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Black Sunday

 
Album Review: Black Sunday

  • Artist: Cypress Hill
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: July 20, 1993
  • Type: Contains explicit content, Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rap

Review

Black Sunday made Cypress Hill's connection to rock & roll more explicit, with its heavy metal-like artwork and noisier, more dissonant samples (including, naturally, stoner icons Black Sabbath). It's a slightly darker affair than its groundbreaking predecessor, with the threats of violence more urgent and the pot obsession played to the hilt (after all, it was a crucial part of their widespread appeal). Apart from those subtle distinctions, the sound of Black Sunday is pretty much the same as Cypress Hill, refining the group's innovations into an accessible bid for crossover success. In fact, it's a little startling how often Black Sunday recycles musical ideas and even lyrical catch phrases from the endlessly inventive debut. And the rock-derived, verse-chorus song structures start to sound a little formulaic by the end of the record (how many choruses feature Sen Dog repeating part of whatever B Real just said?). But in spite of that, Black Sunday still sounds vital and lively, since the group has a surer sense of craft. Most of the tracks are fleshed out into structured songs, in contrast to the brief sketches that punctuated Cypress Hill. The album benefits immensely from the resulting clutch of excellent singles (and songs that could have been), and while a couple of tracks feel redundant and underdeveloped, Black Sunday is overall a consistent, engaging listen, especially the flawless first half or so. Unfortunately, it's also the group's last great album, thanks to the musical recycling operation that began here and would handicap much of their subsequent work. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
I Wanna Get High (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (2:54)
I Ain't Goin' out Like That (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (4:27)
Insane in the Brain (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (3:29)
When the Sh-- Goes Down Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (3:08)
Like a Shot Cypress Hill (3:23)
Cock the Hammer (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (4:25)
Lock Down Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (1:16)
3 Lil' Putos (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (3:40)
Legalize It (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (:46)
Hits from the Bong (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes, Larry Muggerud Cypress Hill (2:40)
What Go Around Come Around, Kid (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (3:42)
A to the K Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (3:27)
Hand on the Glock (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (3:32)
Break 'Em off Some (Lyrics) Lawrence Muggerud, Louis Freese, Senen Reyes Cypress Hill (2:44)

Credits

Jay Papke (Design), Chris Schwartz (Executive Producer), Jason Roberts (Engineer), Dante Ariola (Concept), Manuel Lecuona (Engineer), Joe Nicolo (Mixing), Christopher Shaw (Engineer), Happy Walters (Management), Muggs (Arranger), Anthony Artiaga (Photography), Muggs (Executive Producer), Andy Kravitz (Engineer), Joe Gamble (Engineer), Muggs (Producer), B Real (Vocals), Jay Papke (Concept), Joe Nicolo (Executive Producer), T-Ray (Producer), Dante Ariola (Design), Muggs (Mixing)
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Wikipedia: Black Sunday (album)
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Black Sunday
Studio album by Cypress Hill
Released July 20, 1993
Recorded 1992-1993
Genre Alternative hip hop, hardcore hip hop, latin hip hop, West Coast hip hop
Length 43:38
Label Ruffhouse
Columbia Records
Producer DJ Muggs
T-Ray
Professional reviews
Cypress Hill chronology
Cypress Hill
(1991)
Black Sunday
(1993)
III: Temples of Boom
(1995)

Black Sunday is the second album by rap group Cypress Hill. It was released on July 20, 1993. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, recording the highest Soundscan for a rap group at the time. The album went Triple platinum in the U.S.

Contents

Album information

The first single, "Insane in the Brain," became a crossover hit, initiating their following among rock audiences. A censored version of the album was also made which removes the song "A To The K".

The songs "Hits from the Bong" and "I Wanna Get High" were used in the movie How High. The booklet to the album contains 19 facts about the history and positive attributes of cannabis.

Reception

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. [1]

Rolling Stone (9/16/93, p.64) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...it's the Cypress combo of stark grooves and cinematic gangsta fairy tales that allows them to rule the streets, a formula not messed with on Black Sunday..."

The Source (9/93, p.82) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...a darker sequel....this album is definitely worth buying as it easily rips the frame out of all those Cypress bandwagon jumpers..."

Q magazine (1/94, p.83) - Included in Q's list of `The 50 Best Albums Of 1993.'

Melody Maker (1/1/94, p.77) - Ranked #35 in Melody Maker's list of the `Albums Of The Year' for 1993.

Village Voice (3/1/94, p.5) - Ranked #29 in the Village Voice's 1993 Jazz & Pop Critics Poll.

NME (12/25/93, p.66) - Ranked #8 in New Musical Express' list of `The Top 50 LPs Of 1993.'

Track listing

  1. "I Wanna Get High" – 2:55
  2. "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" – 4:27
  3. "Insane in the Brain" – 3:33 (edited to 3:29 on some versions)
  4. "When the Shit Goes Down" – 3:08
  5. "Lick a Shot" – 3:23
  6. "Cock the Hammer" – 4:25
  7. "Lock Down" (Interlude) – 1:17
  8. "3 Lil' Putos" – 3:39
  9. "Legalize It" – 0:46
  10. "Hits from the Bong" – 2:40
  11. "What Go Around Come Around, Kid" – 3:43
  12. "A to the K" – 3:27
  13. "Hand on the Glock" – 3:32
  14. "Break 'Em Off Some" – 2:46

Samples

I Wanna Get High

I Ain't Goin' Out Like That

Insane In The Brain

When The Shit Goes Down

  • "Stratus" by Billy Cobham
  • "Deep Gully" by Outlaw Blues Band

Lil' Putos

Legalize It

Hits From The Bong

What Go Around Come Around, Kid

Break 'Em Off Some

Album chart positions

Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1993 Black Sunday #1 #1

Singles chart positions

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Rhythmic Top 40 Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales Hot Dance Music/Club Play
1993
"Insane In The Brain" #19 #27 #1 #16 #5 #16
1994
"I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" #65 #86 #21 - #21 -

Personnel

  • B-Real - Vocals
  • Sen Dog - Vocals
  • Joe Gamble - Engineer
  • Andy Kravitz - Engineer
  • Manuel Lecuona - Engineer
  • DJ Muggs - Arranger, Producer, Executive Producer, Mixing, Scractching/Turntablism
  • Joe Nicolo - Executive Producer, Mixing
  • Jay Papke - Design
  • Jason Roberts - Engineer
  • Chris Schwartz - Executive Producer
  • Chris Shaw - Engineer / Mixing
  • T-Ray - Producer
  • Anthony Artiaga - Photography

References

  1. ^ "100 Best Rap Albums". The Source #100. January, 1998. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/source.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
Preceded by
Zooropa by U2
Billboard 200 number-one album
August 7 - August 20, 1993
Succeeded by
Sleepless in Seattle (soundtrack) by Various artists

 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Black Sunday (album)" Read more

 

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