Dj Masta: Cypress Hill

Real Name:

Sen Dog - Senen Reyes

Mellow Man Ace - Ulpiano Sergio

Dj Muggs - Lawrence Muggerud

B Real - Louis Freese

1988: Havana-born Senen Reyes (Sen Dog) and younger brother Ulpiano Sergio (Mellow Man Ace), who moved from Cuba to the L.A. suburb of Southgate with their family in 1971, form rap group DVX with Italian-American Queens, N.Y. transplant Lawrence Muggerud (DJ Muggs) and Mexican-Cuban L.A. native Louis Freese (B-Real). After Ace splits for a solo career, the group renames itself Cypress Hill, named after a street that runs through the South Central hood they call home.

1990: The trio purvey their pro-pot message and hardcore rapping style to mostly Latino audiences in and around L.A., recording early demos of “The Phuncky Feel One” and a song called “Trigga Happy Nigga,” which was renamed “How I Could Just Kill A Man.” The latter became the band’s first hit after they sign with Philadelphia’s Ruffhouse label, distributed by Columbia Records.

1991: Self-titled debut hits in November with such classics as “I Wanna Get High,” “Pigs,” “Latin Lingo,” “Tres Equis” and “How I Could Just Kill A Man,” all now with Spanish language versions on the brand-new Los Grandes xitos En Espaol.

1992: First single, “The Phuncky Feel One,” is released, but the B-side, the gangsta rap classic “How I Could Just Kill A Man,” starts to get college radio play and becomes the #1 most requested song at influential urban station WBLS in New York. Cypress Hill goes on to sell two million copies in U.S. DJ Muggs begins producing career by helming House of Pain’s self-titled bow, then goes on to work with Funkdoobiest and Beastie Boys. The band appears on the side stage at Lollapalooza.

1993: Band’s second album, Black Sunday, debuts at #1 in Billboard, registering highest first-week SoundScan sales for a rap album up to that point, with hit single, “Insane In The Brain,” leading the way to double-platinum in U.S. and 3.25 million worldwide. Group appears on “Saturday Night Live,” where they’re banned after Muggs lights up a blunt on-air while the group trashes their equipment during the aptly titled second number, “Ain’t Goin’ Out.” Headlines “Soul Assassins” club tour with House of Pain and Funkdoobiest followed by college dates with 7 Year Bitch and Rage Against the Machine, proving their versatility and ability to entertain diverse audiences. Further proof of which is their two collaborations on the hit “Judgment Night” soundtrack with alternarock gods Sonic Youth (”I Love You Mary Jane”) and Pearl Jam (”Real Thing”).

1994: Following a U.K. tour, Cypress Hill appear on the side stage at ‘94 Lollapalooza and at that summer’s Woodstock, introducing newest member, ex-Beastie Boy percussionist Eric Bobo, son of salsa legend Willie Bobo. Names Best Rap Group in Rolling Stone Music Awards poll by readers and critics.

1995: Headlines Lollapalooza ‘95 with Hole, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Sinad O’Connor, Beck, the Jesus Lizard, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Contributed a track, “I Wanna Get High,” to Capricorn release of High Times-sponsored Hempilation album to benefit NORML (National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws). Third album, III (Temples of Boom), debuts on charts at #3, on its way to platinum-plus sales of more than 1.5 million U.S. Sen takes a break from touring with band to form punk-rap band SX-10.

1996: Headlines shows with 311 and the Pharcyde before hitting road with inaugural “Smokin” Grooves” tour featuring Ziggy Marley, the Fugees, Busta Rhymes and Tribe Called Quest. Release a nine-song EP, Unreleased and Revamped , with rare remixes never before available.

1997: Solo projects. Muggs cut a solo album, Muggs Presents… The Soul Assassins, with members of Wu Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, KRS-One, Wyclef Jean, Mobb Deep and others. B-Real collaborates with Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J and Method Man on “Hit “Em High,” from multi-platinum Space Jam soundtrack; hooks up with Dr. Dre, Nas and KRS-One on “East Coast Killer, West Coast Killer,” from Dre’s hit Aftermath album, and records his solo bow, The Psycho Realm, with L.A.-based Latino rappers Duke and Jacken. Band once again participates in “Smokin” Grooves” with George Clinton and Erykah Badu among others.

1998: Sen Dog releases Get Wood Sampler with punk-metal hybrid SX-10 on Jordan Schur’s Flip label, then returns to Cypress Hill fold for band’s fourth album, IV, and to join them for yet another stint on “Smokin” Grooves,” this time with Wyclef Jean and the Refugee Allstars, Gang Starr and Canibus. The new album goes gold on the strength of the Latin-flavored smash, “Tequila Sunrise,” “Checkmate,” “Nothin” To Lose” and the hemp-flavored “Dr. Greenthumb,” all of which are included on the new Los Grandes xitos En Espaol.

1999: The band turns down a spot on the “Warped” tour to work on two albums at once at Ameraycan Studios: their long-promised Spanish language album, U>Los Grandes xitos En Espaol, released December 1999 and their fifth studio record, Skull & Bones, due in stores, April 25.

2000: Influential modern rock station KROQ-FM adds “(Rock) Superstar” well in advance of the track’s official add date with stations across the nation following suit. Meanwhile KKBT The Beat” and “Power 106″ in Los Angeles immediately began championing “(Rap) Superstar” while tastemaking DJ’s Funkmaster Flex and Stretch Armstrong dbuted the track on NYC’s influential “Hot 97.”