Cypress Hill Turns ‘Simpsons’ Episode Into Reality With London Symphony Orchestra Performance
There are times when life can imitate art. Back in a May 1996 episode of The Simpsons, Cypress Hill teamed up with the London Symphony Orchestra. Now, nearly three decades later, they’ve turned that into a reality, and the long-running Fox show can take credit for predicting the future once again.
B-Real, Sen Dog and the guys took the Royal Albert Hall stage in London on Wednesday night (July 10) alongside the London Symphony Orchestra for a classical one-time concert.
Backed by a full orchestra, Cypress Hill put a jazzy twist on their catalog standouts such as “A to the K,” “Insane in the Brain,” “I Wanna Get High” and more.
The California-bred hip-hop crew was dressed to the nines in suits while they ran through their entire 1993 Black Sunday album. Fans were loving the 28-years-in-the-making collaboration, with the 5,000-person cap venue appearing to be full.
“It’s been something that we’ve talked about for many years since The Simpsons episode first aired,” B-Real relayed to BBC ahead of the performance. “So it’s very special for us. And it’s coming off the heels of our 30th anniversary for our Black Sunday album. We’ve played a lot of historical venues throughout our career and stuff like that, but nothing as prestigious as this.”
Black Sunday arrived in July 1993 and debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 261,000 album units sold in the first week. Triple-platinum lead single “Insane in the Brain” went on to crack the Billboard Hot 100 top 20, where it peaked at No. 19.
The “Homerpalooza” episode of The Simpsons aired on May 19, 1996, as the penultimate episode of season seven. Homer, Marge and the Simpson family head backstage at the Springfield Fairgrounds where Cypress Hill and other performers are hanging out. Event staff members are surprised to see the London Symphony Orchestra show up, and suspect that the cannabis-advocating crew may have had something to do with it. “Somebody ordered the London Symphony Orchestra. Possibly while high, Cypress Hill I’m looking in your direction,” they said.
After huddling up, Cypress agrees they may have done it, and see if the orchestra knows “Insane in the Brain” to deliver a classical rendition of their anthem on the animated show.
Watch clips from Cypress Hill’s live performance with the London Symphony Orchestra below:
Michael Saponara
Billboard
