REAL THING


It's time, I came to get mine.
Runnin' through the hoods with a hand on the nine.
Why do the pigs come?
Bring your ass on, cross the line so I can get the blast on.
Oh shit, I'm empty, but I got a shank on the side so don't even tempt me.
Runnin' the program, Cypress Hill on the real,
With the Pearl Jam and I'm packin' the steel.
Don't come my way, 'cause it only takes one minute to reach for the AK...
Then POW!, whatcha' gonna do now?
Nowhere to run when my dog's on the prowl.
Prowlin', howlin', give it up punk, you might want to throw the towel in.
I like doin' the ill thing, 'cause ain't nothin' like the real thing.

It ain't nothin' like the real thing.
It ain't nothin' like the real.
Ain't nothin' but the real thing.
Ain't nothin' but the Hill.
Ain't nothin' but the real thing.
Ain't nothin' but the real.
Ain't nothin' but the real thing.
Ain't nothin' but the Hill.

Keep me a tazer up in the blazer,
And the black nine by the waistline.
Never know when someone'll test ya'.
Let you know I got mine by my body, yes y'all.
I'm the victim that became the attacker.
Have my little friend waitin' for the carjacker
That'll do anything for the looper.
When I leave the Hill I strack when I swoop.

Clack, clack, bang, bang, 'cause it ain't no thang.
When I hang with Stone and I kick that funky slang.
I got the funk when I got ta' do the ill thing.
'Cause ain't nothin' like the real thing.

Ain't nothin' like the real thing.
Ain't nothin but the real.
Ain't nothin' like the real thing.
Ain't nothin but the real.
Ain't nothin' but the real thing.
Ain't nothin' but the Hill.
Ain't nothin' but the real thing.
Ain't nothin' but the Hill.


It was 1993 and there was a whole generation of kids (including myself) who were just saved from the dying days of hair metal by either the grunge movement, the mainstream rap movement, or both. I had just been floored by the likes of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden and others a couple years prior. I also listened to N.W.A., Cypress Hill, and A Tribe Called Quest. By this time Pearl Jam was my favorite band and I awaited anything they released. But, this being before the time of the internet, news came slowly.

The movie Judgement Night was released and who wouldn't want to see Emilio Estevez and Cuba Gooding Jr. being stalked in the hood by Dennis Leary? As a bonus, we got a soundtrack that combined hip-hop and rock groups coming at us furiously and make us say "what the fuck was that!". When I heard Cypress Hill and PJ were collaborating I ran out and bought the cd right away. Or cassette, I can't remember. While I would love to talk about the whole soundtrack, I'll try to keep it to the song involving Pearl Jam.

Jeff, Stone, and Dave A. are credited with writing the music. The music itself is nothing spectacular, some generic Stone riffs in the background. There is someone singing some "na na's" at the end of the song, but I'm not sure we ever got confirmation on what band member(s) it was. The lyrics and delivery are the typical "coming at you" style of Cypress Hill. Overall the song creates a sense of urgency, which is a theme for the soundtrack and the movie, so it fits well in that regard. What I most like about the song is the concept and how early in the band's career this was done. They were just hitting their stride as a band and in popularity within the grunge scene in 93. For them to go obviously out of their comfort zone to do a song like this shows how early on they did not want to remain just another grunge band.

Overall this song is nothing special on it's own. But as a part of the soundtrack it was pretty cutting edge at the time. I was really hoping that Cypress Hill was going to make an appearance at PJ20 and do this song with them.

3 stars just for the unique factor.