There are few hip-hop acts as iconic — or as unapologetically devoted to 4/20 — as Cypress Hill. So when the group rolled into Atlantic City for a special Bongwalk Empire event at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena on April 20th, expectations were sky high (pun intended). And let’s just say: they delivered. Big time.
The night was a full-on celebration of cannabis culture, lyrical legacy, and the raw, unfiltered energy that Cypress Hill has been bringing to stages for over three decades. The Etess Arena, nestled within the Hard Rock Hotel, proved to be the perfect setting for the night’s hazy festivities — intimate enough for fans to feel the bass in their bones, but large enough to let the energy bounce off the walls.
The crowd started buzzing early with the opening acts setting a serious tone. Atmosphere, Dilated Peoples, and The Pharcyde all brought serious fire to the stage, each dropping their own blend of lyrical grit and West Coast nostalgia. But everything changed when DJ Lord hit the decks to intro Cypress Hill.
B-Real, Sen Dog, and percussion powerhouse Eric Bobo emerged to a thunderous roar, and from that moment on, the arena was theirs.
Cypress Hill didn’t waste any time getting into the classics. They kicked things off with the smoky anthem “I Wanna Get High,” the perfect opener for a 4/20 show. From there, the hits kept coming in a tightly packed set that paid homage to their extensive discography:
I Wanna Get High
When the Shit Goes Down
Dr. Greenthumb
Hits From the Bong
I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That
How I Could Just Kill a Man
Hand on the Pump
Illusions (Remix)
Hand on the Glock
(Rock) Superstar
Insane in the Brain
Jump Around (House of Pain cover)
The energy peaked during “Insane in the Brain,” with the entire crowd shouting every word like a war chant. And just when you thought the room couldn’t get more lit — both literally and figuratively — they threw in “Jump Around,” a nod to their brotherhood with House of Pain that turned the floor into a full-on mosh of nostalgia and smoke clouds.
Cypress Hill has always had a knack for theatrics, and this show was no exception. Inflatable props (yes, a giant stoner figure), green fog machines, and psychedelic lighting kept the whole set visually trippy. But it wasn’t just about visuals. B-Real and Sen Dog’s chemistry was on full display — trading bars, jokes, and shout-outs to their longtime fans who have stuck with them since the ’90s. Eric Bobo was an absolute beast on percussion, moving effortlessly between live drums and bongos, adding an organic layer to the otherwise gritty beats. DJ Lord kept the transitions tight and the scratches sharper than ever.
And of course, the crowd. You could feel the community vibe pulsing through the venue — everyone connected by the music, the message, and the moment. Cypress Hill didn’t just perform—they owned 4/20 in Atlantic City. Their set was a reminder of why they’re not just a great hip-hop group, but cultural icons. The kind that can throw down on a weed holiday and still deliver some of the most polished, explosive performances in the game.
From old heads who remember when “Black Sunday” dropped, to new fans discovering the sound through vinyl crates and Spotify dives, everyone left the Etess Arena a little more lifted—musically and otherwise. Here’s to more nights like this. Here’s to Cypress Hill. And here’s to hip-hop that stays high in every sense of the word.
GALLERY: Cypress Hill at Etess Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey (April 20, 2025)
