West Coast rap group Cypress Hill says they’re ready to headline a free concert in Vancouver today (April 20) despite local politicians requesting they back out.
After accepting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday (April 18), Los Angeles celebrity gossip outlet TMZ snagged the group for a quick interview. And it became quickly apparent that news of Vancouver’s recent battles over it’s 25th annual 4/20 cannabis protest and farmers market had made its way down south.
The reporter first asked the group what they thought of the city’s park board trying to cancel their appearance—a motion advanced by board commissioner John Coupar. The event kicks off another year without a permit, and some local politicians are looking to have it shut down or moved.
Group frontman B-Real laughed and responded: “It is what it is. Throughout our career we’ve faced those kinds of obstacles and still today you see that we do, but we still keep pushing on.”
‘You can never stop a hip-hop legend,’ he later adds.
The American hip-hop group originates from South Gate, California and was the first Latino group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums. They have been creating music for over 30 years. In that time, both their weed-inspired lyrics and legalization activism have helped shape modern cannabis culture.
The reporter then asks the group of they’re still going to play despite the pushback. Rapper Sen Dog said: “of course,” and B-Real quickly followed with: “Yeah, most likely.”
For many, Cypress Hills’ charting singles, like “Hits from a Bong” and “Insane in the Brain”, have solidified their legendary status amidst the counterculture crowd.
They are scheduled to take the stage shortly after the 4:20 p.m. collective toke.
Last year, police estimated the 4/20 protest saw over 40,000 attendees. This year, the recent legalization of adult-use cannabis combined with the events landing spot on a long weekend with a forecasted bout of good weather are expected to push that number considerably higher.
Much of the recent media coverage and discussion of 4/20’s musical features focuses heavily around the event’s headliner, despite several acts set to take 420’s main stage, including:
Snotty Nose Rez Kids
If this is your first encounter with the politically charged poetry that is Snotty Nose Rez Kids—buckle up. The Haisla Nation hip-hop duo fights for reclamation through rap. The Juno-nominated group drops take-no-prisoner bars about Indigenous resistance, taking to task everything from the pipeline protest to cultural appropriation.
Recently, Darren ‘Young D’ Metz and Quinton ‘Yung Trybez’ Nyce dropped their single ‘I Can’t Remember My Name,’ featuring Shanks Sioux.
Kresnt
A homegrown Vancouverite, Kresnt is helping define a modern Canadian West Coast hip hop sound. The rising Afghan-Canadian rapper’s style has been described as a blend of “melodic vocals and clever lyricism”.
In April of 2018, he dropped his single “In Your Place” from his six-track EP The Lunar Phase, which has now clocked over two-million views.
Giorgi Holiday
Vancouver-based artist Giorgi Holiday‘s mellow melodies are everything any stoner needs when being blissfully lulled into a cozy canna-coma. The Canadian-Moroccan singer draws in the audience in with ultra-sultry, oh-so-smooth vocals and a style described as a blend of R&B and ‘neo-soul’.
Last year, Holiday dropped two seshy singles: “Internet Boyfriend” and ‘1time’.
The lineup also includes the likes of selector Lt. Irie, Gisto, Heatpack, artist collective Newnu, and Big Puffa. Throughout the day, local cannabis activists like Jodie Emery, Dana Larsen, David Malmo-Levine, and Chris Bennett will deliver speeches on their advocacy efforts.
The protest and farmers market, now in its 25th year, is an all-day festival with a collective spark-up at 4:20 p.m. and is held at Sunset Beach Park.
