Cypress Hill

More than two decades into Cypress Hill’s career, the pioneering hip-hop group finds itself in a curious position: Its four members are alternately elder statesmen of the Latino music community, highly visible and vocal proponents for marijuana legalization, and proof that “rap” and “longevity” aren’t mutually exclusive properties. Not bad for an act that once advocated the virtues of “getting toasted—nicely toasted” on The Simpsons. The perspective that comes from age and experience could have added unwelcome weight to 2010’s Rise Up (released on April 20, natch), but the album sticks to timeless, familiar Cypress territory like smoking weed and anyone dumb enough to step to B-Real. After all this time, who are they trying to get crazy with? Surely by now they know he’s loco.

Updated 04/04/2011