At the end of the interview came a question which brought out the difference between Cypress Hill and other Hip Hop groups - to explain in words their thoughts on their style of music. "Hip, chilled, educating, expanding" were a few which flew across and prompted the most interactiveness within the group during the short interview.

From Clinton to sex the questions flew, but the subjects of the majority wasn’t about their music, but all turned in some way towards it. Of course, the subject of 2-Pac’s death arose and its effect on the group and music. All agree that it has affected them in different ways, because of their friendship and because they worked with him. This set the tone for the interview in the sense that there are intellectual levels within their hip hop, which places a deeper level within the Cypress Hill style. From starting out as college radio DJs to the worldwide acclaim they have now hasn’t placed a burden of ego and their roots aren’t forgotten. This was blatant to see from the increased level of interest when they were asked about college radio, the agreement was clear on how important the use of college radio is to create awareness of the small labels and artists across America and that the importance of the fresh waves of sounds need to heard though out the countries, which gave the impression that it’s still sounds, not money, which interest Cypress Hill.

Nothing could take this group any further, in the sense of train of thought and down to earthiness, apart from BIG BUD. But even that has cut down for their next album, because, as DJ Muggs pointed out, it had begun to control their sounds to a level which has to be believed when percussionist Bobo, the latest member of the crew, is sitting next to him with a budded-out look on this face throughout the interview. When the question "Sex or weed?" came up, an onslaught of banter began and of course sex won, with B-real bringing his thoughts on religion into play with "Man can not live on bread alone". Sen-dog and Muggs laugh, thriving on the one liners from the group and interviewers.

With B-real breaking through about the religious side of him that in some ways contradicts hip-hop and its shooting niggers and bitches vocals, he points out that this side of him isn’t pushed down the throats of the rest of the group but in some ways is brought across in this vocal. With this the moral side of life was brought into Cypress Hill, with the situations in America and the Clinton problem raising its head. The group’s opinion? "Who cares, just another man, who’s bothered?" For a person who’s on a religious tip, B-real contradicts himself in some ways, but their ideas were based on the principle that if he’s running the country, well don’t bother the man, who’s bothered about his personal life?

With this opinion the interview was brought onto the incident of Courtney Love and the way she slated the group about their smoking. They replied to her with a live set of ’Ain’t Going Out Like That’, with those classic vocals of the Cypress Hill "We aren’t going out like that bitch". Courtney Love took her quote back and replied "I enjoy a smoke and a beer". Courtney why? Don’t slate a band which is on a different level which you blatantly don’t know anything about.

With Muggs in the process of forming his own record label the question is whether it will affect him within the group as regards Sony. He explained how it’s a total independent subject which won’t affect his commitment to the group, with a general nod of agreement from all of them, with a dig at Sony about their red tape bullshit - " What takes me fifteen minutes, two phone calls, takes Sony two weeks", which feels to me as if all is not sweet with the Sony-Cypress Hill family. Nevertheless isn’t it time that one them has made a break - with the contacts they have, some unruly Hip Hop will be flying out on slabs of plastic, and with the likes of KRS-1 producing tracks it can’t be bad.

After their two-year break they’ve come back, four members instead of the traditional three, with new influences and have decided to make a new start with fresh ideas. This is noticeable with their new track ’Tequila Sunrise’ which came out early this month, again showing their skills in developing a crossover between the hip hop and live instrumental styles, which shone through on the Jo Whiley show and brought them back on top as the the heads of what they do best - "Hip da Hop".

Cypress Hill were talking to Stuart Ibbotson, in October 1998.