Cypress Hill "Black Sunday" 2XLP (180g)

Thirteen solid grooves make up this album from the West Coast trio, beginning with the dope anthem "I Wanna Get High." "Insane in the Brain" and "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" are already hip-hop classics, each featuring the signature rolling bass hooks that defined Cypress Hill's sound before the group began experimenting with heavy metal. Deftly culled soul and Latin jazz samples provide a smooth backdrop for the intricate rhythms featured here. Refreshingly intelligent social concerns also find expression, with a tolerance that's rare indeed in the isolationism of rap. BLACK SUNDAY is a delightful departure from the obsession with guns and money that usually taints the West Coast school's output.