CYPRESS HILL performing with the LSO conducted by Troy Miller at the Royal Albert Hall 10-7-24
Words: Kahmel Farahani
Photos: Andy Paradise
If there is a any question to the lasting impact that The Simpson’s golden age has had on popular culture, than tonight’s concert should definitely put that to rest. As part of the iconic “Homerpalooza” episode of 1997, the lowrider hip hop icons Cypress Hill are united with The London Symphony Orchestra (while The Smashing Pumpkins and Peter Frampton look on).
Now, 27 years later, that single joke has become reality in the most iconic of London Venues: Cypress Hill is playing the Royal Albert Hall and has the help of a certain Orchestra.
CYPRESS HILL performing with the LSO conducyted by Troy Miller at the Royal Albert Hall 10-7-24
As the orchestra take the stage and packed Albert Hall applaude, Cypress Hill make their entrance. Dressed in sharp black suites, its a brilliant cross between hip hop dons and The Blues Brothers. They start with `I Wanna Get High` followed by `I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That` and it’s clear that the fans are watching something very special tonight.
“This sounds different right ?” Asks a beaming B-Real from the stage, “Thank you so much London, it’s an honour to be here”
As the beat of their biggest hit `Insane In the Brain` kicks in, the string section follows close behind. It’s obvious that, rather than just a gimmick, the combination is a match made in heaven. Songs like `Cock The Hammer` and `Legalize It` sound bigger and better with strings, horns, stand up bass and extra percussion.
CYPRESS HILL performing with the LSO conducyted by Troy Miller at the Royal Albert Hall 10-7-24
Tonight’s setlist is built around their 1993 album Black Sunday. B-Real tells the story of recording Black Sunday under time pressure in the studio and being thrust into the spotlight in a way they had never imagined. It’s followed by `Hand On The Glock`, a straight gangster rap anthem now fleshed out with strings and horns. “We’re enjoying this as much as you are, believe that! If you’d have asked us 32 years ago if we’d be up here in suits with an orchestra, we would have said “fuck no”, but here we are!”
CYPRESS HILL performing with the LSO conducyted by Troy Miller at the Royal Albert Hall 10-7-24
Praising their conductor Troy Miller and The London Symphony Orchestra, Cypress Hill thank the audience yet again; “Tonight was destiny fulfilled! That’s manifestation “. Ending with the two big guns of `I Could Just Kill A Man` and `Rap Superstar`, Cypress Hill managed to pull off a genuinely fresh, exciting and likely legendary performance. The cameras around the stage indicate that thankfully the night was filmed for posterity, but for those lucky enough to be there in person, it will be hard to beat that feeling.
