Cypress Hill

Although they weren't the first Latino rappers, nor the first to mix Spanish and English, they were the first to achieve a substantial following, thanks to their highly distinctive sound. Along with Beastie Boys and Public Enemy, Cypress Hill were also one of the first rap groups to bridge the gap with fans of both hard rock and alternative rock. And, most importantly, they created a sonic blueprint that would become one of the most widely copied in hip-hop. In keeping with their pro marijuana stance, Cypress Hill intentionally crafted their music to sound stoned — lots of slow, lazy beats, fat bass, weird noises, and creepily distant-sounding samples.