B-Real

Infobox musical artist
Name = B-Real


Img_capt = B-Real at the 2006 Bonnaroo Music Festival.
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Louis Freese
Alias = B-Real
Born =
Origin = South Gate, California
Instrument = Rapping, Conga
Genre = Hip hop, Latin rap, Rap rock
Years_active = 1991–present
Label = Columbia / Ruffhouse
Associated_acts = Cypress Hill, Psycho Realm, House of Pain, Dr. Dre, Everlast, Eminem, D12

Louis Freese, better known by his stage name B-Real, is a rapper of Mexican and Afro-Cuban heritage. [http://www.brealonline.com/bio.html B-Real Official Website Bio] ] He is best known for being the lead rapper in hip hop group Cypress Hill, who debuted with their self-titled album "Cypress Hill" in 1991.

Early life and career

Born to a Mexican father and a Cuban mother, B-Real moved with his sister and mother out of his father's home to South Gate before ending up in South Central Los Angeles [http://www.brealonline.com/bio.html B-Real Official Website Bio] ] Before dropping out of Bell High School, he befriended future Cypress Hill members Sen Dog and Mellow Man Ace (who forewent staying with the group to go solo). [http://www.brealonline.com/bio.html B-Real Official Website Bio] ]

After being introduced to DJ Muggs by Julio G the KDAY Mixmaster, B-Real and Sen gained interest in Muggs' concept of an album based on experiences from Cypress Ave in South Gate. [http://www.brealonline.com/bio.html B-Real Official Websiukjhiyte Bio] ] The group was signed with Ruffhouse/Columbia records in 1991, and made their influential debut that year. B-Real would use his life-threatening experiences as material for the group's self-titled debut album, and subsequent releases.

Cypress Hill's trademark sound - an eccentric combination of B-Real's exaggeratedly high-pitched nasal vocals and DJ Muggs' distinctive beats - led to the trio becoming the first Latin rap group to have Platinum and Multi-Platinum albums. [http://www.brealonline.com/bio.html B-Real Official Website Bio] ] They remain the best selling Latin rap group to date. [http://de.click2music.co.uk/3rd/Prezence/cypress_hill/index.html "Greatest Hits From the Bong Out"] ]

Aside from Cypress Hill, B-Real has been involved in several other musical projects. In 1996 he contributed to the soundtrack for the movie "Space Jam". In 2002, he teamed up with Mellow Man Ace and Son Doobie for the short-lived Serial Rhyme Killas, which released one 12" single in 2002. [http://www.brealonline.com/disc.html B-Real Official Website Discography] ] The group recorded a full-length debut album, entitled "Deluxe Rapture", but it was never released. He was also previously a member of the group The Psycho Realm. [http://www.latinrapper.com/psycho_realm_interview.html Latin Hip Hop News - "Psycho Realm Conducts their Sick Symphonies"] ]

Solo projects

B-Real has released three mixtapes as a solo artist "Gunslinger", "Gunslinger Vol. II" and "Gunslinger Vol. III". [http://www.latinrapper.com/news_november19.html Latin Hip Hop News - " B-Real of Cypress Hill solo mixtape"] ] He is currently working on his first solo album, entitled "Smoke and Mirrors" and has teamed up with Snoop Dogg in a single called Vato for Snoop Dogg's album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment.

Discography

Solo

*2008: "Smoke and Mirrors"Mixtapes
*2005 - "The Gunslinger Volume I"
*2006 - "The Gunslinger Part. II: Fist Full of Dollars"
*2007 - "The Gunslinger: III: For a Few Dollars More"

References

External links

* [http://www.brealonline.com/ B-Real Official Site]
* [http://www.cypresshill.com/ Cypress Hill's official website]
* [http://www.stonedassassins.com/ B-Real's paintball team website]

Persondata
NAME=Freese, Louis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=B-Real
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American musician
DATE OF BIRTH=June 2 1970