After several years of being recognized as a groundbreaking rap trio, Cypress Hill has decided to return to its treasure chest of beats and release Cypress Hill IV, a collection of songs that include spirited material unheard since the Golden Age of rap. Undeniably, this disc offers a strong, hit-filled compilation from one of the most successful crossover acts of the past decade. On "Checkmate Fool," Muggs again affirms himself to be one of rap's more unrelenting producers--choosing to forgo the 92 b.p.m. standard that's prevalent in rap for beats with faster paces. Sen Dogg returns to the group with an effortless command of lyricism, demonstrating that his hiatus from CH wasn't spent foolishly chasing big-breasted women in tight pants.
B-Real's trademark high-pitched vocals and wayward rap style is prevalent throughout, yet "High Times" seems to be a throwback to the group's hemp plant foundation, which has been described by some critics as "impassioned." "Tequila Sunrise" displays the depth of the group's intensity and teams them up with complex vocal tones that helped shape many of CH's largest hits: "Kill A Man," "Hand On The Pump," and the toasted ode to cerebral instability among them.
