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Hip-Hop Group Cypress Hill Performs with the London Symphony Orchestra—as Foretold by ‘The Simpsons’

The Simpsons have done it again: 28 years after it was first seen on the show, the hip-hop group Cypress Hill performed with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall last July 10.

Season 7 episode, Homerpalooza first aired on May 19, 1996. In it, Homer discovers his music tastes are no longer cool, so he takes his family to Hullabalooza. He finds himself touring with the festival, which includes Cypress Hill. Along the way, Cypress Hill believes they requested to perform with the London Symphony Orchestra. They ask if the orchestra knew Insane in the Brain, to which the concertmaster replied, "We mostly know classical, but we could give it a shot."

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 08: B-Real of Cypress Hill performs onstage during A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop at YouTube Theater on November 08, 2023 in Inglewood, California.
(Photo : Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 08: B-Real of Cypress Hill performs onstage during A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop at YouTube Theater on November 08, 2023 in Inglewood, California.
Insane in the Brain was on the program last July 10 , along with I Wanna Get High, I Ain't Goin' Out Like That, Lick a Shot and other hits from Cypress Hill's album, Black Sunday. The album, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, topped the Billboard album charts in 1993 and has sold over 4 million copies in the United States.

The collaboration was more than just coincidence: "It's been something that we've talked about for many years since The Simpsons episode first aired," Cypress Hill rapper B-Real (real name Louis Mario Freese) told BBC. He added: "We've played a lot of historical venues throughout our career and stuff like that, but nothing as prestigious as this."

He also tweeted about the event, saying: "Tonight we are rocking with the @londonsymphony at @RoyalAlbertHall. Inspired by @TheSimpsons via the 'Homerpalooza' episode."

The one-night show sold out at £128.50 ($165) per seat.

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