How Cypress Hill got their name
Comprised of Sen Dog, Eric Bobo, and B-Real, Cypress Hill was one of the biggest rap crews on the West Coast during the 1990s and was arguably among the first to experiment with rock music rather than funk. Known for their song ‘Insane In The Brain’ the crew were the first hip hop group to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and are nothing short of iconic.
The collective’s second album, Black Sunday, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and boasted a hip-hop classic, which is the collective’s single ‘Insane In The Brain.’ Produced by DJ Muggs, the track peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Akin to East Coast acts such as the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC, Cypress Hill had mass appeal due to their ingenious fusion of rock and rap, which spawned an abundance of hits. Much like their LA counterpart, Dr. Dre, the trio has always embraced cannabis and referenced it in their music, leading them to become arguably one of the first stoner rap groups.
Cypress Hill got its name from the neighbourhood in South Gate, Los Angeles, where members Sen Dog and Mellow Man Ace grew up. Originally, they called themselves “DVX” but changed it after Mellow Man Ace left the group. the collective actually got their name and why they chose to drop their initial name DVX (Devastating Vocal Excellence) in 1988.
During an appearance on the Drink Champs podcast with DJ EFN and Noreaga, the South Gate trio spoke about their formation. Explaining the name’s origins, B-Real told Noreaga, “Before we really got on, we were called DVX.”
The new name “Cypress Hill” was inspired by Cypress Avenue, a street in their neighbourhood, and the nearby Cypress Park area. The name reflects their roots in Southern California, tying their identity to the streets and culture that influenced their music, ultimately becoming a symbol of their unique style and connection to their community.
He continued, “Devastating Vocal Excellence, as corny as it might be, that was what it was, so when we got on, we had to change our name to something and [DJ] Muggs was constantly bringing East Coast music over to Sen Dog and myself, and one of those albums was Wild Style, it was the soundtrack for the movie.”
The emcee concluded, “On one of those tracks, Rammellzee references Cypress Hill! Sen Dog lived on Cypress Ave, so we thought, ‘[Okay] Cypress Hill.” Cypress Avenue in the South Gate neighbourhood of LA runs between Firestone Boulevard and Santa Ana Street.
South Gate neighbours the iconic city of Watts and is North of Compton, the home of Death Row Records and NWA.