| Cypress Hill IV | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Cypress Hill |
| Cover: | Cypress hill IV.jpg |
| Released: | October 6, 1998 |
| Recorded: | 1997–1998 |
| Length: | 73:17 |
| Producer: | DJ Muggs |
| Prev Year: | 1995 |
| Next Title: | Skull & Bones |
| Next Year: | 2000 |
Cypress Hill IV is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Cypress Hill. It was released on October 6, 1998, by Ruffhouse and Columbia Records. After 3 years from their previous album, Cypress Hill released the ‘IV’ album. The skeletons on the cover are posing as the three wise monkeys (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil). Rappers MC Eiht and Barron Ricks were featured on the album. The album went Gold[1] in the U.S with over 500,000 units sold.
IV received mixed reviews from critics, with AllMusic giving it a strongly negative review.
Rolling Stone - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "Cypress Hill's most bangin' LP since their 1991 debut.… Cypress Hill still name-check firearms, threaten rivals and smoke more weed than a congregation of Rastas. But the obsessions are means to an end."[2]
The Wire - "…they come out fighting. Red eyed, rabid and slobbering with skunk-fueled menace.… gangsta rap's future as a musical force is secure."[3]
Rap Pages - 4 (out of 5) - "Like previous albums…IV's fabulous formula of speakerphone tones by B-Real and sporadic comments by Sen Dog resembles 'How I Could Just Kill A Man'."[4]
Rags to Riches is included as a bonus track on some editions of the album, which is actually a Baron Ricks song, credited to Baron Ricks featuring Cypress Hill & Self Scientific. It was separately released on his 12-inch vinyl single Rags to Riches / Harlem River Drive.
| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Billboard Canadian Albums[5] | 3 |
| 1998 | Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] | 17 |
| 1998 | French Albums Top 100[7] | 7 |
| 1998 | German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[8] | 17 |
| 1998 | Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] | 14 |
| 1998 | The Billboard 200 | 11 |
| 1998 | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 11 |
| 1998 | UK Official Albums Chart Top 100 | 25 |