As REAL as it gets
As REAL as it gets
As REAL as it gets
Interview: Legendary MC, B-Real, has a solo hit on his hands - at Rockin’ Roots June 7!
Above: B-Real
By DJ Mikey/ Michael Munoz, special to MAS
For rapper B-Real, there is no other way but to keep it bona fide.
At a time when the roots of hip-hop seem struggle for credibility in a music biz only concerned with club anthems rather than lessons in reality, B-Real’s here to re-school fans. Bringing his groovetastic greenery to the Rockin’ Roots main stage June 7, it’s time kick out the jams once again.
Most music fans know the the rapper, whose real name is Louise Freese, as a member of legendary rap group Cypress Hill. Born of parents of Mexican and Cuban descent, Real, 38, is responsible for writing some of hip-hop’s biggest anthems: “Insane in the Membrane”, “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That”, “Latin Lingo,” among others.
Above: Cypress Hill
If you’re a local hip-hop historian, you might remember Cypress Hill’s Bakersfield appearance in the early ‘90s at the Kern County Fairgrounds, courtesy of local DJ/promoters, the Baka Boyz. Plus, for the record - Cypress Hill were the first Latino rap group to score multi-platinum albums throughout their history. The group’s success helped pave the way for other Latino rap groups such as Lighter Shade of Brown, and Kid Frost.
Awarded the VH-1 Hip-Hop Honor in 2008 for the group’s contribution to all things hip-hop, the multi-talented producer/MC has just dropped a solo set of hits (“Smoke N Mirrors,”) to keep you rollin’ away into your good night.
Above: "Smoke 'N' Mirrors" cover
MAS spent some time with B-Real via-telephone from his LA office, before his headlining show on June 7 in Bakersfield:
Before you formed Cypress Hill in South Gate, California, you were in a group called DVX. How did it get started and who was in the group?
B: Basically, it was Mellow Man Ace, Sen Dog, D-Funk from Funkdoobiest, myself and one female rapper - she’s not around anymore. But we all came from the same area. Mellow went to start his own career, and Sen and I went to do our thing.
When we got our record deal, we had to come up with a different name for the group because DVX just wasn’t cuttin’ it. DJ Muggs had played us a track from the “Wild Style” soundtrack, and this old school rapper named Grand Mellow Z shouted out this place called “Cypress Hill.”
Cypress Avenue was the name of the block that we lived on, so we were like, “we should call ourselves “Cypress Hill?” We lived on the Cypress Avenue block, so we just had to add the Hill and that’s pretty much how it started.
In 1991, Cypress Hill’s self-titled album is released. How was it coming out as a one of the first Latino hip-hop group's to hit the mainstream?
B: It was a little hard at first, but we didn’t let them label us as a Latino group, because we knew if we would have done that, they would have only marketed us to Latin audiences. Plus, at that time - outside from the kids in the street - there was no big demand for hip-hop records as far as the Latino music market.
We were just labeled as a hip-hop/rap group, and eventually, later on, people came to find that we were Latino. But that was later after we made our mark.
Your new album “Smoke N Mirrors” is out now now, released on your own Audio Hustlaz label. How’s the response been?
B: The response has been pretty good, man. Surprising for me, you know what I mean, because I know we did a great record, but there’s a bunch of critics out there that bring you down and try to de-value what you’ve done. Fortunately, we’ve been getting a lot of great comments and a lot of good reviews. You can’t please everyone, so there are gonna be some f****d up reviews, but for the most part, it’s been well received.
On this album, you worked with Alchemist (Dilated Peoples), Xzibit, Kurupt and Too Short, among others. You got reggae on one side and straight West Coast hip-hop on the other. How was it working with Damian Marley and Snoop?
B: Well, with Snoop, I’ve worked with him before, and with Damian, on two separate occasions, so there was already a history there and it made it easy. Snoop Dogg - with him, it’s just getting around his schedule. With Damian, it’s the same thing ‘cause he’s so busy. He travels back and forth from Miami to Jamaica, and then off on tour and stuff like that.
What can we expect from B-Real on stage at Rockin’ Roots June 7?
B: You know, I’m gonna try to give a live, energetic performance. Same as we do with Cypress.
www.cypresshill.com
Rockin Roots 2009
w/ Taking Back Sunday, B-Real, Anberlin, Millionaires, Saosin, Jeffree Star, Bizzy Bone, Big B, DJ Mikey, and more!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Stramler Park, 3805 Chester Ave
11a.m. - ? / $29 / All Ages
www.timgardeapresents.com
Printed in MAS Magazine, June 2009 issue
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