Skip to content Skip to footer

24 years ago today, Cypress Hill smoked weed on SNL and got banned for life

In 1993 the California hip-hop group Cypress Hill had 2 platinum albums under their belt. The group had insane hits with “Insane in the Brain” and “Hits From the Bong” circling around the country.

During that time the group was pioneering weed culture. They definitely weren’t the only ones smoking but they were the rappers making the most movements with the most dope.

On October 22nd, 1993 the group got a chance to play the Saturday Night Live stage. Playing singles from their triple platinum album Black Sunday they performed “Insane in the Brain” and “I Ain’t Going Out.”

As the group returned to the stage to play “I Ain’t Going Out” group member DJ Muggs lit a spliff on stage.

First addressing the crowd, DJ Muggs yelled out “Yo, New York City, they said I couldn’t light my joint, you know what I’m saying? Well, we ain’t going out like that!” The rest was history.

https://youtu.be/TdTChS-Ct88?t=12s

Smoking weed on-stage and ending their performance knocking over bongos, Cypress Hill clearly pissed SNL off. So much so that the group received a lifetime ban from the show.

The group became the first rap act to receive the infamous ban from the long running show. They were placed amongst other stars such as Martin Lawrence, Sinead O’Connor, and Steven Seagal who will never be seen on SNL again.

The world has come a long way with acceptance of weed. Just a couple months ago the Migos were on Jimmy Kimmel smoking the loudest of the loud.

Again they were at Ellen’s show smelling like the strongest of cookie. I’m sure this event today wouldn’t get any platinum-selling artists banned from a show.

DJ Muggs says he lit his joint because SNL specifically told him not to. Hip-hop’s defiance at its finest.

Fuck SNL anyways, Cypress Hill got to do their show and make a legendary moment on live TV.