sometime next year.

5) And of course Cypress Hill’s message to the world:

Sen Dog: I just want to say, around the world, to anyone who asks me: work hard on legalizing marijuana. That’s always been the Cypress Hill message and it continues to be so.

It’s very important for us that people know the importance of cannabis hemp and all the good that it can do for the world and the human race. – Rappler.com

 

Jose Santiago Olaguera is an English teacher at the Ateneo Language Learning Center and faculty moderator of the Ateneo Musician’s Pool. He is also the lead vocals of band Cog.