Named after a street in their hometown of South Gate, Calif., Cypress Hill comes to SA opening for Sublime with Rome (which includes original Sublime member Eric Wilson). The trio first planted the flag for Latinos in hip-hop back in 1991 with their seminal self-titled debut. Embraced by cholos riding in the streets of Los Angeles County and young programmers pushing the boundaries of college radio across the country, the trio of Sen Dog, B-Real, and DJ Muggs successfully combined violent imagery with stoner sensibilities, backed by smoky soundscapes that were just burgeoning within the genre. Subsequent hit albums like Black Sunday and Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom brought them out of the frat house and closer to the mainstream. Along with B-Real’s nasally bark, Sen Dog’s spirited hype, and Muggs’ murky beats, Cypress Hill has always been known for their willingness to experiment within the studio, best exemplified by their forays into reggae and rock, not to mention releasing a greatest-hits album entirely in Spanish. The homies recently collaborated with the ubiquitous Deadmau5, and last month dropped a solid EP with dubstepper Rusko. Boasting a hefty catalog and a refined stage presence, fans can expect a high-grade performance from these hip-hop veteranos. Don’t forget your lighters. $39.50; doors at 4:30pm Tue, Jul 17; Sunken Garden Theater, 3875 N St. Mary’s, frontgatetickets.com. Check out calendar.sacurrent.com for lots more upcoming events.
