Review Summary: Fully channeling their Latin roots this time.
Thirty eight years into their career, Cypress Hill dropped their first full Spanish language record,
Dios Bendiga, which features brand new songs unlike their 1999 best of compilation,
Los Grandes Exitos en Espanol. Even the guys themselves wondered what took them so long to decide on this project, as their Latin roots and influences have always been an audible part of their sound. Drummer Eric Bobo took the helm this time, alongside DJ Lord who has performed with the band lately. The results are refreshing, blending Latino music with old school hip hop beats and soundscapes. The mindset isn’t much different from its stripped back yet catchy predecessor,
Back in Black and since Muggs remains absent, the flavor this time is brought by summery melodies and various collaborators.
Opener, ‘’Wacha Trucha’’ starts in a rather urgent fashion as the two MCs and Aleman spit out their verses, whereas ‘’Campeones’’ follows with a more relaxed vibe and lyrics. The latter also features founding member and Sen Dog’s brother, Mellow Man Ace. These two tracks set the overall tone, occasionally switching between serious deliveries and fun sing-alongs. Another highlight is ‘’Rosas Verdes’’, a laid back, reggae influenced number, complete with bouncing bass and smooth percussion. Despite maintaining their social and political commentaries, Cypress Hill’s latest LP sheds most of the thrilling sonic atmosphere they usually opt for. ‘’Suenos’’ is perhaps the closest to that familiar sound, albeit in a bare bones manner, akin to the
Temples of Boom material. Moreover, there are several sedated cuts here, such as ‘’Saca La Bolsita’’, “Estamos Listo” or ‘’Volo’’, which share that steady, mid-tempo groove they craft so well. Now that Latin rap is becoming more popular, the group’s decision to release this Spanish language record makes more sense. It is cohesive and offers a different listening experience in their catalog, while retaining their classic hip hop approach. Cypress Hill have always followed a path of their own and
Dios Bendiga further expands their boundaries. Although it might not be every fan’s cup of tea, they continue to craft solid records almost forty years into their career.
