Cypress Hill first formed in 1986 as DVX when Cuban-born brothers Sen Dog and Mellow Man Ace corresponded with Los Angeles residents Muggs and B Real.  The group was known for creating a mélange of Latin and hip-hop and developing a unique style.  When Mellow Man Ace left the group in 1988, the group renamed itself Cypress Hill after a local street, performing around L.A. and signing on Columbia Records in 1991 (29). 

The group became a sensation in 1992, several months after their debut.  They expanded on their success in 1993 by releasing the album Black Sunday and entered the album charts at number one.  Interestingly enough, Cypress Hill’s audience was primarily white collegiate suburbanites.  Because of their fan base, Cypress Hill lost some support in the hip-hop community (30). 

After the release of Temples of Boom in 1995, Cypress Hill began to slowly disintegrate.  Sen Dog left in 1996, and Muggs spent a good portion of that year working on his solo album.  However, Cypress Hill did not fully disband, Sen Dog rejoined, and the band released albums IV in 1998, Skulls and Bones in 2000, Stoned Raiders in 2001, and Till Death Do us Part in 2004 (31).