Legendary hip-hop group Cypress Hill added to CA State Fair Toyota Concert Series

The California State Fair announced Monday that Cypress Hill will headline the Toyota Concert Series, joining a roster that includes Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris and country singer Dustin Lynch.

The fair, taking place this summer at Cal Expo in Sacramento, attracts thousands of visitors with its mix of music, food, rides and exhibitions. This year’s concert series also features Bret Michaels, soft rock band Air Supply, hard rock band Tesla, and R&B group Tower of Power, along with tribute bands such as Blank Space, Queen Nation, and Journey Revisited.

Cypress Hill, known for its groundbreaking blend of rap, hip-hop and rock, rose to prominence in the 1990s with hits like “Insane in the Brain,” “How I Could Just Kill a Man,” and “Hits From the Bong.” The group includes B-Real, Sen Dog, and DJ Muggs.

The group is scheduled to perform Tuesday, July 22, following an international tour that includes stops in Canada and Europe. Before arriving in Sacramento, Cypress Hill is set to perform at festivals and venues in Spain, Germany, Austria and Greece as part of their summer tour.

“Cypress Hill changed the face of hip-hop when they emerged from Los Angeles in 1991 with their self-titled debut album,” the fair said in a news release. “Their bold pro-cannabis stance and crossover appeal earned them a following that stretched far beyond hip-hop.”

The group became the first rap act to have two albums simultaneously chart in the Billboard Top 10. In 2022, Cypress Hill was the subject of the Showtime documentary “Insane in the Brain,” which chronicled the group’s influence as a Latino-American hip-hop powerhouse.

“Cypress Hill has been shaping music and culture for over three decades, and they’re still pushing boundaries,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of Cal Expo and the California State Fair, in the release.

Concerts are free with fair admission. Early ticket sales began Monday on Cal Expo’s website, with general sales starting Tuesday.

The California State Fair runs July 11 to July 27. Gates open at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday.

This story was originally published April 28, 2025 at 11:57 AM.