Say what you will about Cypress Hill, the original puff daddies of rap do not shy away from experimentation (musical or otherwise,) and Stoned Raiders takes their rap / rock fusion of two-triple-zed's "Skull and Bones" one step further. Whereas the tracks on "S&B" were split between genres, heavy metal and hip-hop are well fused on "Stoned Raiders." Not that that makes it a great album, mind you, but you can't accuse the band of resting on the laurels. Hardcore fans should like "Stoned Raiders," especially their autobiographical "Kronologic," in which Sen Dog lays pulls no punches in laying down the band's history. "Bitter," one of the tighter tracks, is a prime example of what a good hip-hop / metal fusion should sound like. "Psychedelic Vision" is classic Cypress Hill, cartoonish descriptions of rap violence backed by a schoolyard teasing beats reminiscent of "Hand on the Pump," the first Cypress Hill song that most people heard, way back in 1991 (remember that one? "na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na" - god I feel old).

"Stoned Raiders" is a tight album, and while it may not make any new converts, it won't disappoint anyone who already likes Cypress Hill, a band that's managed to stay true to their roots without stagnating, and experiment without alienating their core fans. Kind of makes you think those anti-reefer commercials were lying.

Joshua Samuel Brown, 2002