B-Real (born Louis Freese on June 2, 1970) is a Latin rapper of Cuban and Mexican heritage. He is best known for being the lead rapper in hip-hop group Cypress Hill, who made their debut with their self-titled album in 1991.
Born to a Mexican father and an Afro-Cuban mother, B-Real’s moved with his sister and mother out of his father’s home and moved to South Gate before ending up in South Central Los Angeles. 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). Sen Dog, who was affiliated with the Bloods gang set known as “Neighborhood Family” , would later introduce B-Real into the set.