There was a time, not all that long ago, when people of the stoner persuasion enjoyed nothing more than firing up a load of recreational combustibles and staring, slack-jawed, at the television. In these more complicated times, however, it seems that even that tradition has changed -- with sitting slack-jawed in front of a computer screen being the preferred mode of post-combustion activity. |

As such, it's not surprising that the caped crusaders of cannabis, Cypress Hill, have lent their name -- and their music -- to what's being described as "the first urban gangsta computer game." Titled "Kingpin," the 3D game sets players in an environment where guns can be drawn, cash can be made and B-Real & Co. can be heard blaring from the speaker at all times.

Much of the music is drawn from the group's soon-to-be-released fourth album, IV, although classics -- like, of course, "Insane in the Brain" -- are sprinkled here and there, adding to a realistic sensory overkill that's strangely reminiscent of, well, the stuff we see at the end of our street every day.

We haven't played "Kingpin" enough to reach the (so to speak) higher levels, but thus far, we have to agree that it's smokin'.

DAVID SPRAGUE(October 1, 1998)