Cypress Hill IV
Cypress Hill · 1998
71 min · 17 tracks · alternative hip-hop
A fusion of gritty beats and psychedelic soundscapes serves as a backdrop for introspective and confrontational lyrics.
Top tracks — play these first
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Looking Through the Eye of a Pig Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Dr. Greenthumb — This track stands out with its catchy hook and commentary on cannabis culture, encapsulating the group's playful yet serious approach to social issues.
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Tequila Sunrise — With its storytelling style, this song paints a vivid picture of nightlife experiences, showcasing the group's ability to blend personal narratives with engaging beats.
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Riot Starter — This track's aggressive energy and powerful lyrics resonate with themes of rebellion and empowerment, reflecting the band's roots in hardcore hip-hop.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Cypress Hill IV showcases strong writing and production but lacks the cohesive flow of their earlier work.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied rhythms and tempos.
- Several tracks incorporate layered vocal harmonies and call-and-response patterns between the two main vocalists.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- gradual builds and payoffs
- wave-like pacing and flow
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Fan Favorite — Beloved by fans for its unique sound and introspective lyrics, though not the most accessible.
- Career context
- Cypress Hill IV, released in 1998, marks the group's fifth studio album and follows their successful album, III: Temples of Boom. At this point in their career, Cypress Hill had solidified their place in hip-hop and were exploring deeper themes while maintaining their signature sound. The album represents a transitional phase as they began to experiment with more varied musical elements.
- Stylistic neighbors
- House of Pain· Rage Against the Machine· Limp Bizkit
Tracklist
- 1 Looking Through the Eye of a Pig Start here 4:06
- 2 Checkmate 3:35
- 3 From the Window of My Room 5:00
- 4 Prelude to a Come Up 3:24
- 5 Riot Starter 4:16
- 6 Audio X 3:19
- 7 Steel Magnolia 3:30
- 8 I Remember That Freak Bitch (From the Club) / Interlude, Part 2 5:22
- 9 (Goin’ All Out) Nothin’ to Lose 3:53
- 10 Tequila Sunrise 4:43
- 11 Dead Men Tell No Tales 2:47
- 12 Feature Presentation 3:45
- 13 Dr. Greenthumb 4:24
- 14 16 Men Till There’s No Men Left 4:20
- 15 High Times 4:13
- 16 Clash of the Titans / Dust 4:45
- 17 Lightning Strikes 5:53
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Things Fall Apart
The Roots
Shares a gritty yet introspective approach, blending live instrumentation with sharp lyrical storytelling.
Operation: Doomsday
MF DOOM
Combines surreal beats with confrontational lyrics, creating a psychedelic hip-hop atmosphere.
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
Merges jazzy soundscapes with thoughtful lyrics, echoing the introspective vibe of Cypress Hill IV.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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