Cypress Hill - Sen Dog
Questions: Jo Taylor
Cypress Hill have been kicking around the music scene for over 22 years and are showing no signs of slowing down. Since forming in 1988, the outfit has had eight full-length studio releases and sold over 18 million albums.
Always taking their music into different directions and never shying away from speaking their minds, Cypress Hill are their own entity and as Sen Dog put it when he spoke with Caught in the Mosh, “There is only one Cypress Hill!” He also spoke of his most beloved memory from his time in Cypress Hill, working with Dubstep producer Rusko and why they will never play in Japan.
Your latest EP collaborates with UK Dubstep producer Rusko. It’s had some great reviews, how has it transpired live?
Live, it transpires really well! It happens to be my favourite section of our show now. We get a chance to let go of some energy and perform in a little bit of a different way and that then gets people to buzz off our energy. I’m glad we did it. It helped me expand my mind as a musician and also as a performer.
What was Rusko like to work with as a producer?
It was one of the most different things I’ve ever done with a producer. He would send us a track and then we write on it and then send it back to him and by the time we got it back, it was a completely different instrumental. He’d moved words around in the chorus that we written and taken out one of the words of my rap and made that the chorus. It was definitely a mind-expanding experience. The way that he does it is really cool.
With a career spanning 22 years and 10 albums, you’ve covered a lot of ground. You’ve always experimented and taken your music into different directions. What keeps you guys inspired to continue as Cypress HIll for so long?
Well basically, you know, there is only one Cypress Hill in the entire world and I’m in it. We’re the only dudes who do what we do. Why would I give that up, you know? Also just the love for hip hop that we have and the love for music that we have. Being teenagers and talking about how when we grow up we’re going to be the biggest band in the world and we’re going to do this and we’re going to do that and we made that a reality. And there’s no way I could put an expiration date on Cypress Hill. It’s impossible.
Always taking their music into different directions and never shying away from speaking their minds, Cypress Hill are their own entity and as Sen Dog put it when he spoke with Caught in the Mosh, “There is only one Cypress Hill!” He also spoke of his most beloved memory from his time in Cypress Hill, working with Dubstep producer Rusko and why they will never play in Japan.
Your latest EP collaborates with UK Dubstep producer Rusko. It’s had some great reviews, how has it transpired live?
Live, it transpires really well! It happens to be my favourite section of our show now. We get a chance to let go of some energy and perform in a little bit of a different way and that then gets people to buzz off our energy. I’m glad we did it. It helped me expand my mind as a musician and also as a performer.
What was Rusko like to work with as a producer?
It was one of the most different things I’ve ever done with a producer. He would send us a track and then we write on it and then send it back to him and by the time we got it back, it was a completely different instrumental. He’d moved words around in the chorus that we written and taken out one of the words of my rap and made that the chorus. It was definitely a mind-expanding experience. The way that he does it is really cool.
With a career spanning 22 years and 10 albums, you’ve covered a lot of ground. You’ve always experimented and taken your music into different directions. What keeps you guys inspired to continue as Cypress HIll for so long?
Well basically, you know, there is only one Cypress Hill in the entire world and I’m in it. We’re the only dudes who do what we do. Why would I give that up, you know? Also just the love for hip hop that we have and the love for music that we have. Being teenagers and talking about how when we grow up we’re going to be the biggest band in the world and we’re going to do this and we’re going to do that and we made that a reality. And there’s no way I could put an expiration date on Cypress Hill. It’s impossible.
You guys have worked with a lot of different musicians over the years. Is there anyone that you’d still love to collaborate with that you haven’t yet?
Yeah! There are lots of different people that I’d still like to work with. It all depends on when and where basically. I’ve always thought that Cypress Hill and Slayer would be a good collaboration. There are lots of people I think it would be cool to mix it up with, like Cypress Hill and Metallica. The more that music evolves, the more I find myself attracted to it. The whole thrill for me is going out of the box and recording with someone, like Marc Anthony a couple of years ago. It’s a challenge for us and it keeps me walking that fine line on the edge where you can fall off of it and look like a dumb ass or it pays off because you had the balls to take the risk.
What have been some memorable moments in your collaborations?
Definitely working with Tom Morello on our last album. Ever since I met him, close to 20 years ago, I’ve been a super big fan of his style of guitar playing and his bands’ music. It was really, really cool to work with him. I think it was 3 or 4 years ago I did a remake of Paradise City with Slash, Fergie and B-Real. That was really memorable. You know, I can tell you, you never know where this music business could take you. You never know till your there in the moment. Every time I get a chance to work with a for-real rock god like Slash or Morello or any of those dudes, I’m all over it.
Do you have plans to return to the studio for a full length album?
Yes, yes we do. We’ve started working with Muggs on some new music. This one is going to be really special for us and really diverse and I’m already excited about it.
You have all recorded solo projects. Does this bring new perspective to the group dynamic when you come back together? Do you have a more defined vision of what fits into the Cypress Hill camp? How do you decide what goes into Cypress Hill?
Basically, side projects are encouraged in Cypress Hill. Everyone in the band does their own side project and for me personally, I think it makes me a little more stronger when I go back into the studio with Cypress. I’ve had a chance to work with different producers on different levels of music and then I can bring that knowledge and experience into the frame when we get together as Cypress. And we’re all like that. If we didn’t have that opportunity to get out all this extra music out of our systems we’d all get frustrated. The fact we encourage each other to do own thing and tour on our own, makes us stronger musicians. Also makes us stronger humans and stronger entertainers.
Which songs do you enjoy performing most?
(laughs) Well, Insane In The Brain of course. And Rock Superstar. I really love performing stuff off the first album because it makes me get a little bit nostalgic, you know? Just thinking about what we were doing back then. We didn’t have any idea we’d still be going 20 years later. I Could Just Kill A Man is one of my favourites. Hand On The Pump and Latin Lingo are two of my other favourites to perform.
With such an expansive back catalogue, how do you decide what gets played night to night?
Well, pretty much, the vibe has always been that we have to do something off every album. So we can pick whatever songs we want, but as long as every album gets a look in and representation of every LP (laughs). There’s a lot of shit to choose from at this point.
Yeah! There are lots of different people that I’d still like to work with. It all depends on when and where basically. I’ve always thought that Cypress Hill and Slayer would be a good collaboration. There are lots of people I think it would be cool to mix it up with, like Cypress Hill and Metallica. The more that music evolves, the more I find myself attracted to it. The whole thrill for me is going out of the box and recording with someone, like Marc Anthony a couple of years ago. It’s a challenge for us and it keeps me walking that fine line on the edge where you can fall off of it and look like a dumb ass or it pays off because you had the balls to take the risk.
What have been some memorable moments in your collaborations?
Definitely working with Tom Morello on our last album. Ever since I met him, close to 20 years ago, I’ve been a super big fan of his style of guitar playing and his bands’ music. It was really, really cool to work with him. I think it was 3 or 4 years ago I did a remake of Paradise City with Slash, Fergie and B-Real. That was really memorable. You know, I can tell you, you never know where this music business could take you. You never know till your there in the moment. Every time I get a chance to work with a for-real rock god like Slash or Morello or any of those dudes, I’m all over it.
Do you have plans to return to the studio for a full length album?
Yes, yes we do. We’ve started working with Muggs on some new music. This one is going to be really special for us and really diverse and I’m already excited about it.
You have all recorded solo projects. Does this bring new perspective to the group dynamic when you come back together? Do you have a more defined vision of what fits into the Cypress Hill camp? How do you decide what goes into Cypress Hill?
Basically, side projects are encouraged in Cypress Hill. Everyone in the band does their own side project and for me personally, I think it makes me a little more stronger when I go back into the studio with Cypress. I’ve had a chance to work with different producers on different levels of music and then I can bring that knowledge and experience into the frame when we get together as Cypress. And we’re all like that. If we didn’t have that opportunity to get out all this extra music out of our systems we’d all get frustrated. The fact we encourage each other to do own thing and tour on our own, makes us stronger musicians. Also makes us stronger humans and stronger entertainers.
Which songs do you enjoy performing most?
(laughs) Well, Insane In The Brain of course. And Rock Superstar. I really love performing stuff off the first album because it makes me get a little bit nostalgic, you know? Just thinking about what we were doing back then. We didn’t have any idea we’d still be going 20 years later. I Could Just Kill A Man is one of my favourites. Hand On The Pump and Latin Lingo are two of my other favourites to perform.
With such an expansive back catalogue, how do you decide what gets played night to night?
Well, pretty much, the vibe has always been that we have to do something off every album. So we can pick whatever songs we want, but as long as every album gets a look in and representation of every LP (laughs). There’s a lot of shit to choose from at this point.
After smoking a joint while on Saturday Night Live, you have never been invited back. Have you had any other occasions where you’ve been banned for your support of marijuana?
Oh wow, let me think about that... No (laughs). I think that is the only time. It’s unfortunate but it’s kinda cool at the same time (laughs). We held true to our beliefs and who we are and we did it. The Saturday Night Live people who went to the after-party were glad that we did it but they are part of a major network and those are the ones that had a problem with it and said that we’re never having you on again. It would be nice to do it again but you know, shit happens (laughs). We’re also banned in Japan, for entering or playing there. All of us have been arrested for marijuana related offenses and the Japanese don’t give a shit who you are. They told Paul McCartney he can’t come in.
Finally, what has been one of the most surreal moments in your career so far?
Wow. That would be, for me, Woodstock 1994. Seeing that ocean of humanity that was there to see the concert and to be part of that, I just could not believe it. My mum and dad were watching on TV on pay per view, which was cool. When we got on stage, the stage was so big I remember thinking, “wow, you could land a helicopter here” it was that big! Even now when I think about it, I get a chill. It’s just one of those moves we made that definitely opened up the worlds eye to Cypress Hill. We were only one of just a few hip hop bands that played. That was a really big deal for us. I’m still glad that we did that. And there was only one Woodstock before that and to be part of something that someone like Jimi Hendrix had played years before was amazing.
Tickets for Cypress Hill's two Soundwave sideshows are on sale now!
Monday 25th February - Sydney, UNSW Roundhouse - tickets from Ticketek
Thursday 28th February - Melbourne, the Forum - tickets from Ticketmaster
Oh wow, let me think about that... No (laughs). I think that is the only time. It’s unfortunate but it’s kinda cool at the same time (laughs). We held true to our beliefs and who we are and we did it. The Saturday Night Live people who went to the after-party were glad that we did it but they are part of a major network and those are the ones that had a problem with it and said that we’re never having you on again. It would be nice to do it again but you know, shit happens (laughs). We’re also banned in Japan, for entering or playing there. All of us have been arrested for marijuana related offenses and the Japanese don’t give a shit who you are. They told Paul McCartney he can’t come in.
Finally, what has been one of the most surreal moments in your career so far?
Wow. That would be, for me, Woodstock 1994. Seeing that ocean of humanity that was there to see the concert and to be part of that, I just could not believe it. My mum and dad were watching on TV on pay per view, which was cool. When we got on stage, the stage was so big I remember thinking, “wow, you could land a helicopter here” it was that big! Even now when I think about it, I get a chill. It’s just one of those moves we made that definitely opened up the worlds eye to Cypress Hill. We were only one of just a few hip hop bands that played. That was a really big deal for us. I’m still glad that we did that. And there was only one Woodstock before that and to be part of something that someone like Jimi Hendrix had played years before was amazing.
Tickets for Cypress Hill's two Soundwave sideshows are on sale now!
Monday 25th February - Sydney, UNSW Roundhouse - tickets from Ticketek
Thursday 28th February - Melbourne, the Forum - tickets from Ticketmaster
