Reviews (page 2 of 8)
The music sounds exactly how the cover looks. It's great, just plain fun and silliness, yeah it's a little corny, but who cares when you're having fun? It at least takes the time to be interesting and corny, which is way more than I can say for many other albums on this list. Riding a rollercoaster into a vulva-shaped theme park. Rolling down the street, sipping on gin and juice, listening to Oh Shit. I've been a casual Pharcyde listener for a while now but I didn't realize they invented this entire genre. I can hear this behind Del the Funky Homosapien, obviously Hieroglyphics, Jurassic 5, been listening to this sound since high school and I didn't know it was "alternative" I genuinely thought this sound was a big thing. Like, how many times has Passing Me By been sampled?? Five stars because this is interesting, talented, unique, zeitgeist-setting. I hope the author had the sense to only put one album of this genre on the list cause the next one I see isn't getting 5 stars even if it's Del. Sick of this guy who thinks one band deserves >5 albums on this list and doesn't include anything by Fairouz. Girl there are other parts of the world than the US and UK. My favourite part is when when they pass the mic to everyone they know
This absolutely kicks ass. I’ve been meaning to get around to this one for years, I’ve been told it’s great and I’d dig it, and the people were RIGHT. It’s just a really fun, catchy rap album, with super funny and creative lyrics and chilled-out jazz vibes for the beats! Definitely going to keep this one downloaded and on my listening rotation. Refreshing to hear something this good about what feels like a pretty weak month for this project. Even the skits are okay here!!
i've heard my share of jazz hip hop albums, but this one is probably the truest definition of that. pumping beatflips paired with piano riffs and big band influences. this album is goofy and creative with how it's written, all the members of the quartet relay off each other like an improv comedy routine. in an era of hip hop where a lot of hardcore albums filled the airwaves and record shops, this album steers itself in the opposite direction, and i love it. imagine a tribe called quest, but a lot less... "hipster".
great album, no bad songs, such a vibe
Great jazzy album
Another album I know all too well. I bought the vinyl when it came out, and have probably listened to it hundreds of times since then. It's an absolute classic, no weak tracks. It really was a peak period for creativity in hip-hop and rap. One of the easiest 5 stars I've given so far. I'm probably in a minority but I think Labcabincalifornia is also a classic, even though it's panned by critics!
The sunshine is out and I'm boppin along getting my tummy ticked by these old skool beats. Great stuff
The most impressive hip hop album I’ve been searching for, this side of Houmous & Chutney’s 31st album ‘This Is What You’ve Been Looking For’ 4.9
Seriously, what a ride. I listened to Amerikkka's Most Wanted by Ice Cube the other day, so that's fresh in my mind. That was a fun 90's hip hop throwback, but this is as fresh today as it was then. The songs are catchy, funky, jazzy, layered and flow into each other so well. What a fun album.
A damn classic
5/5
One of my all times here. Them, Tribe and The Roots got me into a lot of the more laid back, headier side of hip hop. This album, in particular was and still is a standard for me. One of the few albums with skits and all, that has held up throughout the years. Sure some subject matter may feel a bit dated (mainly, Oh Shit, I suppose...), but I'll be damned if that doesn't still bop.
Unexpected but I'm glad I liked it so much. It's a really funny album but is actually good. It utilizes sampling well and has a flow that a lot of rap albums (especially for its time) don't have. Along with the goofy lyrics, I'm surprised to say but I have to give it a 5. Maybe it's to balance all the negative reviews but it's also just a really solid album!
Passing me by is a favorite. My daughter asked if we were listening to Hamilton. SMH.
These kids are really talented, this album is so much fun. Yeaa it's juvenile and the hunor can be very dated, but I'd be crazy to say we didn't talk or joke like this in middle and high school, so I'm not going to dock it for that. It's clearly not trying to be profound or overly insightful, so I have to take it at face value. And that leaves an incredibly fun album with sick beats, great flow and banter, and clever references and word play. Some of the best from an era that I've enjoyed a ton of already.
3 Feet High and Rising’s little brother. Maybe not as innovative, but a little less dated and a lot more consistent. Which is crazy, because this record is less than 3 years younger than De La’s. The Pharcyde definitely learned the lessons of their predecessor, though, and that makes Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde a lot more well-rounded. Some of that has to do with the innovations and changes that came as a result of De La’s debut, but a lot of it is also because The Pharcyde can make a damn hit. “I’m That Type…,” “Ya Mama,” and, of course, “Passin’ Me By” are all timeless tracks and still sound fresh, and even songs like “Oh Shit” or “On the DL” still pop really well. I’m even shocked by how I enjoy some of the skits! Not to mention the flows, which are both of their time and extremely singular to this group. Now, Bizarre Ride does share some of 3 Feet High’s flaws, aka the juvenile/teen boy humor, but since The Pharcyde don’t have innovation and complex sampling to cover up those missteps, it can sometimes be a little grating. The end of “4 Better Or 4 Worse” is the worst offender, but this problem is notably present throughout the record. You can take it either as young men joking around or as obnoxious immaturity, and either way, you’d be right. That’s the magic, the point, and the problem. I personally am fine with it, but I can see how it could be a huge turn off to anyone over the age of, like, 17. Still, I think Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde is a great hip-hop record with a lot to love about it, plus it’s a lot of fun. It’s certainly influential, especially once we get to the 2000s, even if it isn’t particularly inventive. I don’t know if I personally would’ve added it, but it’s a record that I have a lot of fun with, and can and will casually listen to to keep a bright, playful mood, especially when the weather is warmer.
Great album. A blast from the past for sure, but fun from start to finish!
Always a pleasure to return to this gem from the golden age of hip hop, and for once in that realm of laid-back and melodic rap, we're talking about *west coast* hip hop here. From "Oh Shit!" to "Passin' Me By", from "Officer" to the unhinged and loony "Pack The Pipe", *Bizarre Ride II* is a treasure trove, both fun as hell and filled with all sorts of excellent old-school rapping, wild textures and layers. Too bad I don't have the time for a proper review today, but the third one in this section (and first 5-star-graded one) is just perfect anyway. From that similar hip hop era, wish more people could discover The Goats again. *Tricks Of The Shade* is another unsung masterpiece. I'm out. Got a ride of my own to catch. Number of albums left to review: around forty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 457 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 271 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 331
This album goes so hard
Really great and fun rap album. Similar kind of fun as the Beastie Boys. Interesting and driving beats. Skits got a chuckle out of me. Standouts: everything but the skits/interludes, Ya Mama, and Pack the Pipe.
I had no idea what this was prior to it popping up on my que. What a surprise! I was in my car dying laughing. Great beats. It was fun!
A classic of the golden age of hip hop. Everything feels so smooth and easygoing. It's one of the albums that work as a nice background sound or as something to really listen closely.
Classic material! End to end bangers, a near perfect rap record, no skips!
Consistent flow, style and raps throughout. Slightly longer album even with a few skits/instrumentals thrown in but the runtime does feel justified. Every song has a unique beat that stays within the same style. Genuinely a great rap album that makes you nostalgic for years gone by and a style of rap that is extinct. 9/10
Loved it.
Super enjoyable. Very much in line with the best of a tribe called quest
I needed this today. Worth the price of admission for "Oh Shit" alone. Fun, highly-skilled hip-hop from when it was fun as hell.
It was really exceptional. The flow, the beats and everything
Passin Me By is what brought it to 5 stars. Classic album, fun album. These songs bring back a lot of memories.
Our lovable LA weirdos hit it out of the park with their debut album.
Classic
Rappity Rap
Despite the West Coast pedigree, the boom-bap heart is strong with this one. Chock full of tasty beats and lyrical goodness.
Super fun and loved the old beats 5 stars
I wrote a long review but it didn’t save. Love this album, lyrically tight although goofy. The storytelling really shines through and the group bounces well off each other. Production is fun, can definitely hear how/why it influenced future artists. Sounds a little dated beats wise but they more than hold up and provide a good backing for the rap. West coast = best coast
It's probably the most fun jazz-rap album ever made. It helps to take out the few interlude tracks but then the whole thing is smooth like butter. Funny, witty, high energy. It's a banger album.
Oh how fun is that! 90's hiphop at its finest. Cheeky raps, punchy beats, and plenty to say about society and culture.
So good
Some of the beats are slightly different on Spotify for some reason and I am not sure why 🤔
amazing!
Excellent
rly good!!
Easy 5 stars. Passin Me By and 4 Better Or 4 Worse are 2 of my all-time favourites
One of the best slices of 'Golden Era' hip hop ever recorded
4.5 - I like
I enjoyed this a lot I felt the skits were well integrated into the music of the album. It had a strong musicality to it, and it was funny.
perfection
Pure classic! It’s easy to appreciate how fun the music, but you also have to consider how forward thinking it is. Just a small example, but having a horrorcore verse on a song in 1992 is no small feat! Besides all that, the quality of the songs is great. Great rhymes, performances and production. Wish they were around for longer 🙏
Some of the best killer flows and beats.
5 mutherfucking stars.
Even the Clapton loving nerds that made this list knew this needed to be on it. 5/5
I can't rate this album without thinking about the whole Pharcyde package - the personalities, the quirky music videos, and of course the beats. This album was FUN. It didn't take itself too seriously, it touched on some real human feelings but also took time to make jokes, even at their own expense. Dates really well I think? Ok maybe not many rappers rhyme "nincompoop" nowadays but still, I can listen again and again.
Ya momma has an afro with a chin strap. This is a bloomin' wonderful album. It's happy, it's catchy and I really enjoyed listening to it. Great stuff!
Decent old school hip hop second half is better
Was a lot of fun for painting too.
Ovo je tako jebeno veselo, šareno i zarazno
Awesome, simply awesome.
pharcyde can do no wrong imo
Loved this album, soulflower remix is a peak fun rap song
Otha Fish is a masterpiece that transcends hip hop. There are many other great tracks on this but that song is one of my all time favorites.
Great beats, fun banter and unique flows. Rap album equivalent of listening to a group of young men cracking jokes, trying to one up each other. Apart from all the jokes and improvising, there are a couple of tracks with genuine emotions, exploring personal failures and issues. Sure, some content is extremely juvenile but for the most part the album has an undeniable charm in its infectious anything-goes mentality. And the beats still sounds great!
Love these dudes.
Great jams, old school hip hop
Added to my library. I've heard some Pharcyde songs before, but listening to a whole album really shows the brilliance of this group. Fun, musical, and completely well executed. Love this style of west coast hip hop. Also, I miss album skits let's bring that back.
wow.... love it. Right up my ally. il add them to my artist listening.
BL: An album I've listened to before quite recently. Discovered The Pharcyde properly over the summer and completely fell in love with their lyrical hooks, alongside some very graphic rapping, in terms of verbosity and bizarre artistic choices they definitely shine through as the definitive group from the 90s West Coast scene. AL: Just as I remembered it being, the production is incredibly and is so definitively analogue 90s drum machine & sampler construction, while not as technically proficient as their other work "labcabincalifornia" here it feels incredibly tight and refined which is phenomenal considering it is their first album. The lyrical content suffers from the same pitfalls of all the artists in the scene at the time but overall is nowhere near the worst offender compared with other artists. I absolutely loved this record, will be relistening again and again. FT: "Oh Shit", "4 Better or 4 Worse", "Soul Flower (Remix)", "Passin' Me By", "Return of the B-Boy" 5/5
Love the flow and the groove
A fun and light-hearted album that doesn't take itself too seriously, coming from an era and location where gangsta rap was the dominant Hip-Hop genre. I liked this quite a lot, and thought it was very fun, if a bit juvenile in its humour. The jazz elements of it were great along with all the other instrumentation, the rapping was great, and the songs were groovy and bouncy. The skits were pretty funny, and it seemed that everyone involved just bantered and bounced humour and ideas off of each other in a great way. Probably the most fun 90s rap album I've heard so far. Favourite: Soul Flower - Remix
Very fun
Amaaaaaaazing. Legendary. Wonderful. Seriously awesome.
Pharcyde rode in on a new wave of more intellectual hip hop that was kicked off by the debut of Digable Planets. But they brought along with the little jazz motifs a lighter, funnier, and freakier side. Although it is super creepy, I've always loved the track 4 better or 4 Worse. Great melody and then the absolutely bizarre lyrics. Officer is also their trademark tune and I think the most popular on the album because it's hilarious. Ya Mama is classic Pharcyde bringing in a slew of disses that take us back to the block where this was the pastime. It's a great hip hop album and belongs in the marbled halls with De La, Digable Planets, and Jazzmatazz / Guru who were cranking out these awesome tracks in the early to mid-90's.
Not really the kind of music I usually listen to, but it was fun to check it. It's easy to understand why it's part of this list.
Daaaaammmnnn. That shits was BANGIN. make you wanna throw ya hands in the air like ya just don’t care! Say heeeeeeyyyyyy, hoooooooooooo *audience responds* HEEEEEEYYYYYY HOOOOOOOOOOO
It feels wrong to rate this 5 stars as an incredibly white person but God damn this album goes hard
Scrappy but tight. Very little ego or need to prove anything to anyone, seems like they're all being pretty authentically themselves. Otha Fish is max relax, Quinton's on his way is the most feel good hip hop album skit of all time. Passing Me By is one of the all time great hip hop tracks. Pack the pipe got a bit dark but came straight back with Return of the B-Boy. Ya mamma's got a hairy tongue.
Definitely a little immature and silly but I also thought it was tons of fun and the music was genuinely strong
This was so damn good.
Great stumble upon Never heard of them or their songs Similar to De la soul, Tribe and Native Tongues
Great album, never really listened to old school hip hop
I LOVED THIS. Everything from lead vocals to background vocals to lyrics to cut outs to the moments in between songs were all great. I laughed out loud during Yo Mama and a few other times on the record. My favorites were 4 Better or 4 Worse. The phone call on that was great. I also loved Officer. I really loved them all.
I had never heard of this album, what a shame! It's excellent! A very nice discovery for me that will certainly end up entering my favorite hip-hop albums. A flow of thunder, breathtaking beats without being too flashy. I can't wait to listen to it again and read the lyrics more carefully.
Very interesting hip-hop album. I really liked it. No complaints.
Love every minute of it. Amazing samples.
Entertaining album from The Pharcyde - classic status, had certainly expected it on the list.
One of my favorite hip-hop albums. Lines are silly and fun. Tons of enthusiasm and energy. Huge fan of the jazzy instrumentation, tight production, and spontaneous samples. Plenty of catchy bangers, but even the less interesting tracks were made up by their humor. All this makes for a very accessible album, even the skits were melodic and nicely bridged the tracks.
Really cool hip hop album with jazz influences on the demos.
A good time
very cool
I really enjoyed this, had some great beats and was funny and inventive.
Heard it. Loved it.
A bangin bop.
Great. Fun compared to contemporaries but with substantive lyrics. Oh Shit favorite track.
Best album on here so far. Music still holds up in 2021. One of the most underrated rap groups of the genre.
1992 - Hip Hop
Talk about an album that has a huge nostalgia factor for me. "Oh Shit" is like the first rap song that I really liked since it was in some Saints Row game that I played when I was young. It felt so taboo because it's incredibly explicit for a kid to be listening to, but I had only really been listening to mainstream pop, classic rock, and heavy metal up until this point. I'm really glad it's on this list, because this album had kind of slipped my mind for too many years. I seriously doubt that other people will hold this as the quintessential rap album of the 90s, but for me it's hard to think of anything that I love more than this one. Maybe Low End Theory, but I feel like I'm leaning Pharcyde. It takes the shit out of a more pretentious side of rap while also being able to provide commentary on political/social issues, and have incredible storytelling. The skits are incredible, and the way the album is structured is incredibly theatrical which just adds to how much I love it even more. The group dynamic is amazing, and I don't think I can put into words the praise that I want to give this album. I also realize this review is just kind of me rambling about this album, and I can feel my friends just saying "who asked", but I hope you can enjoy this album as much as I enjoy it (or more!). Highlights: all of them. They're all amazing.
Great overall album, funny, lyrically impressive, great instrumental and solid rapping. I like basically every song
Aw shit
Hot tub party music
Fun album. Passing me by is a fantastic song.
Amazing Album, enjoyed a lot of the songs, not a huge fan of the weird skits in between but the songs themselves are all great, and Passing Me By is by far my most favourite song, as I remember it from Aggressive Inline on the PS2.
Album Rank: 1. Passin’ Me By 2. On The DL 3. Otha Fish 4. 4 Better Or 4 Worse 5. Return of the B-Boy 6. I’m That Type of Nigga 7. Soul Flower - Remix 8. Pack The Pipe 9. Ya Mama 10. Officer 11. Oh Shit 12. If I Were President (Skit) 13. Pack The Pipe (Interlude) 14. 4 Better Of 4 Worse (Interlude) 15. It’s Jiggaboo Time (Skit) 16. Quinton’s On The Way (Skit)
A complete blast. The instrumentals are sweet and the verses are fun and memorable!
Still great
Zaczynam coraz bardziej podejrzewac, ze moja lista sie zepsula, bo juz prawie od tygodnia wrzuca ultra klasyczne albumiki w swoich respektowanych gatunkach, a tym razem dodatkowo trafilo na murzynskie gransko rodem z zachodniego wybrzeza od Pharacydow, debiutancki albumik 4 osobowego skladu, ktory narobil sporego zamieszania na scenie rapowej, historia pod tytulem jak w dwoch albumach uzyskac status klasyka i zniknac ze sceny bez dealu na reszte zycia, wystepuja konflikty w bandzie, niezbyt honorowe wytwornie oraz puszowanie ilosci ponad jakosc, ale co do samej bizzarnej przejazdzki tu, przed powstaniem pharacyda jako grupy rapersowej chlopaki byly w zespole dancingowym, wiec jako bi boje dancowali do rapersowanych rytmow co czuc w ogolnym vibie plyty, jak i dobitniej na trakach takich jak return of the b boi, o sile albumiku stanowi przedweszystkim dostawa jaka prezentuja chlopaki, wchodzenie sobie na zwrotki, wspolne hookowanie, klimaty de la soulowe, jesli mialbym zgadywac dlaczego bizzarna rajda, to nazwa odnosi sie do lirycznego kontentu jaki mozna tu wygrzebac, nie jest to koncept album, nie ma motywu przewodniego, intro instrumentalno skitowe, oh shit bragowanie, oczywiscie z jajem, kolejny instrumentalne wprowadzenie do opowiesci o pieknej milosci, stalkowaniu, o tym na ile sposobow mozna poskladac swoja milosc w bagazniku, a to wszystko na jazzowym funkowym sampelu, zwrotka fat lipa tutaj to majstersztyk jesli chodzi o zabawe z laczeniem problemow kwesti milosnej z problemami komunity, zreszta w kazdym traku znajdzie sie podwojne dno, w kawalku zatytuowanym officer bylo ono az tak glebokie, ze nie jest on dostepny na spotifaju, a zaraz obok oficera pojawia sie wyzywanie pod tytulem twoja stara, ktora jak tytul sugeruje zawiera wyzywanie wzajemnie wyzywanie matek przez wszystkich czlonkow bandy, nie moglo zabraknac takze czegos dzieki czemu material sie sprzedal komercyjnie, jak dla mnie sa to dwa radio przyjazne traki o dosc jednostronnej milosci czyli passin me by i otha fish, jak pisalem wczesniej sameplki sa mocno jazzowe i bardzo jakosciowo zmontowane, jesli chodzi o nastepowanie po siebie trakow i ich ciaglosc, pojawiaja sie nawet takie ficzury jak skity przed b sidem, dla wygody sluchania na kasetkach czy vinylach, na plejke moglbym wrzucic polowe albumiku, bo druga polowa to skity, ale juz on tam prawdopodbnie sie znajduje, chociaz jak sluchac takich klasykow, to tylko od poczatku do konca, inaczej sie nie da
Wow- this album was fucking awesome. Just loved it.
Enjoyed it
Classic and unique hip hop.
Fuck yeah, this was cool! Genuinely funny parts, like the yo momma track, or the remix track (definitely wasn't paying attention to song names on this one). Glad I was already in the mood for this after listening to Jurassic 5 tho.
false
Hell yeah
Classic. The west side branch of native tongues imo
Wasn't aware of this before, but really enjoyed it
Holy shit this was some unexpected good ass music
A mostly good album, even if it is a little uneven. "Passin' Me By" is still a perfect song, and several other tracks make this album more of a keeper than not. One curiousity...I've owned this album since the 90s on CD, and haven been listening to mp3s from that for ages now. I know this album well. Listening to this on streaming, it has a few slightly different versions of than what I'm used to. Nothing to change my opinion, but just a point of interest.
An extremely underrrated album and group. Cant believe they were not more known. This is a small masterpiece of a rap album. Absolute bangger
Strange but in a good way
The Pharcyde was always a little outside my hip hop listening zone in the 90s, but this is a very fun record. Will come back to it.
This album is a master class in this era/style. Even the skit tracks were musically advanced. Such a vibe
Liked Yo Mama, and Passin Me By is an all time classic. Oh Sh*t and On the DL were fun in the same way, a lot of fun rap circle lyricism on this album, and some really amazing beats that stand the test of time
Now that I see the album art on my desktop monitor the details are really coming out lmao. Didn't catch the vagina tunnel on my first look. Anyway, this was a lot of fun and I think I'll listen to it again.
I love this era of hip hop. Passin me by is still a bop. Enjoyed the skits and not much to complain about in this album
mo cheveret, se escucha en mi auto
Ya mama c'est définitivement la toune de rap la plus édifiante qu'on a eu à date. Sans blague les diss track c'est quand même divertissant, et un bel élément de la culture rap. J'ai trouvé ça plutôt rafraichissant le côté laid-back sans prétention, les groove jazzy. Je mets ça plus dans la boîte smooth de A tribe called Quest qu'avec Snoopy Dogg peu importe ce que les fervents croyants de la dichotomie West Coast East Coast diront. Un des rappers a une voix de femme me semble, à moins qu'il y ait une invitée?
Enjoyable. Feels like 3.5 on first listen, maybe future listens will bump it up to 4.
A fantastic one, I hadn’t heard it before but I will definitely revisit.
Pretty fun and weird.
No. 222 Another really cool album. It's certainly a departure from what was popular in hip-hop at the time. Some aspects of the album sound dated, but overall the production is really good. Lots of fun songs
insane groove. didn't love the violence against women but otherwise dug it a lot
One of those albums on the tail end of the Golden Era that broke into the mainstream. It's a great album, but there are better (and more influential / groundbreaking / legendary) albums from that era.
Just non-stop energy and fun. One of the most purely enjoyable 90s hip hop albums.
The cheeky, upbeat grooves on this album are absolutely fantastic and succeed in so many areas. There are definitely moments where it's on the cusp of being slightly odd - a few tracks don't land quite as well as the bulk of the record - but overall it's a super fun listen filled with vibrant hip hop tracks.
Very fun album, the rapping ability was really good and great interplay between them, reminds me of a more explicit 3 feet high and rising
What a fucking blast, so fun, funny at times. Phife dog is great on this lol
Pretty smooth and funky album. Really like the jazz style backing tracks. A couple songs were a little bit familiar but surprised how I had never heard of these guys before.
Awesome beats, some questionable lyrics, but still a really class album.
So much fucking fun. Just comes across as a bunch of friends making some fun tracks about smoking weed and I'm into it. Also that album cover is hilarious.
Great record and I really like the group. Wish they had the J-Dilla produced Labcabincalifornia instead or any J-Dilla album has a matter of fact, but this will do. Great rap and nothing too lyrically obscene or off-putting for general audiences.
I always preface these reviews by saying I know jack about hip hop. Musically these are definitely the types of beats I prefer. Lyrically I was a little more skeptical, though I was laughing out loud from the start. These guys sneak up on you though. There is something more subtle going on amidst all the Yo Mama jokes, an improvisational playfulness that shows you everything the genre can be. I can't say I deeply love it, but at the same time I feel like it's one of those albums you could hand to space aliens and say, "This is some of the amazing shit our species is capable of." I suspect I'll still reach for Outkast when I'm in this kind of mood, but glad I took the ride.
Normaal vind ik 90s hiphop niets, maar dit heeft wel wat, net wat experimenteler, wilder, gekker. Tof!
3.5/5
This is a refreshingly humorous and jazzy rap album featuring great flow amidst a variety of styles. The music is broken up at many points with interesting interludes, and the background beats are on point, remind me at times of Madvillainy; although the lyrics at times go a bit overboard.
This album should, by all rights, be Platinum.
Excellence in hip-hop 4.4 Marked down 0.2 for some lyrical themes that feel a bit narrow 34 years later
Released at a time when gangster rap was dominating the genre, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde by The Pharcyde immediately stands apart with its jazzy intro, playful energy, and vibrant personality. From the moment “Oh Shit” kicks in, the group introduces themselves with charisma and humour, backed by a rap style full of bounce, rhythm, and distinct vocal personalities. The youthful spirit of the album makes it feel like it was created by talented class clowns messing around in the studio while still delivering serious skill on the mic. Even the skits feel natural and entertaining, often sounding like loose studio sessions with J-Swift casually playing piano in the background. As the album unfolds, the production becomes one of its greatest strengths. Tracks like “On the DL” highlight how layered, clean, and spacious the beats are, allowing each MC room to shine while still surrounding them with lush instrumentation and memorable samples. Songs like “I’m That…” and “Ya Mama” showcase the group’s humour and chemistry, balancing sharp lyrical flows with ridiculous comedy and party energy. “Officer” also proves the group understood the realities behind the social commentary common in hip-hop at the time, addressing systemic racism and societal tensions in a way that still sounded uniquely Pharcyde. Not every track lands perfectly. “4 Better or 4 Worse” starts strong with excellent flows before collapsing into overly graphic shock value that makes it hard to revisit, while “Pack the Pipe” feels repetitive and forgettable compared to the album’s stronger moments. But the highs are exceptional. “Passin’ Me By” is the clear standout — an incredible blend of soulful production, clever flow changes, and relatable storytelling about crushes and missed connections that reveals another emotional side to the group. “Return of the B-Boy” closes the album with infectious party energy, smooth basslines, and driving drums that leave the record on a strong final note. Overall, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde is an excellent introduction to hip-hop for newcomers and a refreshing listen for anyone looking for something outside the harder edge of early ’90s rap. Its fresh production, humour, creativity, and effortless chemistry make it a genuinely fun album that still highlights the immense talent of everyone involved. 3.8 out of 5
Yep, I was in high school in 1992 and I loved this then, and I really like it now. When it popped up my initial reaction was “5-star, obviously!” I mean, I own Labcabincalifornia, too. But this doesn’t quite hit me now the way it did back in the day. Still enjoyed, a lot of nostalgia with this one.
Never heard of them. Some fun lyrics and beats.
Yeah man let's see what's going on. Yeah I mean I like it. It sounds very start of hip hop. It has that energy. I can definitely appreciate the impact this had on the genre but it's not for me I don't think. I like it though. Very interesting sounds. It has that classic hip hop sound that's very commonplace nowadays but I can see how this may be one of the albums that helped create that sound. Yeah man. It's very fun. Like it really sounds like they hopped in the studio and just started having some fun. Wait this is a crazy beat. Beef with Public Enemy?? That's fun. Fishing mention. Great use of samples and features on this album. Favourite: I'm That Type Of */On The DL/Return Of The B-Boy Least favourite: Passin' Me By
Jazzy sampling, dan ben ik al snel fan. Creatiever dan ik had verwacht van jaren 90 rap. De vier MC's zijn duidelijk verschillend maar niet allemaal even sterk, wie wie is weet ik nog niet goed genoeg. Het zit soms op het randje van jolig maar het plezier en de vrijheid hoor je er doorheen. Juist omdat ze het minder serieus nemen hebben ze ruimte om te experimenteren, waardoor er eigenzinnige dingen ontstaan die minder bij tijdgenoten hoort. Klinkt af en toe wel old skool maar lang niet zo erg als bij NWA. De muziek en de samples maken veel goed. Wil het album wel hebben.
Yeah there are a lot of juvenile lyrics, but this is definitely the most fun early 90's rap album I've encountered from this list. I definitely chuckled a few times. The beats are also very infectious and catchy. Fun listen.
I listened to this album a lot in France and then again in Mongolia. This doesn’t matter to anyone but me, but then you could say that about 38 out of 43 things ever written (and 42 out of 43 things written on this website). Anyway I still enjoy it. Closer to a five than a three.
original. out there. different. hip hop.
This album is a total breath of fresh air, especially for someone who loves that classic, jazzy boom bap sound shared by groups like Naughty by Nature, K7, and Fu-Schnickens. It’s gloriously absurd and playful, trading in the heavy machismo of 90s gangsta rap for a lighthearted, "Daisy Age" vibe that feels like a West Coast answer to A Tribe Called Quest or De La Soul. The production from J-Swift is immaculate, filled with slick jazz samples, warm basslines, and live-sounding drums that make the whole record feel like one big, energetic house party. From the hilarious storytelling on "Oh Shit" to the iconic, dreamy atmosphere of "Passin' Me By," the chemistry between the four MCs is undeniable. However, the album embraces its immature side, which may be off putting to some. While the "yo mama" jokes and puerile humor contribute to its charm, some of the lyrical content, especially the dated jokes and sexual innuendo, can feel a bit awkward to modern ears.
I am a sucker for old hip-hop.
Like a combination of Digital Underground, Jamiroquai, and ICP.
Finally an album that doesnt take itself so seriously and all credits to the person who made the album cover its amazing. I liked the beat but some of the lyrics were questionable. This was an album I could actually enjoy and could listen to.
Really good '90s West Coast hip hop!
A classic, not much to say about it though. Favorite Track: Passin' Me By
In general, I don’t like Rapp. Or at least not the Rapp that has dominated the scene with ho’s and misogyny etc. This album is different. It’s clever it’s fun. Reminds me of a West Coast Beastie Boys without the rock influence. More jazz and soul but still the humor and the weirdness.
Even the skits on this one don't stop the excellent jazzy beats. Finding out it came out in a backdrop of gangsta rap only makes it more deserving of respect.
Incredibly creative
pretty fun for a rap album
pretty tight as far as 90's rap goes. kind of unserious, but it's quality for sure. favorite song is Officer or Return Of The B-Boy, but Passin' Me By is also classic
(genre bias) Great album. Beats are sick and the lyricism and flow are pretty fun. Also weird thing to praise but the album cover goes so fuckin hard. Best song has to be Passin Me By, runner up Ya Mama. I will say it fizzles out a bit towards the end but still an album I would be happy to listen to any time 7.5/10
8/10
Between Freestyle Fellowship and The Pharcyde, the West Coast really had something special in the early 90s
They wanted to be called The Farside, but Gary Larson wouldn't let them. Solid album!
Pretty cool old school hip hop. Wasn’t just the same ol nursery rhyme singsong Mary had a little lamb shit. They mix it up a bit and do some decent syllable rapping. The beats are good. Solid
Pretty good hip-hop!
passing me by is classic and some really interesting lyrics throughout
This is one of my favourite hip hop eras when I was 19, so it will always be nostalgic for me. It's still great, except for the skits.
Somehow I'd never heard this even though it's right up my early 90s rap alley.
I had never heard of this one before, it was fun!
While it doesn't really hold up to the artists of the same time period, this album and group is fun and energetic. They aren't trying to be NWA, but I think they equally succeed in progressing the style of goofy off beat rap music that is culturally important.
Soooo good. Love this album.
9/10 uno de mis favoritos hip hop jazz albums. Tiene un lugar reservado en mi discoteca. Canción destacada: Otha fish
Komischerweise nie wirklich gehört, obwohl die ja auch in Rap-fremden Kreisen Anklang finden. Entspannte Beats, entspannte Reime, auf die gesamte Laufzeit etwas zu gleichförmig ohne die ganz großen Standout-Momente. Gestört haben mich auch die vielen Skits oder langen Outros mit ihren Comedy-Einlagen. Auf die Texte habe ich ehrlicherweise nicht so viel geachtet. Kann mir vorstellen, dass es da noch einiges zu entdecken gibt. Kann man gut weghören und hat eine entspannte Zeit dabei.
Oh Shit - 4/5 4 Better or 4 Worse - 4/5 I'm That Type of * - 4.5/5 Soul Flower (Remix) - 4.5/5 On the DL - 4/5 Officer - 4/5 Ya Mama - 4/5 Passin' Me By - 4.5/5 Otha Fish - 3.5/5 Pack the Pipe - 4/5 Return of the B-Boy - 4.5/5 A real departure from what was commonplace at the time, The Pharcyde decides to turn up the fun dial and see how much banter they can get away with smooth jazzy beats on top of it. I think they overdo it a tad with the amount of innuendo, putting them just a tier down from the contemporaries in the jazz rap genre. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Soul Flower (Remix), Return of the B-Boy
It's just fun.
I really liked this and even added two songs to existing playlists. I could hear the influence all over this record.
Ciekawe, ciekawe. Fajnie się słucha, i samej muzyki, i samego tekstu, który na szczęście da się czasami usłyszeć wyraźnie. 4/5
Really enjoyed this little beauty- never heard of them before, but excellent hip-hop, some good tracks on here
Apparently I like hip hop from this era!
This was a lot of fun. It's always a good sign if I'm surprised that an hour-long album has finished, instead of checking Spotify to see how long is left to go.
Quintessential 90s hip-hop. The Pharcyde offered a welcome departure from the dominance of gangsta rap in the late 80s-early 90s, with their more 'fun' and not-so-serious approach to rap. Though that's not to say there is some misogyny scattered around; it's a product of its time. Overall, though, it's a fun ride -- the performances & flow are slick and the production is solid.
own
Don't have to listen to this one (but I will, because I like it). If only Passin' Me By were on here, it'd still be a great album. The skits get too long and the fact that they make us very aware they smoke weed bring it down, but the samples are used to great effect, each song is a solid, complete whole, and everyone works together beautifully in the way that rap group albums should. Like many albums of the era, it wears out its welcome, but its highs are too high to discount it. And despite my complaint about the skits, I sing "Quinton's on the way" with the name changed to my kids all the time (but not about another j).
Solid hip hop album from the early 90’s. I’ve found through this project that I really like this genre. Notable tracks include Oh Shit, 4 Better Or 4 Worse, I’m That Type of Nigga, Ya Mama, Passin’ Me By, Otha Fish, Return of the B-Boy.
I can’t help myself loving this whole collection so much!!!!
Lyrically hasnt aged well but it is a cornerstone of early 90s hip hop. Irreverent and corny with amazing beats
It was pretty good, beats were good but the flow was fire
Aww yeah
Mostly found this easy to enjoy, having never heard it before. A few of the jokes maybe don't quite land right these days, but a lot sure do. Great rhythms, rhymes and vibes. A group I have heard about since I was a kid, but never listened to until now.
Give me weird 90s rap all day long.
Might use this space to rant about this website briefly because wow the general underrating of hip hop is egregious. One of the best and most widely interesting genres ever, and while I agree that the low end theory is the best album on the list... 3.7? Actually mad. Illmatic at 3.6? You mfs have no taste. Not that it applies to this album specifically, don't get me wrong I like this album for it's overall chill vibe, great instrumentals and incredibly digestible presentation, but it's not quite the cream of the crop. Lyrically bits of this have aged very poorly and while that does not affect me it does affect the ability to relisten and ultimately recommend. If you like the genre I'd say give this a listen, the vibe is very much there and if I think this would kill for background noise but it certainly ain't no A Tribe Called Quest. Ya Mama is mad funny in a "this is so immature" way it sort of loops back around to being funny and Passin' Me By is an actual great song and a good precursor to the sound other bands would expand and build upon. To reaffirm, this is an otherwise solid album that has not aged particularly well in some fashions, and in most cases has been massively outdone by better groups. Not bad, but leaves me wanting a little more from a genre I know will be able to deliver within a years time. Seriously by the end of the following year the genre was far FAR greater due to two albums we will discuss down the line. Best songs: Passin' Me By Worst Songs: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 54/68 (above Steve McQueen, below Back to Mystery City)
Good album with fun storytelling! 7.1/10
Some good old school rap for the most part. I'd give this a 3.5 overall, a lot of good flow and beats
Très bien sur certain sons mais d'autre vraiment à revoir
Aww, this one is so nostalgic for me. Haven’t listened to it for many years though. This is my kind of hip hop, the looser, jazzy feel. So much more listenable than gangster nonsense. This was fun to revisit
Man I love ‘90s hip-hop. This album is so fun and easy to enjoy. Must-listen #287.
This was just fun.
Rating: 9/10 What a fun album, amazing production and great chemistry between the rappers.
Really good. Super easy listen, lots of variation. I love hearing the personalities of each member through their flow.
Fun listen
Good lightheaded silliness
They got a whole song of your mom jokes
Didn't like this right away, especially as there's little in the way of hooks, but the more I paid attention to the lyrics the more I enjoyed it. Totally unserious, ridiculous, but kinda wholesome actually. Faves: 4 Better Or 4 Worse (Interlude), Oh Shit, I'm That Type Of Nigga, Officer
Loved this one! Don’t listen to a lot of hiphop so this was a real blessing.
I actually loved this album it was really good in my opinion. It reminds me of A Tribe Called Quest. Love the beats love the rapping. I love how they joke around on some of the songs and I like how some of the interludes are just a little more toned down. I will definitely listen to this again.
love the instruments
Funny and ridiculous. The rapping style reminds me of beastie boys. I’ve heard passin me by on a lofi YouTube mix
Hip Hop, Rapp, ? Der Sound ist genial und lässt mich tanzen...
It's good, too long though. Digable planets should also be on this
This album was very playful and another iconic hip hop album that established a unique style of The Pharcyde. I liked that each emcee in the group had their own style and sound and you can tell that they're having fun rapping and making music.
Leave it to The Pharcyde to write a 4 minute song of nothing but yo mama jokes and have it be one of the better ones of the album. The lead guy has a really nice flow, especially on Otha Fish. The only problem is it's too dang long. This could've just as easily worked as a single LP. Granted, adding skits and interludes was just what you did in a 90s rap album. Still a great album. Everyone has a great sense of humor and it's easy to tell that they're all having fun with it. Also, I saw a bunch of reviews calling this album super dated. Yeah, that's the fun of it. Old rap is fun.
Maybe it’s the juvenile lyrics delivered impeccably. Maybe it’s the fact that this wasn’t a crappy goth/new wave Brit album like 99% of the other albums I’ve gotten. But I really enjoyed this.
rating doesn't include interludes/skits Oh Shit - 4/5 4 Better or 4 Worse - 4/5 I'm That Type of Nigga - 5/5 Soul Flower (Remix) - 5/5 On the DL - 3/5 Officer - 4/5 Ya Mama - 5/5 Passing Me By - 5/5 Otha Fish - 3/5 Pack the Pipe - 3/5 Return of the B-Boy - 3/5 Average score: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it's a funny album, definitely doesn't take itself seriously at all. i enjoyed this quite a bit, though sometimes the comedy distracted from my overall enjoyment at times. still worth giving a spin at least once (if not more) favs: Passin' Me By, Ya Mama, Soul Flower
Sometimes I wonder why there are no more hip hop groups. It was such a thing in the 80s and 90s but now? Just solo MCs. Why? One of those great groups was/is The Pharcyde, the west coast answer to the Native Tongues movement (De La Soul, Tribe, etc). This album is a LOT of fun. Maybe a little too much, as it's all jokes (Oops! all Jokes!) I mean, there is a 4 minute track that is just mama jokes. And they're good but cmon man. It's the same beef I have with Zappa at times. Does humor belong in music? Sure but can't we be serious some of the time? Anyway, this is still a great record and one of the great 90s alternative hip hop records. A notch below some of the eras best like Low End Theory and Three Feet High and Rising, but in the same conversation for sure
Love the boom boom bap era
Bastante chulo, tiene toda la vibra del rap de los 2000s en su esencia pura, sin embargo se me ha hecho un poco largo y a veces repetitivo, siento que es muy del gremio para mi, pero ey ahi esta. Me ha gustado bastante oh shit, buen ritmo
I quite liked this new album for me. The hip hop sound is quite classicaly 1990s-2000’s so there is some nostalgia aspect to my enjoyment. There are some great tracks that would sound good in a mix due to the cool break beats.
Lighthearted gangsta rap indeed. Sophomoric but super fun and surprisingly musically rich.
Never heard of these guys before, definitely feels like somewhat of a hidden gem of 90s hip hop. Love the beats, production, and rapping, but some songs were definitely better than others.
Never heard the whole album before, but Passing Me By and Your Mamma are classics.
Really enjoyed this. Highlight was I’m That Type of… and Oh Shit. The overall vibe made me want to make music with my friends. It’s also shocking how far the boundaries were pushed in the early years of Hip Hop and how infrequently it seems to have happened since. Overall I think I’m saying 4 instead of 5 because of the silliness? A little too silly for a 5. That’s a new arbitrary rule.
Man that was fun as hell. Respect to Frank for giving this a 5, and honestly hard to argue. But have to go 4 just based on the likelihood I will return to more than a few of these. Oh Shit, That Type of, Ya Mama, and Otha Fish are all great. Wikipedia says their high school music teacher helped them navigate the industry early on - pretty damn cool teacher.
This was great.
I love this early 90s phase of hiphop that was so jazz-influenced. These are some tasty grooves.
Another newbie for me and I hope it os an unknown Gary Larson album! It’s hip hop. And fun hip hop at that, like Run DMC You Be Illin. For the release date this would have been a good alternative to gangster rap. Like the jazz samples and cuts - Miles on the track On the DL? Really enjoyed this. Will listen to again and again.
This album is a bop all the way through. Some of the lyrics are kind of out there but overall I enjoyed this a lot.
This era of hip hop can be hit or miss when it comes to standing the test of time, but this album is definitely a hit. Every member of the group brings their own unique style and personality, and they blend together seamlessly as a collective. If I had to choose a favorite element, it would be J-Swift’s production. His beats are upbeat and full of energy, yet they remain smooth, soulful, and jazzy. The sampling is top-notch, adding a groovy and laid-back vibe to the tracks.
Knowing nothing about the Pharcyde coming into this, and having very little exposure to alternative hip hop in general, I was very positively surprised by this album. Yes, the lyrics are sophomoric in the most literal sense of the word, and there are plenty of moments that likely would have come off as offensive upon release in the 90s and certainly do by today’s sensibilities. And yet I really enjoyed it. The overwhelming sense you get as the listener is that this is a group having fun while recording, and you can’t help but join, even if they make a few jokes at your expense along the way. There were plenty of points where they had me laughing out loud, both with some of their goofier lyrics and with production choices, like some loud belches that added to a few songs. I can’t help but wonder how my enjoyment of this record will trend as I listen to it more. It’s possible that the jokes will grow stale, and I could see myself wishing the group took on some more substantial topics lyrically. But for right now, the Pharcyde made a record that I want to hear again because I enjoyed it, not just because it’s “interesting” - and that counts for a lot.
If I somewhat liked a hip-hop album, then it was probably quite good oO. That's why 4, however it's actually 3,75 for me. I liked the energy and the cool combination of jazzy piano and rap.
I was expecting something terrible but this was quite fun!
Very fun album
Pretty good boom bappy rap. Silly vibes in a lot of the songs which make it kinda an easy listen. Highlight was Ya Mama, I already new Passin' Me By but I think I prefer this They trade flows really smooth and clean
4 better or 4 Worse (interlude) - interlude Oh Shit - 8/10 the instrumental is nothing insane but the chemistry on this song is infectious. It's Jiggaboo Time (skit) - skit 4 Better or 4 Worse -8/10 it was fine but the skit was kind of weird. I'm that type of nigga - 7/10 nothing really happened it was just pleasant If I were President (Skit) - skit (really good) Soul Flower - Remix -9/10 so far this track has the most energy and flow, its one of my favs from this album On The DL - 7/10 great rapping performance freak ass subject though Pack the Pipe (interlude) - interlude Officer - 9/10 The story was funny and the bars, instrumental, and energy was something I wasn't expected Ya Mama - ain't no way my mom has a 4:20 diss track made before she was a mom that takes dedication and a certain level of genuine hating that I was not ready for 8/10 Passin' Me By - my favorite song on this album it, I think mainly for the instruments used accompanies their voices perfectly 10/10 Otha Fish -8/10 cool little track Quinton's On The Way (Skit) - skit Pack The Pipe - the song is fun and i like the chorus a lot which is why i give it an 8/10 Return Of The B-Boy - phenomanal outro and my second favorite song on the album 10/10
It's a fun album! Emblematic of the 90s (particularly West Coast) rap ensembles. Everyone has their own style and the beats repeat during the song, but there certainly is enough here to keep me interested. I like their flow and they are goofy enough to be really enjoyable.
Maybe it's the big swing from Megadeth to this in one day, but it took me a bit to get into this. The If I Were President skit got this going for me and it was smooth sailing from there. Light-hearted, crude, skillful, soulful, funky backpack rap.
Classic hip-hop, similar to A Tribe Called Quest with more jazzy flair and forward lyricism. Upbeat and exciting, packed full of flow and stories to tell.
I’ll probably never listen to it again, but this was pretty fun. Heard of them but never listened.
Fun, spunky, early 90s hip hop. Nice production throughout, cohesive but diverse.
fortíssimo!! tirando as letras criminosas as vezes, é um ABSURDO. é um disco não se leva nem um pouco a sério, mas acho que deveria. só beatzão pesado e flow cabuloso, bom demais esse, hein. além dessa capa mto foda.
More melodically satisfying than most of its contemporaries Musically top Lyrically not my thing But the whole thing is excellent 4
Great hip hop record. It musically surprised me at various points
Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II I had their subsequent album Labcabincalifornia and liked that enough, but for some reason never checked this one out. Its really enjoyable with a lively vibrant sound with solid old school beats and plenty of jazz stylings. The mixture of vocalists stops it getting dull and they have a great sense of humour. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (nearly more but just goes on a bit too long for me).
En wat een lekkere plaat om deze week aan interessante muziek mee af te sluiten! The Pharcyde ken ik tot mijn grote schaamte nauwelijks. Ik heb ze voorbij horen komen in conversaties over legendarische hiphop groepen, maar heb nooit iets van ze opgezocht als ik eerlijk ben. De beats zijn jazzy en laid back, maar even - is het nodig om zoveel Skits op een album te plaatsen? Op het eerste gezicht denk ik daarvan meteen mwah maar laat ik het toch gewoon checken, misschien valt het mee! De beats zijn qua jazziness een beetje als Tribe called Quest, en dat is naar mijn mening heel positief. Ze missen wel net iemand met de flow van Phife Dawg of de charisma van Q-tip, maar nog steeds zit ik headbobbend achter mn laptop. Het funkt, er zit heel veel humor in de lyrics. Deze gasten nemen zichzelf niet heel serieus, dat is wel duidelijk. Ja heerlijk laid back old school hiphop album, perfect voor de vrijdag eigenlijk! Tenminste... Als je hier van houd, kan me best voorstellen dat het album anders te lang duurt, heb daar nu niet zon last van. Onder het uur, en de skits zijn zowaar niet al te irritant; respect Pharcyde, ik wist niet dat het kon! FAVO: Oh shit, Im that type of ..., Passin' me by, Otha Fish, Pack the pipe
Super tuff
Nice 90s rap. Like the beats, like the 90s quick flow. I wish some of the moderns rappers had kept their flow.
Favorite tracks: Oh Shit, Otha Fish, I'm That Type of N****, Officer Man, I so wish I could have been around during the 80s/90s hip-hop group era. Between the sampling and the members playing off each other, it would have been an absolute blast to experience real time.
Just a damn good time. Jazzy instrumentals with lyrics that don’t take themselves seriously. Favorites were Oh Shit, I’m That Type of Nigga, Soul Flower, Passin’ Me By, and Return Of The B-Boy
An incredible funny album. It feels like everyone is having a blast, telling crazy and absurd stories with some incredible smooth and funky flows and beats. I think the only problem this album has is that the second half doesn't hit as hard as the first one. It might be not in the same level, but it is very close. Basically, every song rocks. I'm also thankful that they didn't add any recording of sexual acts as skits. In fact, the skits can also be very funny and there's not even a single one that breaks the flow of the record.
The list has throw up a gem I've never heard before. Really enjoyed that. Ya Mama and Quinton's On The Way genuinely made me laugh. Pretty innovative and I prefer rap that doesn't take itself seriously. 4/5.
Great hip hop classic
Really cool production.
Even taking off my hip-hop hat (baseball cap, worn sideways) I think it's fair to say the genre is "Chronic"-ally under-repped here, maybe 5 or 6 albums so far? That does mean that those that make it tend to be bona fide classics, or close, and I think that is true of this one - Passing Me By a clinic in sampling and Officer a great nod to Public Enemy.
Loved it. Gutted this passed me by until now. Started out thinking it reminded me of the kind of groove from the Brand New Heavies collabs of the era, then halfway through “Boom!” There it was. 100% going to explore more of their work. Exactly why I do this exercise and suffer the rough with the smooth.
Hilarious. Great beats. Similar to Cypress Hill, Jurassic 5, Black Star
4.5 / 5 Fantastic album. Clever and playful, oozes with talent and just outright enjoyment of what they're doing.
Oh Shit! Fun listen. Reminiscent of De La Soul in some ways, but edgier. Lot of humor, but serious messaging underneath. The music is good too!
Oh Shit* *in a good way
Absolutely loved this album. I'd never heard of The Pharcyde before, but as soon as "Oh Shit" came on, I knew I was gonna love it. This is the exactly the style of hip hop that I love. Brilliant, upbeat, melodic samples, which are at times quite jazz-influenced, big beats and rap that doesn't take itself too seriously. I love that this is from a time when rap albums had "skits" in between songs. These little interludes of nonsense somehow make this seem more like a concept album in a way, and less like a collection of songs stitched together. Turns out that I recognised a couple of songs on this album (thanks Beardyman), the best by far being "Passin' Me By". I can't get enough of this song - what a classic. Loved everything about this from start to finish. Already looking into the rest of their discography.
man Pharcyde is one of those groups that I'd always heard of but never sat and listened to. Pretty enjoyable early 90's rap! A little goofy here and there and even spooky. Soul Flower is probably favorite off this entry, it feels a bit long but overall a great entry. 4.5 if I could!
This one was new to me. Very different sounding hip hop from what I’ve heard from this period, to me The Pharcyde previews OutKast in many ways. I don’t hear a masterpiece but I do hear a very sonically creative album. Otha Fish is a highlight for me - I haven’t heard a hip hop song like it before.
7/10
This is a fun hip hop record that maybe gets a bit too gimmicky at a certain point (there's a song based on yo mama jokes). I don't think it gets too corny though. I can tell that there's something genuine about the chemistry that these four exhibit. I love how Passin' Me By went from a sick tune that I first heard while playing NBA2K9 to a song that captures my struggles so vividly. The skits are also entertaining unlike a lot of other 90s hip hop albums (too many sex scenes). In a landscape of hip hop where the main idea was guns and bitches, The Pharcyde come along to give us a playful alternative (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)
Never heard of The Pharcyde before today, and I’m impressed. The flow is smooth, the energy is playful, and the group doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes the album stand out. The cover art is fantastic, and tracks like I’m That Type of Nigga, Soul Flower, and Passing Me By really shine. What hooked me most is the instrumentation. The use of piano, trumpet, and saxophone brings a jazzy, live feel that keeps the record fresh. Hip hop often leans too heavily on repetitive loops, but these touches prevent the music from getting stale. You can already hear the blueprint for modern jazz rap in several tracks. That said, the album does run long. Some songs feel like filler, and trimming them would’ve made the record even stronger. But that’s a common issue in early 90s hip hop, where albums rarely stopped at 10 tracks. Overall: a playful, inventive, and musically rich record. A 4 star record in my books. 8/10.
This was a good album, and I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop. There were times I thought Shaggy 2 Dope or Everlast had collab'd with them to produce the tracks, and it was just the four guys riffin'. Really good, kinda silly. A little dark in spots, but that's ok. My Rating: 4/5
Fun album. Liked it. Not as much as "3 Feet High and Rising" by De La Soul, but a good one nonetheless. For me it's aN 8.5 out of 10
Really fun. Great songs that are a blast to throw on.
finally, this is a west coast bangrr. these guys set the stage for modern group rap. prob only more important would be Tribe. Passin' Me By is still in my rotation. I personally like Souls of Mischief more, but the vibe is there. its called II but its their first record, BASED. this with Wu Tang and Del show the flashy stereotypes of rap were changing to accommodate more alternative styles, adding more rock and aggression. 4/5 for how much this one really ht me early on.
I'm not a hip-hop person generally, but this was very cool!
Pretty fun jazz-rap album with a good amount of individually enjoyable songs, they're bouncy, they're upbeat and they want to have fun and they do
Pretty great. Clearly an important stepping stone in the history of rap. Really liked 4 Better or 4 Worse and Soul Flower. 7/10, 4 stars.
Very cool jazzy hip hop from the 90s. West coast rap. Bouncy, fun lounge Vibes.
Fun! Some of the reviews are comparing this to the Beastie Boys, this is way better than the Beastie Boys imo
Hip-hop that sits somewhere in the transition away from sing-song 90s playground rhymes, where those threads are still recognisable but it's more satisfyingly rhythmic and lyrical. A little on the misogynistic side
8/10 The Pharcyde fall into that sweet spot of hip-hop for me. They’re skilled rappers and lyricists, they create great, bouncy grooves, and they always sound like they’re having a great time. The sample selection on this album is really excellent and there’s a great blend of jazzy, funky flavours that really support the vibe of the tracks. The approach to lyric writing shifts from comedic to puerile, but always with a knowing wink, and there are also hints of political commentary throughout, although these never take centre stage. There are a couple of potential complaints that are common notes in hip hop, particularly around misogyny, homophobia and transphobia, but in actual fact, I feel like these things, while dating the album a little, are actually approached in more of a lighthearted way that actually pokes as much fun at the rappers as it does at any outsider, which is fairly refreshing. And let’s not forget this was an album made by a load of LA kids in their early 20s back in the early 90s. Personally, I think that the song sequencing on the album could have been a little better, as three more laid back tracks towards the end did lag a little, when they could have added a bit more dynamic variation if they were placed elsewhere, but other than that, it’s a high quality album that’s just a lot of fun. 4 Better Or 4 Worse (Interlude) - A nice little jazzy intro. Not much more to say! Oh Shit - This has got a nice bounce to it. I love the general vibe of the rapping, it’s really lighthearted and fun. They pass the lead around which gives a bit of variety. It’s a shame that the backing is basically the same the entire way through, although there are a couple of parts that they bring in and out, but the focus is so drawn to the vocals that it has less of an impact than it would otherwise. It’s also possibly a bit transphobic, but I feel a bit like he’s laughing at himself rather than being nasty. It’s Jiggaboo Time (Skit) - A little bit of silly fun between tracks. 4 Better Or 4 Worse - There’s more variety between verse and chorus here, as well as variety within sections too. It’s all delightfully silly, particularly the interplay between the rapping and spoken vocal. The blend of all of the little vocal bits and pieces is great. It all weaves in and out and creates a really cool blended collage effect. Quality. I’m That Type Of Nigga - There’s a real pace to this one. The flow of the rapping is really good too. The gang vocals against the horn samples sound massive and just continue the feeling of fun that they’re putting across through the album so far. The use of little cuts and changes to the track to emphasise certain vocal phrases works really well too to keep things interesting. Soul Flower (Remix) - This is so upbeat and full sounding. The use of little sound effects adds a lot of depth. They all just sound like they’re having so much fun making this record, it’s great. Despite the fact that the core track doesn’t vary much, the fact that various sections drop in and out means there’s a constant feeling of change and movement, especially when they trade vocals from verse to verse. Great track. On The DL - The pace drops a bit here. The instrumental melody perhaps clashes a bit with the intensity of the vocal delivery in places and the slightly frenetic energy of the beats. There’s a bit less variety to this in general. It’s not bad, but it’s not as engaging as when they’re in full party mode. Pack The Pipe (Interlude) - Another little breather. Officer - There’s a really nice lilt given to this by the piano sample, which just drags the groove a tiny bit. The beat for this is great. It shuffles really nicely, but has a decent momentum to it too. This is another one where it’s all so silly and entertaining. The lyrics and narrative are so good too. As with some of the other tracks, there’s less variety to the instrumental, but the vocals lead things so well that it hardly matters. Solid. Ya Mama - A whole song filled with ya mama jokes? This is The Pharcyde at their most puerile. It’s decent, but it lacks a bit of the variety and depth that some of the other tracks have. All a bit of fun and they have a really unexpected little vocal harmony that they chuck in the middle, which is cool. Passin’ Me By - Another change of pace. Stylistically, this stands out a bit from the rest of the album and they actually reign in their delivery a bit to accommodate the more relaxed nature of the track. There’s a good change of pace between the verse and chorus too. It doesn’t have the same level of fun and frenetic energy that a lot of the rest of the album has, but it’s a nice little diversion and is an obvious single too. Otha Fish - Another laid back one. They could probably have split these two tracks to create more of a dynamic flow to the track sequencing. It doesn’t have the variety of Passin’ Me By, but there are some nice slices of rap-singing that work really well, although they are perhaps a little high in the mix. It’s not bad, but it feels a bit weka when placed back to back with the previous track. Quinton’s On The Way (Skit) - An interlude like this just goes to emphasise the silly, fun nature of the group. They’re all just a load of kids having fun, not taking themselves too seriously. Pack The Pipe - Another one that keeps the tempo dropped. It’s jazzy and has a good groove to it. Again, I feel like the sequencing of the album lets this down a bit, as it’s a decent enough track, but suffers from coming off the back of two other more downtempo tracks. Return Of The B-Boy - And we pick the tempo back up. That bass line is great. There’s a shaker/hi-hat that runs through the whole track that’s quite grating though. Other than that, this is a really solid track. The vocal flow is great, there’s a load of swagger to it and it wraps up that feeling of these guys having a great time making some solid tunes, with a few nice references to hip-hop groups of the 80s.
Hip hop I can get behind. Funky, fun, fantastic samples. Really wish I was more familiar with this earlier on. Oh well. Better late than never.
From soul flower to passin me by is so good. I like when rappers are not afraid to sing. Very rich music. I enjoyed it.
this album slaps. let it play through twice yesterday and enjoyed it even more the second time. this is some smooth as hell rap, and it was fire. even for being an old school album, they have some really awesome flow, some great rhyme schemes, and funny skits to help show this story. awesome album
Not really my thing, but I'll be damned if I wasn't walking with some swagger through the halls of my office. 3.5/5
8.5/10
Well those gents sounded like they were having a bit of fun.
Mediocre start but great few tracks later on. Great 90s hip hop
Fresh and funky. Impossible not to jig along to. Way better than angry rap. A good example of this process broadening my horizons (even though I’ll almost certainly never listen to it again). And a beneficiary of my decision to award Elliot Smith 3 stars. All signs point to a 4.
The key to enjoying life is low expectations
I miss when hiphop was goofy
Fun, groovy, if a bit silly, and sure amateurish.
wait a minute. how many mid and relatively unknown hip hop albums do you have on this list. wait another minute. why is this a 3.9 on rym. and it has comedy hip hop elements in it. we are saved. and holy fucking shit. this is so weirdly funny in the absurd way that i love the most for a good comedy. 4/5
I’ve tried this album in the past and it’s never quite landed but for some reason, listening yesterday, it really grabbed me in a way it hadn’t previously. Even the skits at least have a musical element to them which doesn’t make them as jarring as skits can typically be. Yes, it’s a little long as many hip-hop albums of the era were but there’s so many good tracks on here but it’s hard to look past my fave track, Passin’ Me By
#DÍA 14: 1001 Discos Que Hay Que Escuchar Antes De Morir (English Translation Below) Primer disco de Hip Hop que toca y es de un grupo del que había oído su single con Danny Brown este año pero que no conocía realmente. En este enérgico debut el cuarteto de raperos, junto con el productor J-Swift cocinaron una serie de temas que mezclan el estilo Boom Bap con el Jazz Rap y unos coloridos toques de comedia que construyen una experiencia de dibujo animado. Es entretenido y desde luego que saca varias sonrisas, es un rato genial en el que me han dado ganas de levantarme y bailar más de una vez, y eso que se me da de pena. Aunque algunas barras en ocasiones pequen de haber envejecido regular —sobre todo el incómodo verso / llamada de teléfono de en 4 Better Or 4 Worse de Fatlip— , son en su mayoría ingeniosas y son traídas en unos flows que botan como cabezas. Por otro lado me ha sorprendido muchísimo la producción de J-Swift, todas las bases son de buenísima calidad, los poderosos vientos de I’m That Type of N****, el throwback a la “golden era” de Return of the B-Boy o los toques de Cool Jazz en On the DL. Es divertido e incluso ridículo en momentos, y tiene un encanto de época que es inimitable. Favoritas: Oh Shit, I’m That Type of N****, Soul Flower (Remix), Officer, Passin’ Me By, Otha Fish, Pack the Pipe, Return of the B-Boy Menos favorita: 4 Better Or 4 Worse #DAY 14: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die First Hip Hop album I’ve listened to in this challenge and it’s from a group I had heard about through their single with Danny Brown earlier this year, but didn’t really know them. In this energetic debut, the rap quartet, along with producer J-Swift, cooked up a series of tracks that blend Boom Bap style with Jazz Rap and some colorful touches of comedy, creating a cartoon-like experience. It’s entertaining and definitely brings out a few smiles—it’s a great time that made me want to get up and dance more than once, and that’s saying something, considering how bad I am at it. Although some bars haven’t aged all that well—especially the awkward verse/phone call from Fatlip on 4 Better Or 4 Worse—most of them are clever and delivered in bouncy, animated flows. On the other hand, I was really surprised by J-Swift’s production; all the beats are top quality: the powerful horns on I’m That Type of N****, the throwback to the golden era on Return of the B-Boy, or the Cool Jazz touches on On the DL. It’s fun and even ridiculous at times, and it has an era charm that’s simply inimitable. Favorites: Oh Shit, I’m That Type of N***, Soul Flower (Remix), Officer, Passin’ Me By, Otha Fish, Pack the Pipe, Return of the B-Boy* Least favorite: 4 Better Or 4 Worse
A must listen for fans of this style of rap. Trippy fun album.
If I'd heard this album when it first came out in 1992, I know that I would have loved it. It slots in nicely into hip hop history, finding a place after the Native Tongue sound, but with plenty of earlier hip hop references. Maybe I was too distracted listening to the emerging grunge rock of 1992.
This was a fun listen. Often lighthearted 90s hip hop.
Super fun and cool! Wish I'd known of this at the time.
Such a fun album- they hit the right balance of playful beats, and unserious, high school style demeanor, and unlike groups like the beastie boys they can actually rap without just yelling at you. It’s not earth shattering but it’s a really good listen.
Pretty funny, and the whole Pharcyde group has great chemistry and a a great flow. The beats are very good too. Not really much I can say here other than its really good. 4/5
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde is a pretty fun album. For some reason, when i first looked at this album art, I thought that this was going to be a psychedelic rock album from the 60s. That was until i noticed the parental advisory, explicit content sticker on the art which made me realize that this is a hip hop album from the 90s. The album itself is a great listen. This is another one of those hip hop albums where while the rapping and lyrics are solid, it's the production and beats that really steal the show. The beats all had this incredibly jazzy feel which i really enjoyed. I had quite a bit of fun with this album and it is one i can definitely recommend to others. Best Song: Return Of The B-Boy Worst Song: Quinton's On The Way (Skit)
Oh no not more hip hop I thought! But I was wrong, this is fun and an enjoyable listen.
A pretty great hip-hop album that, surprisingly, feels like something that could have come out of New York, not L.A. The sound is warm, jazzy, and boom bap-inspired, often reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest, especially in the flowing beats, laid-back delivery, and quirky storytelling. The Pharcyde are goofier and more exaggerated than Tribe, but they share a playful approach to hip-hop and a resistance to the tough exterior of gangsta rap. Even though the album is technically West Coast, it has an East Coast heart. It’s a weird, humorous, and musically rich ride that deserves its status as a classic, and still holds up today. 4/5