Hip-hop group Cypress Hill brings joke from 1996 Simpsons episode to life

In the latest example, a storyline from the animated American sitcom has been brought to life as hip-hop group Cypress Hill recreated a joke an episode they featured in back in 1996.

In the penultimate episode of season 7, titled ‘Homerpalooza’, Homer joins bands including Cypress Hill members B-Real, Sen Dog and DJ Lord on tour for the fictional ‘Hullabalooza’ music festival.

One joke in the episode sees the members of the London Sympony Orchestra arrive backstage at the rock n’ roll festival. It turns out a sheepish Cypress Hill had booked the symphony, “possibly while high”, before the two outfits join forces to perform the hip-hp group’s 1993 hit Insane in the Brain.

Flash forward almost 30 years, Cypress Hill have hit the stage at the city’s legendary Royal Albert Hall to perform a special rendition of their acclaimed 1993 album Black Sunday alongside the famed orchestra.

Ahead of the one-night only July 10 show, B-Real told the BBC fans had been urging them to perform with the LSO ever since “The Simpsons episode first aired”.

“So it’s very special for us. And it’s coming off the heels of our 30th anniversary for our Black Sunday album,” he said.

In another interview with Sky News, B-Real said the performance was “one of the biggest moments” in the popular band’s entire career.

“We’ve done some pretty damn big gigs, but this is with some of the best musicians in the world,” B-Real said.

“We’ve played a lot of historical venues throughout our 32 years of making music … We’re not only playing with the LSO, but we’re playing in their house — the most prestigious place to play.”

Cypress Hill, who formed in 1988, were one of the best-selling ‘90s bands in their genre, later becoming the first hip hop group to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.

They have sold over 20 million albums worldwide, with several multi-platinum and platinum certifications.

While this case is more a situation of life imitating art, the long-running Fox series has repeatedly been credited for predicting the future, from Donald Trump’s presidency, to a failed attempt to recreate Willy Wonka’s chocolate world in real life and Diddy’s recent downfall.