Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde | ||
Studio album by The Pharcyde | ||
Released | November 24, 1992 | |
Recorded | 1991 - 1992 at Hollywood Sounds, CA |
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Genre | Alternative hip hop | |
Length | 56:41 | |
Label | Delicious Vinyl | |
Producer(s) | J-Swift L.A. Jay SlimKid 3 |
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Professional reviews | ||
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The Pharcyde chronology | ||
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde (1992) |
Labcabincalifornia (1995) |
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde is the debut album by alternative hip hop group The Pharcyde, released on November 24, 1992 through Delicious Vinyl Records. The album is produced by former group member J-Swift, and features only one guest appearance, provided by little known Los Angeles rapper Buckwheat. In the years after its release, Bizarre Ride was hailed by critics and alternative rap fans,[1] and is one of the most acclaimed and influential alternative hip hop albums of the 1990s. Released during the dominant Gangsta rap era of West Coast hip hop, Bizarre Ride was described as "refreshing",[2] due to its playful, light-hearted humor and lush, jazzy production. Along with albums like To Whom it May Concern... by Freestyle Fellowship, and I Wish My Brother George Was Here by Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Bizarre Ride helped establish a new alternative scene on the West Coast, followed by artists such as Hieroglyphics, The Coup and Jurassic 5. Despite the wide acclaim, the album produced only moderate sales, peaking at #75 on the Billboard 200 album chart in 1993. However, on the strength of the its lead single, "Passing Me By", the album was certified Gold by the RIAA on March 28, 1996.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Background
[edit] Conception
High school friends Tre "SlimKid 3" Hardson, Imani Wilcox and Romye "Bootie Brown" Robinson began their career in the entertainment industry as dancers and choreographers under the moniker "Two For Two", making numerous appearances in music videos. Their most notable exposure came with a short stint on the television show In Living Color.[4] While working on the show, the group met their future manager Suave, then a road manager for Candyman and Tone Loc. The trio met Derrick "Fatlip" Stewart and producer John "J-Swift" Martinez at an after-school music program called South Central Unit. The program's teacher, Reggie Andrews, taught the group about essential elements of the music industry, and later oversaw the group's writing and recording sessions.[5] While attending SCU, the group recorded their first demo tape, which included the track "Ya Mama".[6] In 1991, the group signed a deal with Delicious Vinyl Records, following a performance of the track "Ya Mama" at an artist showcase.[7] Soon after, the group made their first notable appearance, with the track "Soul Flower", released on the Heavy Rhyme Experience album by the Brand New Heavies.[8]
[edit] Recording
The four emcees, along with producer J-Swift, began recording their debut album in 1991 at the Hollywood Sounds studio in California, with Delicious Vinyl Records head Michael Ross overseeing the project as Executive Producer. J-Swift produced 10 songs and five interludes—15 of the album's 16 tracks. Before the completion of the album, Swift had a falling-out with the group over internal problems. He claimed that he was not properly compensated for his work, and that the other group members had tried to take production credit, when he had crafted all the beats himself.[9] After the Pharcyde's split with J-Swift, the producer began a crack cocaine habit, which he has still yet to completely recover from. In a 2006 interview with Mass Appeal Magazine, Swift stated:
I would be in the studio crying ’cause I couldn’t believe that I was in the situation that I was in. I was like, What did I do to deserve this? All I did was try to help everybody, so I was kinda feeling sorry for myself. I was feeling suicidal but I knew that I didn’t have the balls to put a gun to my head, so I figured I’d smoke dope and just kill myself off this dope.[9] |
Now without a producer or a finished product, the group recruited local producer L.A. Jay to craft the album's final recording, "Otha Fish", which was also co-produced by SlimKid 3.
[edit] The music
[edit] Lyrical content
Much of the album's acclaim was due to the eccentric, comedic content provided by the four emcees, who were described as a "pack of class clowns set loose in a studio" by Rolling Stone. The album's wacky storytelling and light-hearted playfulness provided an alternative to the pessimistic, hardcore hip hop that had ruled the scene at the time. Due to its light lyrical content, the album has been described as an extension of the "Daisy Age", established by De La Soul and the Native Tongues Posse. All Music Guide described the group's rapping as "amazing", and stated, "The L.A.-based quartet introduced listeners to an uproarious vision of earthy hip-hop informed by P-Funk silliness and an everybody-on-the-mic street-corner atmosphere that highlights the incredible rapping skills of each member."[1] Instead of focusing on the troubles of the inner city, the quartet use their verses to provide humorous first-person narratives, with varying topics. On the album opener "Oh Shit", SlimKid, Imani and Fatlip trade embarassing tales about drunken antics, unusual sex partners and hermaphrodites.[10] SlimKid, Imani and guest rapper Buckwheat use the song "On the DL" to vent personal stories that they'd like to be kept "on the down-low", with topics including masturbation and murder.[11] On the single "4 Better or 4 Worse", Fatlip dedicates an entire verse to prank calling, in which the rapper spouts insane and psychotic threats while a confused female victim continually threatens to call the police.[12] The group's debut single "Ya Mama", described by the Rolling Stone Album Guide as the album's most memorable track, calling it a "marathon game of the dozens",[1] sees the four rappers trading comical insults towards each other's mothers. An online reviewer comments on the group's humorous rapping style:
The first album by the lovably obnoxious Califorinia rappers, is a wonderfully adventurous exploration that covers almost every social topic known to man in the best way possible - with a brilliant mixture of low and high comedy and introspective contemplation. The four rappers that form The Pharcyde are all very humorous, thoughtful, surprsingly lucid and self-depreciating, and most importantly, they can actually rap.[13] |
While the majority of the album has a focus on comedic stories, the song "Officer" touches on the topic of racial profiling. "Otha Fish" finds the group rising up and moving on from their past hang-ups as described in the previous track, "Passing Me By", the album's hit single. On the song, the four recount heartbreaking tales of school-boy crushes that had eluded them. Their mix of humor and social insight was one factor in the album's acclaim. An editorial review on CDUniverse.com comments on the group's unique style:
When the Pharcyde burst onto the scene in the summer of '92 with its brilliantly disconnected grab bag Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde, it seemed at first an innocuously enjoyable, goofy if somewhat lightweight disc. However, it would swiftly become clear that there were deeper waters stirring within the Pharcyde's rhymes and rhythms, and that the group's style was unlike that of those who came before. The main distinction came in the Pharcyde's subject matters, which run the gamut from the usual sexual conquests all the way to rejection and masturbation. The group's lyrics are often reflective and vulnerable, bordering on self-deprecating at times. While many rappers who came before poked fun at themselves as a gimmick, the Pharcyde relates its rebuffs with confident candor."[2] |
[edit] Production
Bizarre Ride also featured the acclaimed production work of J-Swift, who provides the album with a lush, jazzy soundscape through use of live instrumentation and sampling. Swift relied on a large number of samples, by artists including James Brown, Donald Byrd, Sly & the Family Stone, The Meters, Quincy Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Ayers and Marvin Gaye. Aside from the samples, Swift also provided piano, bass and rhodes on the album, and fellow producer JMD provided drums arrangements. These upbeat key arrangements and quick-paced drums loops provide much of the backdrop for the rapper's animated lyrical deliveries. All Music Guide calls the album's production "easily some of the tightest and most inventive of any hip-hop record of the era."[1] NME magazine stated, "The Pharcyde use jazz samples and phat beats to the ultimate effect: to create their own sonic Utopia.".[2] An online review describes the album's unique musical atmosphere and layered production:
The music on the album is very lush and multi-layered, with a mixture of live instruments, turntable wankery, and samples from jazz, R&B, funk, classic rock and everything in between. Powerful beats pervade, with some of the most kinetic bass lines this side of funkadelic. The Pharcyde forgoes the minimalism that now dominates mainstream rap music, favoring intense rhythmic layering and a strong melodic element instead. Piano lines cascade down dropping bass lines while three or four vocal tracks attack from all sides. The music is jaunty, elaborate and even atmospheric in parts (consider the stoner rap anthem "Pack the Pipe"), all of it drawn tightly together with the band's satirical lyrical outlook.[13] |
[edit] Singles
- "Ya Mama" (sample) (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- This sample contains a portion of the third verse and the fourth verse.
- "Passing Me By" (sample) (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- This sample contains the fourth verse and a portion of the chorus.
- "4 Better or 4 Worse" (sample) (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- This sample contains the third verse.
- "Otha Fish" (sample) (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- This sample contains the first verse and a portion of the chorus.
- Problems playing the files? See media help.
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde featured four singles, all of which were accompanied by music videos. The group's debut single, "Ya Mama", was originally released in 1991, then re-packaged by Delicious Vinyl in 1992, with two additional songs, "I'm That Type of Nigga" and "Soul Flower".[14] Though the song did land the group their record deal, it was not commercially successful, failing to reach any Billboard singles chart. Their first major exposure came with the release of the album's second single, "Passing Me By". Utilizing a sample from Quincy Jones' "Summer in the City", the song became the group's biggest crossover hit, peaking at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #1 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The song was later featured on the soundtrack to, and in Adam Sandler's 1999 film Big Daddy.[15] The song is now considered a classic hip hop single, and was later included on comprehensive hip hop compilation albums like The Hip Hop Box and Hip Hop Gold.[16] The album's third single, "4 Better or 4 Worse", was released in mid-1993, and featured the stoner song "Pack the Pipe" and the throwback track "Return of the B-Boy" as its B-Side. The single was not a success, as it did not reach any Billboard chart. The final single, the SlimKid solo track "Otha Fish", was released in late 1993. The song became the second charting single from the album, though was not nearly as successful as "Passing Me By", reaching only the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart.
A number of tracks from the album were later remixed. "Ya Mama", "Soul Flower", "Otha Fish", "Passing Me By" all featured a number of remixes, which were later included on the 2005 Pharcyde compilation album Sold My Soul: The Remix & Rarity Collection.[17]
[edit] Critical recognition
At the time of its release, Bizarre Ride received good, though at times unspectacular reviews. In the years following its release, critical reaction became increasingly more positive. A number of music publications have since recognized the album as a rap classic. Bizarre Ride was listed on Pitchfork Media's "Top 100 Favorite Records of the 90s", and was also featured in the 2005 publication "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".[18] "1001 Albums" reviewer states:
- "When many MCs and rappers were striving to "keep it real", The Pharcyde instead went out of their way to "keep it original". J-Swift's production, along with the core members, sacrificed the more immediately catchy hooks for greater depth and a lush, soulful sound. While this may have cost them audiences at the time, the album is now a true classic, both of its time and of hip hop. It remains an influence on the scene even today."[2]"
Hip hop magazine The Source originally gave the album a humble 3 1/2 Mic rating, but in 1999, included Bizarre Ride on their "100 Greatest Rap Albums" list.[19] All Music Guide gave the album a perfect 5 Star rating, and Rolling Stone and Q magazines both gave Bizarre Ride a positive 4 Star rating. Rate Your Music included the album on their "Top 1000 Albums of All-Time" list, reaching #455.[20] An Ink Blot Magazine review calls Bizarre Ride "the most fun album ever", and states:
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde reaffirms every positive stereotype you've ever heard about hip hop while simultaneously exploding every negative myth with under a barrage of head-twisting rhymes, jazz breaks and straight-up funk. The samples nod (wink?) at the past, the urgency of the rhymes keep things rooted in the present and the vibrancy of the overall vision keeps Bizarre Ride … reaching for the future. Make no mistake, this is one of the most important records in the history of hip hop. It is the sound of black music's past erupting in a riot of colour and excitement and possibility. It'll make you dance, it'll make you smile, and it'll make you wanna do it all over again."[21] |
[edit] Significance
[edit] Alternative hip hop
While East Coast alternative hip hop artists, such as De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, had been successful, there was no commercially successful alternative hip hop group from the West Coast. With Bizarre Ride, The Pharcyde became one of the first successful alternative acts on the West Coast, and helped establish an acclaimed era of underground rap in California, followed directly by subsequent albums such as 93 'til Infinity by Souls of Mischief, All Balls Don't Bounce by Aceyalone and Kill My Landlord by The Coup, and later by albums such as Quality Control by Jurassic 5, The Platform by Dilated Peoples, Nia by Blackalicious and Mind Over Matter by Zion I. Though Bizarre Ride did reach Gold status, the album's sales paled in comparison to other West Coast releases of the era, such as The Chronic by Dr. Dre, Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg and Regulate... G Funk Era by Warren G.[3] Due to the overwhelming popularity of G-funk, Bizarre Ride is often forgotten in the midst of these and other hugely successful West Coast gangsta rap albums of its era.
[edit] Later Pharcyde albums
While Bizarre Ride sparked the career of The Pharcyde, the group was not able to capitalize on the success of the album. Following the release, the group set out on the Lollapalooza tour, and waited almost three years to release their sophomore album, Labcabincalifornia. While the album featured two highly regarded hit singles, "Runnin'" and "Drop", it received mixed reviews. Critics weighed the album against their debut, and most critics felt Labcabincalifornia fell victim to the sophomore jinx.[22] Group member Bootie Brown later stated in a 2005 interview:
I don’t think it’s that they slept on it, they were just expecting a sound like Bizarre [Ride II] and we came out with something different. But after people actually listened, they felt it and vibed to it and now it’s considered a classic."[23] |
Following the release of Labcabincalifornia, member Fatlip split from The Pharcyde, and the group did not return until 2000, releasing the album Plain Rap to mediocre reviews.[24] Though the album marked the first collaboration between the group and J-Swift, Bootie Brown and Imani had a falling out with SlimKid (now known by his birth name Tre Hardson),[25] before the album was released, turning the group into a duo. In 2004, Imani and Bootie released the group's fourth album, Humboldt Beginnings, receiving little attention and harsh reviews.[26] Tre and Fatlip have both since released solo albums, but no project released by the group or its members since their debut has been able to reach the acclaim of Bizarre Ride.
[edit] Track listing
Sample information is taken from The-Breaks.com.[27]
Tracklisting and producer information is taken from the CD.[2]
# | Title | Songwriters | Producer(s) | Performer(s) | Notes |
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1 | "4 Better or 4 Worse (Interlude)" | J. Martinez | J-Swift | *Instrumental* | |
2 | "Oh Shit" | J. Martinez, T. Hardson, E. Wilcox, D. Stewart |
J-Swift | SlimKid 3, Imani, Fatlip |
|
3 | "It's Jiggaboo Time (Skit)" | D. Stewart, E. Wilcox, R. Jackson, T. Hardson, R. Robinson, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | *Skit* | |
4 | "4 Better or 4 Worse" | T. Hardson, E. Wilcox, D. Stewart, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | SlimKid 3, Imani, Fatlip |
|
5 | "I'm That Type of Nigga" | D. Stewart, E. Wilcox, R. Jackson, T. Hardson, R. Robinson, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | Fatlip, Imani, Buckwheat, SlimKid 3, Bootie Brown |
|
6 | "If I Were President (Skit)" | D. Stewart, E. Wilcox, T. Hardson, R. Robinson, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | *Skit* | |
7 | "Soul Flower (Remix)" | J. Kincaid, S. Bartholomew, A. Levy, R. Robinson, E. Wilcox, T. Hardson, D. Stewart |
J-Swift | Bootie Brown, Imani, SlimKid 3, Fatlip |
|
8 | "On the DL" | T. Hardson, R. Jackson, E. Wilcox, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | SlimKid 3, Buckwheat, Imani |
|
9 | "Pack the Pipe (Interlude)" | J. Martinez | J-Swift | *Instrumental* | |
10 | "Officer" | D. Stewart, R. Robinson, E. Wilcox, T. Hardson, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | Fatlip, Bootie Brown, Imani, SlimKid 3 |
|
11 | "Ya Mama" | D. Stewart, R. Robinson, E. Wilcox, T. Hardson, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | Fatlip, Bootie Brown, Imani, SlimKid 3 |
|
12 | "Passing Me By" | R. Robinson, T. Hardson, E. Wilcox, D. Stewart, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | Bootie Brown, SlimKid 3, Imani, Fatlip |
|
13 | "Otha Fish" | T. Hardson, J. Barnes, R. Robinson |
L.A. Jay, SlimKid 3 |
SlimKid 3 |
|
14 | "Quinton's on the Way (Skit)" | T. Hardson, R. Robinson, D. Stewart, E. Wilcox, Q. Howze, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | *Skit* | |
15 | "Pack the Pipe" | T. Hardson, R. Robinson, D. Stewart, E. Wilcox, Q. Howze, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | SlimKid 3, Bootie Brown, Fatlip, Imani, Quinton |
|
16 | "Return of the B-Boy" | R. Robinson, E. Wilcox, T. Hardson, D. Stewart, J. Martinez |
J-Swift | Bootie Brown, Imani, SlimKid 3, Fatlip |
|
[edit] Personnel
All information is taken from the CD.[2]
- The Pharcyde - Co-Producer, Background Vocals, Creative Direction
- Fatlip - Lead Vocals, Scratching
- SlimKid 3 - Lead Vocals, Producer
- Imani - Lead Vocals
- Bootie Brown - Lead Vocals
- J-Swift - Producer, Piano, Bass, Rhodes, Background Vocals, Scratching
- L.A. Jay - Producer
- Buckwheat - Vocals
- Quinton - Vocals
- Rahsaan - Background Vocals
- Greg Padilla - Background Vocals
- Brandon Padilla - Background Vocals
- Cedra Walton - Background Vocals
- Eric Sarafin - Engineer, Mix Engineer
- Joe Primeau - Mix Engineer
- Al Phillips - Additional Engineer
- Doug Boehm - Additional Engineer
- James Mansfield - Additional Engineer
- Jim Ervin - Additional Engineer
- JMD - Drums
- Michael Ross - Executive Producer
- Lamarr Algee - A&R
- Leslie Cooney - A&R Coordinator, Background Vocals
- PMP Mgt. - Management
- Paul Stewart - Management
- Street Knowledge - Management
- Fuct - Art Direction, Artwork
- Mark Heimback-Nielsen - Package Design
- Block - Photography
[edit] Chart history
[edit] Album chart positions
All chart positions from Billboard magazine (North America).[28]
Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | Top Heatseekers | ||
1993 | Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde | #75 | #23 | #3 |
[edit] Singles chart positions
All chart positions from Billboard magazine (North America).[29]
Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
1993 | "Passing Me By" | #52 | #28 | #1 | #6 |
"Otha Fish" | - | - | - | #35 |
[edit] Album singles
All single information is taken from Discogs.com.[6]
Single cover | Single information | Music video still |
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"Ya Mama"
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"Passing Me By"
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"4 Better or 4 Worse"
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"Otha Fish"
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[edit] Accolades
Information is taken from AcclaimedMusic.net.[18]
Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
About.com | USA | The Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of all Time | 2006 | #73 |
Digital Dream Door | USA | 100 Greatest Rap/Hip-Hop Albums | 2004 | #85 |
Digital Dream Door | USA | 100 Greatest Alternative Rap/Hip-Hop Albums | 2004 | #16 |
Digital Dream Door | USA | 100 Greatest Rap/Hip-Hop Albums of the '90s | 2004 | #60 |
Ego Trip | USA | Hip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980-98 | 1999 | #6 |
Les Inrockuptibles | France | 50 Years of Rock'n'Roll | 2004 | * |
Pitchfork Media | USA | Top 100 Favorite Records of the 1990s | 2003 | #80 |
Rate Your Music | USA | Top Albums of All-Time | 2005 | #455 |
Rate Your Music | USA | The 100 Best Hip Hop Albums of All Time | 2005 | #39 |
Rate Your Music | USA | Top Albums of 1992 | 2005 | #10 |
The Source | USA | 100 Best Rap Albums | 1998 | * |
USA | 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die | 2005 | * |
( * ) designates lists which are unordered.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Bizarre Ride at All Music Guide. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e Bizarre Ride at CDuniverse.com. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ a b RIAA Searchable Database. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ The Pharcyde at All Music Guide. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ Delicious Vinyl's Pharcyde biography. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ a b The Pharcyde at Discogs.com. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ The Pharcyde biography by Contemporary Musicians. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ Heavy Rhyme Experience at All Music Guide. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ a b Mass Appeal interview with J-Swift. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ "Oh Shit" lyrics. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ "On the DL" lyrics. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ "4 Better or 4 Worse" lyrics. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ a b SSMT Review of Bizarre Ride. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ "Ya Mama" at Discogs.com. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ Big Daddy Soundtrack at AllMusic. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ Hip Hop Gold. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ Sold My Soul at All Music Guide. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ a b Bizarre Ride at Acclaimed Music. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ The Source's 100 Greatest Rap Albums. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ Rate Your Music Top Albums of All-Time. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ InkBlot Magazine review of Bizarre Ride. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ Labcabincalifornia. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ The Pharcyde interview with AllHipHop.com. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ Plain Rap at RapReviews.com. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ The Pharcyde interview with The411Online.com. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ Humboldt Beginnings at All Music Guide. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- ^ TheBreaks.com album samples. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ All Music Guide Album Chart Positions. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
- ^ All Music Guide Singles Chart Positions. Retrieved on October 7, 2006.
[edit] Citations
- ↑ a Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Simon & Schuster, 2004. ISBN 0743201698 (Note 1, see page 634)
- ↑ b 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Universe, 2006. ISBN 0789313715 (Note 2, see page 691)
[edit] External links
The Pharcyde |
Members |
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Fatlip | Tre Hardson | Bootie Brown | Imani |
Albums |
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde | Labcabincalifornia | Plain Rap | Humboldt Beginnings |
EPs/Compilations |
Chapter One: Testing the Waters EP | Cydeways: The Best of The Pharcyde | Instrumentals | Sold My Soul: The Remix & Rarity Collection |
Singles |
"Ya Mama" | "Passin' Me By" | "4 Better or 4 Worse" | "Otha Fish" | "Pandemonium" | "The Rubbers Song" | "Emerald Butterfly" | "Runnin'" | "Drop" | "She Said" | "Technical Difficulties" | "Trust" | "Hard Times" | "Knew U" |