Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

A bit fun. Nostalgic in a way. Though not really anything I’d listen to in the 90’s or now.

It might be a 3 if it weren't for the annoying-ass skits.

Never heard of this one but enjoyed

Fun album but outside of specific songs it doesn’t keep me in it for the full album

Another waste of an hour. It sounds like they had more fun making this than I had listening to it. Purile lyrics only saved by a couple of decent tracks near the end.

Good beats, lots of cringey lyrics.

Great beats. Really good. Lyrical content = meh

I tend to like the less serious and more carefree hip-hop albums, maybe it's because I'm too white and sheltered to connect with serious topics

Pleasantly surprised by this album with a smooth hip hop rap style and lyrics with a sense of humor.

I knew some of the tracks but not the whole album. I like the samples and the flow.

It's just meh

A sonic roller coaster through a vibrant, absurd world. It's like the audiobook of a Dr. Seuss story gone hip-hop, with beats that stutter-step like a playful dance. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Oh Shit - Passin' Me By - Otha Fish

I like the jazz and some songs can be fun but also some problematic lyrics

Litt av et cover... Aldri hørt om. Høres ut som noe som kan ha hatt mye innflytelse på jazzy abstract hip hop produsenter som J Dilla og Madlib, men idag er det litt datert. Er noen morsomme låter her, men kan ikke se meg selv sette på dette over De La Soul eller A Tribe Called Quest. Slutter ganske sterkt da. Pack the Pipe har en proto cLOUDDEAD type beat.

Likte det her ganske godt

I think I listened to this album like 15 years ago. I liked it but not as much as some of their contemporaries (De La Soul and Tribe). On this listen I really enjoyed it, super funny and clever, a lot of different styles, and goes by really quickly for having a lot of tracks and being about an hour long.

Goofy makker

I liked this. It nicely bridged the gap between quite basic late 80s hip hop and the nasty cynicism of much of the mid 90s stuff.

It was fine, nothing stand out or groundbreaking

Not it

The flow of these guys was pretty crazy and the beats were good. It was a genuinely good hip hop album. I normally like an album that doesnt take itself too seriously, however, this one had a bunch of jokes I did not really care for or just completely rubbed me the wrong way. That doesn't take away that sometimes it was funny and the skill was definitely there. I just can't rate it higher.

A silly album with a lot of fun tracks but some a little rough to listen to. 4 Better or 4 Worse with the sexual violence did turn me off a bit, but I know that none of it was meant to be taken seriously, hence why I was able to enjoy the rest. Still though, it was rough. 3.5 but rounding down.

Pga noget uklarhed på coveret og fejllabeling på l*mew*re troede jeg i mange år at de the The Pharcycle, ordet “Ride” i titlen på dette album hjalp heller ikke

Lille 4er fordi der er liiige lovlig meget filler men uden tvivl en essentiel plade. Elsker beatsene. Passin Me By er SÅ god

Fine, funky lyrics at times.

This is what makes this website so powerful - I had never heard of this album or group and I would certainly never have hit play. This sort of hip-hop is not massively my bag but I did enjoy a c couple of numbers - Oh Shit and Ya Mama were highlights for me.

Goofy and fun. It's not gonna stick with me, but I enjoyed the ride

I only really knew “runnin’ away” and “passion’ me by” for the longest time, so I assumed The Pharcyde were aiming at something more socially conscious or introspective. Turns out they are crass, juvenile, and so fun. “Oh Shit” is a go-to hype song that demands the windows get rolled up and the volume turned down before the third verse.

Debut?! Holy, talk about storming out of the gates. Quinton's on the way. I love skits in rap albums because like this one they're just brimming with fun! This is very reminiscent of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, RUN DMC, where the play is in the words. 3 Feet High and Rising, to boot. I like the whole spectrum of rap and hiphop so it's nice to have a palette cleanser like this and do some smile head noddin'. 4.

Great album. Probably shoulda listened to it by now, but whatever. Anyway this album’s great. If it doesn’t blow your mind in some way, you’ve probably already become accustomed to how good music can be, or you’re not listening to it right. The rapping is great, don’t get me wrong, and each emcee has incredible presence and personality, as well as a lot of the songs being incredibly funny in a way I forget is possible in music. But the beats are where the album’s really at in my opinion. J-Sw!ft does some fucking wild work on some of these songs, with a common feature of the album being the beats constantly changing throughout the song’s structure. I mean, “Soul Flower (Remix)” just fucking killed me dude. Obviously the song people talk about a lot here is “Passin’ On Me,” but jeez, yall heard “Otha Fish?” That song might be the best one here. Not by a large margin mind you, if it even is the best song here, but come on. I was really impressed by this joint. It’s shit like this that reminds me that there’s really nothing hip-hop can’t do, including still surprising me, like this album did. 9.3/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES REASON: fundamental building block in a journey of listening to hip hop.

Essential. Don't confuse good humoured with lightweight or superficial.

Great album that I have never heard before today. I have heard the hit song from it but the whole album is really good. The lyrics are excellent, vocal delivery is top notch and the music compliments it perfectly. I will be adding this to my favorites to listen to again.

imagine a jazz pianist, hip hop drummer and crazy saxophonist with a rap gang. the overall sound of the album is good, like a classic rap

Hip hop in the 90's was a magical thing to experience, and I'm so grateful I have such awesome memories attached to this era. And this album. I just love it so much. "Passing Me By" is in my top 10 hip hop songs of all time.

These following 8 ish albums are going to be described as a Paris album, as I am in Paris on vacation and cannot give them my full attention, but nonetheless I will listen to a few songs from each. I wish I had more time with this one, amazing classic hip hop, but like a late stage dinosaur eclipsed by mammals, already being wiped out by gangster rap. Fun, light, boppy, great MCs and lyrics, just a joy of rap to listen to.

I feel like i went on a first date and fell in love. I know the environmental factors are in its favour as it was a quiet, sunny Friday with a night out planned later and life is good but this was brilliant. It's what i want from hip-hop; great beats, brilliant flow and lyrics that and funny and fast and witty. I managed 4 listens and its gone straight onto my discogs want list.

Meh.

Apparently old-school hip-hop is not my cup of tea, and I can't say I enjoyed this album enough to even bother playing it a second time. It still had some nice moments, but that's all I can say about it.

This was pretty nice. Some influences that can be heard in the Kendricks and the like that came later

This might be the first album on this list that I didn't enjoy. I can see how it may have been important in the early formation of 80's hip hop, but it seemed like a parody of itself

hiphop/10

could do without the transphobia and misogyny of course but it was really good

Rap-Hip Hop not something I can listen to and get any enjoyment.

A fun ride, but too juvenile if you ask me. This is a shame because the beats and their flow is great. However the lyrics are often icky and at a point even transpobic. Not too surprising for its time, but I have also heard rap from this era that didn't fall into this pitfall, so it's not a valid excuse.

A funky rap album, it does suffer from some misoginy that is still quite apparent in the album, but that is sadly kinda to be expected from a rap album of the 90s.

Not bad, but a bit samey and over-long as a whole. Some I'll listen to again, though.

I guess.

I really enjoyed the beats on this record. The jazz influence and the flow from the MCs are awesome. I do think it’s too long of an album though as the charm started to fade after the halfway point. It became less “jazz influenced beats” to a more traditional 90s hip hop beats.

Just a joyride back to the early ‘90s. I love their unabashed nerdiness, the playfulness and creativity with lyrics, sounds, delivery. As a collective, there is room for everyone to shine. There are some great tracks here, like “Oh Shit,” “Ya Mama” (improvised hilarity,) and of course, “Passin’ Me By.” The kooky cover of PE’s “Black Steel” - changing the furious political stance that starts “I got a letter from the government” to “I got a letter from the DMV,” with hijinks ensuing - had me hooting. A high 4. As husband said, it’s a little too dated for a 5. It’s close though.

It’s so rare that an album on this list gets markedly better as it gets late into the tracklisting. But that’s true for this one! Bizarre Ride 2 feels like an onion that you can keep pulling back a new layer on in terms of penmanship, flows, and stories. Most of them are goofy. “On The DL” is my favorite song on here on the whole, but “Ya Mama” and “Quintin’s On The Way (Skit)” are both hilarious fun and extremely memorable. 3/5 for the album but 5/5 for the silly/good vibes

Fun album, basically if the fresh prince of bel-air was signed. 3.5

It was good. Maybe I'm getting tired of rap

i actually liked this, didn't think 90s rap would hold up, but its good

Hip Hop and its culture. Not for me.

I didn’t finish it because I’m lazy and it wasn’t grabbing me but I appreciated the weird noises and yelps etc.

it's funky, it's definitely bizarre, it's right up my alley

It's all about Bootie Brown. Magnificent.

Somewhat reminiscent of the De La Soul album. Very good indeed. Favourite song - Passin' Me By.

Surprised by this one. While definitely more on the old-school side of things, the flows are generally so fast that they don't come off as stilted or dated. And the music, while having this alternative/jazz style, also has this kinda carnival vibe to it that I really enjoy. Soul Flower is a great track. Probably the best "old school" style hip hop album I've come across on the list not made by Tribe.

It was ok.

Hiphop. Fast inte så illa. Coola samplingar, bra flow, känns old school. En svag trea.

Fun as hell!! Fuck the beastie boys i hate them. Why would you ever listen to them when you can listen to this

Yo mama jokes. I mean definitely had the D12 vibe a decade before D12. It's OK it's not great.

A mess.

Whatever. Nonessential bullshit.

Eminem vibes on some parts for sure. Get me off this wild ride

One of those albums that I say I like to be cool, but I really dont

Fun

3/5

Ok I guess

Enjoyed generally. Passin' Me By, very good.

A bit of fun

This album is like being a seven year old and finding your father’s classic records. You put one on and enjoy it, except you can’t follow the lyrics, so in an effort to be a funny, you make up your own lyrics to the music. But you’re a seven year old, so it’s not like you can sing about anything deep or meaningful.

An odd album. Could not get into it.

Цей класичний альбом я прослухав вперше десь років 9-10 тому, і це був чи не останній випадок, коли слухаєш якийсь старий реліз у жанрі, в якому ти вже більш-менш непогано орієнтуєшся, і він тебе вражає. Тоді просто крутив його якусь нескінченну кількість разів. Тут є просто фантастичні біти з класною роботою з семплами (той самий On the DL). Окрім видатного продакшену, тут все-таки фішкою є МС та ліричне наповнення альбому, яке є свідомо самоіронічним, щирим та без грання м'язами, що в репі загалом не дуже поширена комбінація. Особливо на західному узбережжі на початку 90х. Ще дуже подобаються тут скіти. З мінусів я можу виділити лише дві пісні, які мені подобаються трошки менше за решту матеріалу на альбомі: Soul Flower та Officer. Але вони не якісь слабкі чи погані, а просто трохи недотягують. На жаль, продюсер цього альбому нормально підторчав на крек-кокаїн, і це фактично його єдина повноцінна робота. Гурт ще видав один феноменальний альбом з продакшеном від молодого Jay Dee. А далі поступово учасники почали покидати гурт. Було ще два альбоми, але вони, в кращому разі, посередні.

Класний позитивний джеззі хіп-хоп. І чітка сподобалась і продакшн. Здається я слухав їх раніше, але точно не пам'ятаю, коротше цей фарсайд клас (як і хардкор фарсайд - може це такий прикол що гурти з цією назвою всі хороші).

Id listened to labcab (that one) years ago and wasnt impressed. Didn't explore more. Its a shame really because this was excellent. Some weaker tracks drags this to a 4.

Fairly generic early 90s hip-hop, so I like it better than a lot of the modern stuff, but it doesn’t grab me too closely.

These guys are wild and wildly creative

Reviews are like "it's so much more fun than the gangsta rap of the 90s!", and I'm like "yeah, that's true". But if that section of 4 Better or 4 Worse is your idea of fun then you need to be locked in a psychotic hospital. Transphobia had me worried early on, but the horribleness peaked there. How do so many men of the hip hop scene have such inflated egos, like every woman instantly wants to be stripped naked and beaten by you? You're mid! Nobody cares about you! Write something from the heart! It went from offensive to inoffensive in sections, so it gets a 2.

Surreal, goofy, and fun, this album is kind of a breath of fresh air after many of the gangsta rap albums on the list. There's still quite a bit of misogyny but their sense of humor is what comes through the most, especially on songs like "4 Better Or 4 Worse" and "Ya Mama" though that one gets old quick. "Passin Me By" is great too. Love the mix of soul, R & B, and rock and it was a great car trip album.

Goofy, idiosyncratic and entertaining alt hip hop. Like a raunchier west coast De La Soul, with the production skills of Tribe. I'm usually all in with jazzy 90s hip hop and this one is no exception. And I dont think I had ever laughed at a Yo Mama joke before, but there are some good one liners on that song, credit where it's due. Some very dated passes at humor too, but it was the early 90s to be fair. Passing Me By is the standout but I also liked Officer and Soul Flower a lot.

I already listened to this album like a couple months ago, it’s really good, soul flower is a standout and I realized passin me by had a sample from are you experienced. This album is mostly good vibes, like that they ain’t afraid to say anything, shot his ass twice on da dance floor

Not a terrible rap album. But still not great either

Overflowing with creativity, flavor, playfulness and style, you can hear and easily imagine the community vibe that generated these guys' connection. J-Swift’s production is outstanding, pulling from the best of Tribe, De La and Jurassic 5, it’s almost shocking to see very little else on his resume. The immaturity of the lyrics sometimes plays really well (‘Ya Mama’) and sometimes not so much (‘4 Better or 4 Worse’) but this is up there with the very best of 90’s hip hop.

I did not like the yo mama song

Passin Me By is a straight banger but overall not my vibe but enjoyed it enough

It's a good record. While quite juvenile at times, the backing tracks never fail to deliver. A good listen.

4/5

Funky, funn, jazzy, happy hiphop

Very unserious This is crazy hello I don’t know if I would listen to this ever again

This slaps so hard

A lot of fun and the style of classic Hip Hop I like.

The biggest surprise was how much I enjoyed the skits. Usually, I don’t really like skits on albums, but these were fun and musical. All the songs were fun and good, but didn’t stand out too much other than passing me by. I’ve also heard your mama before.

I've heard Passin' Me By.. it's a great song. It sounds like they had a blast making this album. The production is great and the various voices keep things interesting. A solid project overall. 3.4/5.

J'ai pas trop compris, je suis assez mitigé. Parce que oui, l'énergie de l'album est assez folle, mais d'un autre côté, je n'ai pas pu m'empêcher de trouver ça un peu cringe par moment. T'as quand même une chanson entière en mode "ta mère elle est tellement grosse que...". J'aurais trouvé ça débile quand j'avais 13 ans. Donc bref, musicalement, c'était cool, mais au niveau des paroles, les rares fois où ça a attiré mon attention, ça m'a plus gêné qu'autre chose. Donc je suis pas encore trop sûr de la note que je devrais mettre. D'un autre côté, il y a quand même beaucoup de sujets de mauvais goût autour de violences sexuelles, est-ce que j'ai vraiment envie de mettre la moyenne à ça ?

While rap in general's not for me, I am able to appreciate when something comes across as innovative. Even though they hail from South Central, LA they refuse the gangsta style to come up with something light, lively, vibrant and pure irreverent fun. Yeah, it's a bit silly sometimes, but I prefer silly than misogynistic and violence-glorifying. The jazz production makes this a bit unusual and a delight to enjoy. I don't care about rap and will never listen to this again but I appreciated having had this chance right now to get to know this album.

Not normally one for hip-hop but that was fun! It was upbeat with some funky sounds going on. Three stars.

Scratches that itch Fave track: Oh Shit

This is Kanye’s favourite album of all time. Glad I finally got around to listening to it. 4/5

This opened as a bit of a mess to my tastes. A bit chaotic, a bit too party-energy. Soul Flower was a step up but I was still kinda itchy for it all to end. It was a 2 star but without Soul Flower it might have been lower. Anyway, it gets better. Doesn't get great, but butter. Passin' Me By, Otha Fish, Pack The Pipe - all a step up. Plus, Quinn[ton]'s on the way and everything's OK.

its an incredible good album

Some classic hip hop for sure but I don't like it as much as some people, it's like half filler

Pharcyde bike ride to the old school time.

I like the music behind the rapping. Some good jazz happening. And, I love it when musicians in any music genre can recognize when they might be taking themselves a little too seriously. This group is funny while talking about serious subjects.

What makes the album flow so well is that it feels like a real-time street-corner hangout. The vocal interplay between the four MCs is masterful. They constantly trade lines, finish each other's sentences, throw out ad-libs, and modulate their voices—using everything from frantic falsettos to cartoonish Muquet-like delivery to match the mood. They didn't just write verses; they crafted dynamic, multi-layered group performances.

Okay, so. I remember an ex of mine being really into The Pharcyde, but I'd forgotten all about them until now. It has promise, it does. Then it goes and uses soft jazz samples in the background which throws everything all out of whack. It could have been a great rap album, but it just... isn't.

Aight

heavily sampled with Public enemy, but it was ok. I cannot see myself wanting to listen to it again, but with the string of 2 stars I have had this at least is a step away from that. some of it was still very weak though. Officer or on the DL are the standout songs. 2.5 stars upgraded to 3

Not for me, probably wouldn’t listen again. Sure it’s kinda fun but the novelty wore off after the first few songs

The last song was the best and it was not great.

The album picks up in the last 5 or so songs, but it really isn't enough to save it. The production is okay, but I think that there's something deeply immature about the writing and delivery. It sounds like something an eighth grader would write, complete with the squeaky voice. Favorites: Passin' Me By, Otha Fish

It sounds like they had a lot of fun in the studio. And isn’t that what really matters?

Near perfect

made me feel like i was wearing baggy clothes and a lime green shirt

This album feels like the first day of summer

Keep this one On the DL, don’t want the Officer to find out about it. Oh Shit!

Possibly the greatest single album ever made? No, absolutely not. Awful.

Bizarre.

what did i even just listen to

A fun and funky album. Really dug the Jazzy influence on the beats more than anything. A definite alternative to the gangsta rap that was exploding around the same time. 3.5* Rounded down to 3*

I like 90s rap and hip hop generally, but outside of a couple tracks this just doesn't do it for me. 3/5.

This is a fun album. I liked it. Good vibe hip-hop and, in that sense, it sounds pretty refreshing. Both the music and the lyrics are ok. Some lyrics are actually very good. However, as always with hip-hop albums, I also found this one a bit too long. I guess, that's also because I'm not a big fan of the genre. Overall, a solid 3 star (though I can totally see some people rating this higher). Some songs I enjoyed, "Officer", "Passin' My By" (probably my favourite), or "Otha Fish".

wow, what a wild & bizarre album. straight-up goofy at times in a way that felt juvenile and grating, but it's hard to knock someone having so much fun with it.

The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde Really enjoyed this-I like this style of hip-hop. Back in 1992 I got heavily into the Goats - Tricks of the Shade which this was very reminiscent of. Good fun, good rapping. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wasn't aware of this before, but really enjoyed it

Bueno

Album #208 The Pharcyde: Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde I suppose bizarre is a good word for it. I think what summarises this album most for me is that my favourite track was the 4 Better Or 4 Worse Interlude, and my least favourite was 4 Better Or 4 Worse; great jazzy instrumentals, accompanied by the ramblings of a set 8 kid. I think it’s pretty clear where the likes of Eminem took their influence from after hearing this, since the lyrics are either played for a joke or for shock value. Also, I thought that one of the members was a woman until I looked up who was in the group. It’s not terrible, but looking at the tracklist, I don’t think I’d ever want to hear any of it again. Should have been a lot better with those beats. Best Songs: 4 Better Or 4 Worse (Interlude), Oh Shit, Passin’ Me By Worst Song: 4 Better Or 4 Worse Score out of 10: 4.5

Decent. Great background music. Ok lyrics

From the cover I was expecting metal, so this was a pleasant surprise!

Was expecting to hate this but didn’t. Some fun lyrics and the music was generally decent. The flow across several songs seemed similar. As always, too many skits but Quinton’s on the Way was a hoot.

Nice rythmic Hip Hop , not my music though and repetitive nigga nigga

Doesn't do anything cool enough to make up for the transphobia and misogyny, in my estimation

My album-listening walk started out refreshingly cool, cloudy, and rainy; five minutes in, the rain had stopped and it got uncomfortably hot again. So my experience with this album was a complete rollercoaster, primarily centered around one wildly incorrect assumption on my part. When I first heard Imani's voice on the album, his voice reminded me of Missy Elliott, and thus I spent my entire first listen thinking that the Pharcyde had a woman in the group. Even more than that, based on Imani's lyrics speaking sexually about woman, I fully assumed the Pharcyde had a lesbian in the group. This was a nonsensical assumption on my part, I was absolutely wrong, but this misconception colored my view of the entire album. I thought I was hearing a socially progressive and partially queer rap group making somewhat misguided and ignorant attempts at humor that came from a confused but ultimately ironic place. Not an ideal scenario, but an understandable one. I walked away feeling pretty good about Bizarre Ride... and then I looked up the band and realized that Imani was not, in fact, a lesbian woman, and the group was in actuality four straight guys. And with that new context... oh boy. I will start by saying that I consistently loved the production. The big reverbed drums and DJ scratches helped create an infectious energy throughout the album, with the various members of the Pharcyde juggling flows back and forth between each other. In terms of performance, this album had the classic freewheeling playing-off-eachother energy which would come to define similar rap groups for decades to come. The storytelling lyrical approach throughout the album, with a focus on humor and verse-wide punchlines, felt like a more modernized take on classic groups like the Sugar Hill Gang, but with a handful of forward-looking sounds which I can directly hear the influences of in modern rap (If I Were President almost sounds like a partial inspiration for the intro to Kendrick Lamar's Institutionalized, and the unreceived confession of love followed by a frustrated exclamation on Passin' Me By reminds me of a similar structure on Tyler, The Creators' Glitter). There are some really fun jazz rap elements brought into the production, and even when the album slows down, it manages to stay compelling by holding onto the flows while leaning into a smoother feel, simply bringing more melody into the vocals. However, all of this musical interest just simply can not salvage the lyrical content. When the album's identity is so heavily built on a juvenile, outdated sense of humor, it is uniquely susceptible to aging terribly, whether that's telling lazy dime-a-dozen transphobic jokes or "ironically" threatening sexual violence against a woman over the phone. Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde feels like I'm listening to a group of annoying teens toss around immature schoolyard insults, and I didn't even hang out with those kinds of guys when I was in school; I certainly don't wanna listen to them now. Highlights: 4 Better Or 4 Worse (Interlude), It's J******o Time (Skit), I'm That Type Of N***a, If I Were President (Skit), Soul Flower (Remix), Pack The Pipe (Interlude), Passin' Me By, Otha Fish, Quinton's On The Way (Skit)

Quite creative early 90s hip hop flow and lyrics with mid to late 80s beats that don't match the energy of the songs. Way too many skits, holy cow. Enjoyed some stuff, but nothing blew me away as something I need to come back to. 3/5

Holy shit this was some unexpected good ass music

Good rappers, very ghetto. Not as smart, musical or enjoyable as the Refugees, which followed this on Amazon music.

4/10

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 have been listening to mp3s burned from that for ages now. So 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.

It's ok, nothing more. Got a bit bored with an hour of them messing around.

An extremely underrrated album and group. Cant believe they were not more known. This is a small masterpiece of a rap album. Absolute bangger

One of my favorite albums of all time and one of my favorites concerts of all time. If I could give it more than five stars I would! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pretty good flow but very unserious, played almost like a novelty record at times.

This is undeniably one of the more unique hip-hop albums of the early 90s, but it never stood out other than a solid album for me. The group's playful chemistry and offbeat sense of humor give the record plenty of personality, while the jazzy samples are consistently smooth and inviting. It deserves credit for standing apart from the hardcore/gangster West Coast rap that dominated the era by embracing self-deprecating storytelling and a lighter, more eccentric style. That said, the album can feel longer than it needs to be. While I can bump Passin' Me By all day long, several songs and skits interrupt the momentum rather than enhance it. The humor can be hit or miss and some of the jokes haven't aged well. By the second half, the novelty starts to wear off, making the listening experience feel less consistent . Overall, this is a creative and influential album with plenty of charm. There's enough here to appreciate even if it never quite lived up to its legendary status for me.

Strange but in a good way

Today's album is very beastie boys esque, upbeat, happy sounding, and makes me want to rip my ears out. Its a weird sensation. Language is foul, beats are alright, and this is the first one I am truly struggling to finish and looking for every opportunity to be distracted. I shall persevere, but man this one is tough

This is not what I expected before listening, and I gotta say they really did take me on a bizarre ride with this album. The trio are goofy, but so true to themselves. So early on to go against the grain of what a rapper was perceived as, a hardcore gangster and tough persona, was revolutionary and innovative. This album is filled with catchy lines and some honestly funny and clever wordplay. The production is phenomenal and this album is insanely fun.

4 great songs, many fine songs

I only liked that one with yo mama jokes. The rest was mediocre. That was funny. Yo mama jokes are funny. I sound like a dad. Fuck.

This was really good fun; especially enjoyed the backing music and jazz references in the lyrics. Just went on like 15minutes too long

Está muy bajo el volumen o soy yo? Aún así no hubiera mejorado la cuestión con volúmen

This was ok, I can see why it's on the list. But all through the album, I couldn't shake the feeling of being tired. It's probably me and not them, but I also want to say it's them and not me.

Despite being rap:) sometimes reminds a bit to the beasties

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.

If I had heard this when I was in high school I probably would have thought it was the coolest thing ever. Unfortunately I am not in high school, and now I just think it's weird and jarring.

I thought it was fun, but it isn’t really for me Favorite song was return of the b boy

I really enjoyed listening to this. It was fun and like funny and didn’t take itself too seriously

It's a fun, wacky alternative hip hop album with some wonderful bars and reflective lyrics. Nothing too special but pretty enjoyable.

I'm tired of writing the same thing over and over. Hip-hop isn't music. 1/5

Jazzy hip hop with okay beats. I'm not super into hip hop, but this was at least somewhat listenable to me. It was better than "The Chronic" by Dr. Dre.

640/1001 2026.06.19

This album is a master class in this era/style. Even the skit tracks were musically advanced. Such a vibe

Low expectations going into this one, but this one seemed to jump the low bar. A fun listen, but not one I’d listen to much. Rating: 6/10 Favorite Song: pass me by, soul flower

Hate it

I’ve heard this before and used to own it, until it was borrowed by a roommate in college without telling me and not returned, I’m sure he’s still enjoying listening to Ya Mama on repeat. This album was a breath of fresh air in the early 90s when it was released compared to all the hardcore and gangsta rap at the time, with no talk of violence or bitches and hoes, some genuinely funny lyrics, and some actual moments of vulnerability. The rhymes are amazing, the beats are all great, and the sample tracks were pretty innovative for the time. All around classic.

Some nice beats, surprised I've never heard of this as it's as good as some of the other hip hop acts of the time

Immature and juvenile.

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

China China aime pas mal.

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?

Je devrai y retourner. Bien aimé les beat funky!

Excellent hip hop record. Superb stuff

this was a lot of fun! a solid 90s rap album. the group dynamic is great too. since I'm in catchup mode i have a feeling my ratings will be mild for the next week. oops sorry.

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.

Was totally unfamiliar with this hip-hop group. Enjoyed the jazz elements of this album. There were a couple of great tracks in this album.

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

I enjoy this era of rap, but this album is nothing special.

insane groove. didn't love the violence against women but otherwise dug it a lot

Haven't heard of them. 90s hip hop is always so 50/50 for me but thankfully this time I got the kind with good music. The lyrics were a bit goofy sometimes but that's fine 3/5

It’s okay, I guess.

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

ugh, more old school hip hop

This is such a groovy album, I know some of it from the film ‘Mid90s’ but it was great to hear more. The bars are great. Fav song is ‘Passin’ Me By’.

Not my style, but it has its moments. ★★★

нормалек.

What a fucking blast, so fun, funny at times. Phife dog is great on this lol

Not for me.

Better than I would have thought. Beastie Boys like 3.5

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.

I love albums where it feels like everyone involved is just having a great time recording it. Sure, some of the lyrics are a bit immature and don't quite hold up 30 years later, but this album is a blast!

Ok for what it is but not really my thing

schon wieder hip-hop, schon wieder west coast! das jazzige, groovige gefällt.

Es scheint die Rap-Woche zu sein... Mir etwas zu relaxed und jazzy.

This line made me laugh out loud: "Shot them in ass on the downstroke."

I like the jazzy hip-hop approach in theory, but the album felt kind of half-assed to me. The lyrics are funny (transphobia and sexism aside) but the skits are annoying and the beats are plain. There are fun pastiches of Public Enemy on Officer and the old school style on Return of the B-Boy, but I think I would have liked it all better if I'd heard it back in 1992.

Catchy hip-hop tunes and decent rap. The band name rings a bell, but they’re new to me. I gave some lower ratings to other rap/hip-hop albums due to extreme language and content. This applies here somewhat, although I’m giving them a pass here, because the content isn’t as in-your-face as, say, Straight Outta Compton. I can tune out the n-word a little more here than on NWA’s record. Pharcyde has a more accessible sound for me. 3.5 stars

Juvenile and dirty a lot but the beats are tight (? Can I say “tight”? Is that a thing the hipster hoppers would say? Possibly “dope” or “fresh”). Pretty fun not excessively obsessed with being victimized, vilified, or otherwise guilty without being tried. In a trial that is, a jury of your peers, something America hasn’t had for years. But I digress. This is funny and cool but like I said a little dirty at times.

You could talk me into this being a top ten all-time hip hop record, but you’ll have to talk me into it.this feels like what hip hop was before the preoccupation with gangsta rap in the 90s, which today means it’s “alt hip hop”. The track order on this record is kinda hilarious to me… by the time I get to “Ya Mama” I start to wonder how much more goofball music I can handle, and then “Passin’ Me By” starts and I’m sucked right back in. This record covers a lot of ground. I’m at like 3.5 stars

Dated, formulaic, boring

Awesome beats, some questionable lyrics, but still a really class album.

Fine for a hip hop album I guess

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.

I wasn’t really liking this for the first couple of tracks but it started to grow on me after a while. Overall it was a fun enough listen, I’m gonna try to go back to it later to see if the first part clicks with me. Top Track - Soul Flower - Remix

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.

Some very good bars and quick catchy lyrics. Felt it slightly overstayed its welcome but will definitely br coming back to this

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.

It was pretty enjoyable for the first 4 or 5 tracks but then it started getting pretty tiresome.

Half listened

Phar out, bunch of zany stoners havin’ fun and recorded the session. It’s like the Beastie Boys jammin’ wid The Black Naked Ladies, but the lyrics here are more clever and the rhymin’ is better. Ya can’t help but laugh. (

Bizarre that this is the second ride by The Pharcyde and still their debut. Despite the confusion, I went along for this ride. There are some jazzy beats that bounce. The crew keeps it light throughout most of the record, having a good time. The skits show that they don't have much skill with freestyle and def better with a pad and pen. They also need to work on their Yo Mamma jokes. Even though "Passin' Me By" is considered their flagship song, "I'm That Type of Nigga" is my top track from this one. Overall a great 90s hip-hop album that stands out and comes in at 3.4 stars.

Pretty fun rap album from Pharcyde. I tend to enjoy alternate rap styles against the more popular gangster rap genre, so while I appreciate parts of Bizarre Ride II, there isn't enough meat on the bone here long-lasting appeal for me. Bizarre Ride II is truly a bizarre ride at times. The mix of backing tracks is appreciated for bringing something different to the table, but lyrics and wordplay are mostly juvenile cornball stuff that loses its luster within the album's hour-long playtime. At times it is fun, at times it is dumb, but when it wraps up its mostly just another album to check the box and cross off the list for me. I get why older rap fans may have affection for this album but I wasn't aware or familiar with any of this in the 90's so I have no nostalgia and little rap history to compare this to. A fun time capsule for a handful of tracks but nothing for me to return to. Glad to check out some of young Bootie Brown's work prior to collaborations with Gorillaz which I can appreciate. 2.63 stars

liked the music, hated the lyrics

A slightly worse version of 3 Feet High, still enjoyable though

Normaal vind ik 90s hiphop niets, maar dit heeft wel wat, net wat experimenteler, wilder, gekker. Tof!

Groot fan van het yo mama liedje. Verder vrij voorspelbare jaren 90 hiphop.

Not my thing. I turned it off at track 4 or 5 with the horror lyrics. I'm sure there is historical context to this album. I'll read about it some day. Doesn't stand on its own.

1 - TERRIBLE

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.

It was comical, the production was really good and I thought it was a well put together album. Some of the songs were repetitive and lengthy but overall I think that each one has something that makes it its own.

This album should, by all rights, be Platinum.

Fuckin, what did I just say. Hiphop=good, me=too white to know better.

Their debut album. Hip Hop. This was kind of fun and edgy at thirteen years old. Some nice beats. It is pretty dumb and immature though. A bit of retro fun. 2.5 rounded up to 3 here.

Was decent

3.5 - Good

Fun hip hop album. Miss the time when rap albums were as enjoyable. It has great rhythms and some iconic moments. 7/10 [KEEP]

I just find it annoying, I'm sorry

It was ok

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

Some decent production, and definitely on the silly side, but outside of its historical impact I probably won’t revisit

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.

Nope. Not gonna waste my time. Don’t even have to try. Wondering why these explicit albums are on the list and why the algorithm keeps sending them.

old school hip hop is always fun hip hop!

Only one song saved from me, but solid 90s rap

Never heard of them. Some fun lyrics and beats.

Good

90’s hip hop essential. The lyrics get dark in an open way. Flows easy

a good listen, a few familiar tunes.

Cool stuff. Old school feel. 3.75/5. 4 better or 4 worse

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

Not really my thing

Just not for me

It's nice, quaint, early 90s rap. Kinda funny, but there's some sneaky good word play in there as well, if you're listening. Beats are a bit too poppy for my tastes, but that's just 90s rap (non-gangsta edition) for you.

I'm far too old for this. Well done and dumb. It's not that it's bad, I just don't like it..

Helt ok, not my jam

Old school rap.

This is one of those rap albums where they mostly talk, but I prefer the ones that are more melodic, even though this one is not too bad. Passin' me by seems to be alright. Overall, it was okay having it on the side where I was doing other stuff.

I can tell this guy really likes, old-school absurd, rap. This reminds me of Del the funky, we’re essentially the entire point of the album is just gotcha bars. Pretty good production and the beats are catchy. There’s just not a whole lot of substance.

Reading other reviews, I’m glad I’m not alone in feeling that this is a case of bad taste, good execution. Some of these beats and flows are genuinely amazing, but most of the appeal is lost in the commitment to absurdity. Most tracks feel immature in a way that’s not even fun, just cringy and over exaggerated.

From the Vault #11 (January 19, 2026) What it be, what it do. I'm back with another pre-emptive review. The Pharcyde is a vaguely familiar name to me. I'm not sure why - it's not like I'm engaging with these hip-hop albums of my own accord. Really drawing a blank on why I'm familiar with these guys. Guess I'll just hop into it. Oh, I was thinking of the comic by Gary Larson the whole time. I can't help but love the Cow Tools strip because of its infamy. Anyways, this wasn't half bad. A big surprise considering my opinion of hip-hop and the crasse album cover. The instrumentals are easily the best aspect of this album. There's a lot of ground covered in the samples and general sound of this album. There is kind of a disconnect between the instrumentals and lyrics, however. I wish these songs were paired with better lyrics. The vocals get the job done for a hip-hop album, but they didn't do much in establishing a presence or character for The Pharcyde, which was a little disappointing. Overall, I thought this album has a leg up over many of the other hip-hop albums I've listened to, but it's appeal wore off somewhere down the middle, which is no doubt a product of how many goldarn songs are on this thing. Book time. Spread the Native Tongues' style to California. Blends many genres, P-funk being the most prominent. Has an enduring influence among musicians. This is way more competent than what I'm used to from hip-hop, which is funny since the book says the band members were carried by the guidance of their high-school music teacher when creating this album. Anyways, it's pretty unique and holds up well. I cosign this inclusion.

# In-Depth Review: *Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde* (1992) Released on November 24, 1992, The Pharcyde's debut album *Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde* is widely regarded as one of the defining records of alternative hip-hop. Produced almost entirely by former member J-Swift, the album emerged from Los Angeles during the absolute peak of West Coast gangsta rap—a context that makes its playful, jazz-inflected sound all the more radical . --- ## Lyrics & Vocal Performance The Pharcyde's four MCs—Fatlip, Imani, Bootie Brown, and Slimkid3 (Tre Hardson)—each bring distinct voices and flows that interlock with remarkable chemistry. Their lyrical approach is defined by **witty wordplay, absurdist storytelling, and surprising emotional depth** . **"Passin' Me By"** stands as the album's lyrical masterpiece. Each member delivers a verse about unrequited love with devastating specificity: Bootie Brown's schoolboy crush on a teacher, Tre's half-sung reminiscences of playground flirtations, Imani's compressed narrative of waiting for a woman to leave her unworthy partner, and Fatlip's closing verse about a returned letter to a "dopest Ethiopian"—widely considered one of the most poignant 16-bar verses in hip-hop history . As Tre explained, the song reflected their reality: "Every day, at 5:30, when it's hella traffic on La Cienega and Hill, we'd be standing outside of SCU watching the girls go by... smoking weed, and just watching and dreaming" . Other tracks showcase their range. **"Ya Mama"** is a four-minute "yo mama" battle over organ and guitar samples, with lines like "Ya Mama's got a glass eye with a fish in it" displaying their creative absurdity . **"Officer"** parodies Flavor Flav before narrating a traffic stop with comic irony, each member picking up the story thread of driving with a suspended license and no insurance . **"4 Better or 4 Worse"** explores love and relationships, ending with Fatlip's obscene phone call—a surreal but thematically coherent conclusion . The group's vocal interplay creates a sense of camaraderie that permeates the album. They trade verses, harmonize on choruses, and reduce their voices to instruments in ways that recall EDM forebears, finding variation within repetitive structures . --- ## Music & Production J-Swift's production is the album's sonic backbone, creating a **lush, jazzy soundscape** that perfectly complements the group's style . He drew from an eclectic sample palette: - **Jazz foundations**: Donald Byrd's "Beale Street" ("Oh Sh*t"), Herbie Mann's "Today" ("Otha Fish"), John Coltrane ("Pack The Pipe"), Eddie Russ' "Hill Where the Lord Hides," and Weather Report's "125th St. Congress" - **Soul and funk**: James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone, Marvin Gaye, and the Fatback Band - **Unexpected sources**: Quincy Jones' "Summer in the City" (for "Passin' Me By"), Richard Pryor's *Wanted* live album (scratched into "Oh Sh*t"), and Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?" The production is notable for its **textured, layered sound** combining live instrumentation with sampling. J-Swift insisted on analog techniques even when digital options were available—such as manually doing dropouts on an old MCI console for "Passin' Me By," which left audible "crrrchkt" pops that he refused to clean up, and preserving the vinyl crackle in the Quincy Jones sample . This dedication to sonic texture gives the album a warm, organic feel. **"Otha Fish"** (produced by L.A. Jay, not J-Swift) stands apart with its aqueous flute sample and jazz-club atmosphere, allowing Tre's singsong flow to fully emerge . Tracks regularly stretch past the five-minute mark, allowed to breathe and shift at their own pace . --- ## Themes The album's thematic range is remarkably broad for a debut: **Adolescence and Coming-of-Age**: From schoolyard crushes to first heartbreaks, the album captures the awkward, painful, and hilarious moments of young adulthood. "Passin' Me By" and "Otha Fish" explore unrequited love with an honesty that was rare in hip-hop at the time . **Humor as Subversion**: The album's comedy—whether "Ya Mama" jokes or the DMV nightmare of "Officer"—served as an affectionate jab at hip-hop's self-serious currents . This wasn't empty silliness; it was a deliberate counter-narrative to the dominant gangsta rap paradigm . **Social Commentary**: Beneath the humor lies genuine critique. "Officer" addresses police encounters with wit rather than aggression. "On the DL" explores secrecy and its consequences—from masturbation to murder to the effects of ego . "It's Jiggaboo Time" and "If I Were President" use skits to lampoon racial stereotypes and political fantasy . **Cannabis Culture**: "Pack The Pipe" and "Quinton's On The Way" celebrate weed not just superficially, but as stress relief and social bonding. However, Fatlip's verse about sharing with a four-year-old adds an unsettling edge . **Identity and Self-Deprecation**: The group frequently turned the joke inward. As Fatlip noted about "Ya Mama": "We dissed ourselves on that song, so who cares? Nobody is ever as hard as they say they are, so we just had fun with shit" . --- ## Influence & Legacy *Bizarre Ride* helped **establish West Coast alternative hip-hop** alongside albums like Freestyle Fellowship's *To Whom It May Concern* and Del tha Funkee Homosapien's *I Wish My Brother George Was Here* . It opened doors for Souls of Mischief, Hieroglyphics, The Coup, and Jurassic 5 . The album's influence extends far beyond its immediate scene. Its jazz-rap fusion, emotional honesty, and production adventurousness resonated with future artists including **J Dilla** (who produced their follow-up *Labcabincalifornia*), **Kanye West**, and **Kendrick Lamar** . Director **Spike Jonze**, who shot the "Passin' Me By" video, went on to become a top-tier Hollywood filmmaker—the video itself remains a landmark of the era . Despite peaking at only No. 75 on the Billboard 200 initially, the album was eventually certified Gold on March 28, 1996, driven by the success of "Passin' Me By" . Today it is universally recognized as a classic that "rewrote the rules" of what hip-hop could be . --- ## Pros - **Timeless production**: J-Swift's jazzy, sample-heavy beats remain fresh and inventive decades later - **Exceptional chemistry**: Four distinct voices that complement each other perfectly, creating infectious camaraderie - **Emotional depth beneath humor**: Songs like "Passin' Me By" and "Otha Fish" achieve genuine poignancy without sacrificing the album's playful spirit - **Unique identity**: A completely original sound that stood in stark contrast to the gangsta rap dominating its era - **Lyrical virtuosity**: From Fatlip's legendary verses to the group's collective wordplay, the MCing is consistently dazzling - **Seamless sequencing**: Skits like "Quinton's On The Way" are musical and funny, integrating smoothly into the album's flow ## Cons - **Commercial underperformance**: Initially failed to break through beyond alternative hip-hop circles, reaching only No. 75 on the Billboard 200 - **Uneven tone**: The puerile humor of tracks like "Oh Sh*t" and "Ya Mama" may not appeal to all listeners, and occasionally undercuts the album's more mature moments - **Sample clearance issues**: The original version of "I'm That Type of N***a" was altered due to James Brown's strict enforcement of sampling rights, replacing a chaotic, brilliant production with a bare-bones version that "stands out like a sore thumb" - **Some filler**: Instrumental interludes like "4 Better Or 4 Worse (Interlude)" and "Pack The Pipe (Interlude)" don't add substantial value - **Occasional disturbing content**: Fatlip's verse about giving weed to a four-year-old on "Pack The Pipe" crosses into genuinely uncomfortable territory - **Inconsistent depth**: While the highs are stratospheric, not every track achieves the emotional resonance of "Passin' Me By" or "Otha Fish" --- ## Verdict *Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde* is a **stone-cold classic** that succeeds precisely because it refuses to take itself too seriously while still delivering serious artistry. It captures four friends at the peak of their creative synergy, guided by a producer with an "encyclopedic command of musical marginalia" . The album's blend of jazz-inflected production, absurdist humor, and unexpected emotional honesty created a template for alternative hip-hop that remains influential today. While not without its flaws—some juvenile moments, commercial struggles, and the compromised "I'm That Type of N***a"—its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. As one critic noted, "If the Pharcyde had never cut another record, their legacy would still be intact thanks to ['Passin' Me By'] alone" .

This is the first record I’ve had on here (day 32) that I would say I don’t really like. The music itself is jazzy and cool, but between the skits and the lyrics, this is not for me.

Some absolute tunes on this album.

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde is the debut album from the LA-based hip-hop collective the Pharcyde. The Pharcyde's work could not be further from the gangster rap that was popular in the 90s; there's no egomania or glorification of violence in their work. The Pharcyde's raps are playful, eccentric, and wander towards social commentary. The tracks all have a jazzy sound, due to the rich, melodic production with extensive sampling. Bizarre Ride ... is an incredible collection of tracks and an unusual version of early hip-hop. For their unique sound and lyrical content, the Pharcyde created one of the very few hip-hop albums that sounds "timeless."

I will confess to not being aware of this album during my first year of teaching but it does have a more live and occasionally jazzy feel than those early gangsta rap albums. There is a playfulness and moments of humour but it still sounds like a bunch of annoying teenage boys being inappropriate in the school corridor for the most part. I do also hear some of the sound that Prince developed with the NPG which I'm sure I would have given more leverage to. These hip hop albums always seem a bit long.......

18. 더 파사이드 - 비자르 라이드 투 더 파사이드 (1992) 총 16곡 수록, 56분. 아... 취향 아니다 역시 힙합은 확실히 강력하지 않으면 크게 흥미가 돋지 않는다 한줄평: 장르의 한계... 취향: ☆☆☆☆☆ 재방문: ☆☆☆☆☆

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.

Een hiphop plaat in de tijd dat hiphop nog niet zijn volle potentie had bereikt. Het is wel leuk om naar te luisteren, maar het dringt zichzelf toch wel veel naar de achtergrond, af en toe is het een beetje flauw en kinderlijk (ya mama), er zitten veel grapjes in die niet per se heel erg grappig zijn. Instrumentals zijn vaak wel oké, maar het album deed me niet heel erg veel.

6 out of 10 no notes.

I’d never even heard of Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde before this challenge, so this was a completely new one for me. I went in open-minded, although hip hop isn’t usually a genre I connect with, especially after spending time on Beastie Boys the day before. What stood out straight away is that The Pharcyde don’t take themselves too seriously. There’s a playful, almost parody-like feel to the album, which makes it more engaging than I expected. That said, the opening interlude doesn’t really set the tone, and it would have been a much stronger start if it had kicked off with Oh Shit, which is a genuinely fun track. There’s a lightness and humour running through the album that makes it an easy listen in places, even if it doesn’t fully convert me to the genre. The production is solid, and there are moments where it really clicks. Favourite tracks: 4 Better or 4 Worse and Passin’ Me By, both standout tracks that I really enjoyed Least favourite tracks: The interludes don’t add much and could be removed. More broadly, I still struggle with how quickly some of the lyrics feel dated across the album Album artwork: I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but it definitely stands out

I liked the beats on this, and the rapping was pretty good, albeit with a few dodgy lyrics. I could have done with fewer interludes and skits though.

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.

Better than expected with the name. Decent 90s hip hop.

pretty cool!!

Honestly I didn't know what to expect as I don't typically bop to 90s hip hop, but this album was CRAZY good. Well sequenced, catchy earworms on every track, good and interesting interludes that don't overstay their welcome. This is a new rotation for me. 5/5

Nah, even for hip hop it's pretty bad

Goofy, but fun.

This was not half bad. This type of hip hop is much more to my liking.

Old School hiphopia mutta ihan väärällä tavalla. Paljon toistoa huonoa riimittelyä ehkä olen väärä kohderyhmä

It's rap...'nuff said

A nice carbon-dated hip hop journey I never heard before. Like De la Soul minus the sentimental connection. I now know that sentimental connections are worth exactly one star.

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.

Another ‘90s hip-hop time capsule; a fun-sometimes strange—listen.

original. out there. different. hip hop.

Alternative Hip-Hop / Jazz Rap - for me these represent the four horsemen of the apocalypse as far as musical genres are concerned. Supposedly, sevral of the tracks are comedic, but I didn't find them funny. Boring.

This is definitely an album of its time…a very 90s ‘playground’esque rap album complete with an entire track of ‘Yo Mama’ jokes. A bit too sophomoric for my tastes, but I did enjoy the jazzy elements infused in the music. 2.5/5

Classic

This album has a song that's nothing but "your mama" jokes. Inclusion in this list is justified. Album feels familiar even though I've never heard it before just because of tracks like "Passin' Me By" that have been getting sampled for decades at this point.

We didn’t know how good we had it. This was just another in a line of kinda goofy, fun, but still cool albums in the extended “alternative rap” lineage, and yet now? Classic.

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.

The Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde (1992) On Day 115, I experienced a true masterpiece that stands out as a breath of fresh air in a scene otherwise dominated by hardcore and gangsta rap. This LP is an outstanding example of how to engage a listener through a playful, storytelling-driven narrative without taking yourself too seriously. While I found "Pack the Pipe" to be a weaker track that didn't match the energy of the rest, the overall experience was absolutely perfect. The rapping chemistry between the quartet is immaculate especially "Passin' Me By," they deliver an outstanding storytelling by reciting their failed fantasies with incredible vulnerability and wit. My personal favorite, "On the DL," manages to be hilarious while discussing heavy topics like masturbation and murder, much like the catfishing narrative on "Oh Shit" or the "not chasing" message of "Otha Fish", and who can forget the classic ya mama jokes exchange on "Ya Mama" which elevated there chemistry! Even while being playful, they manage to drop "conscious" messages about police brutality on "Officer," which features a tuff Run-DMC-esque production. The production by J-Swift and the crew is slick and consistent, especially on the "Soul Flower (Remix)." The way the skits, like "Quinton's On The Way," actually build into the narrative rather than being a snooze fest shows a high-level of curation. Having known a few tracks before, giving them a thorough listen in the context of the full LP was a blessed experience. Great storytelling, engaging fun, and actual rapping chemistry. A definitive 5/5, I will definitely be returning to this.

I am a sucker for old hip-hop.

There were some funny lines but they were kinda repetitive.

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.

This was kinda fun, not really my bag but it was okay. Probably won't ever listen to it again.

The Pharcyde is one of my absolute favorite hip hop artists of all time. This album and "Labcabincalifornia" are both excellent. These albums are so fun and catchy, I always look forward to revisiting them. Favorite track: Passin' Me By 4.5/5

Really good '90s West Coast hip hop!

A classic, not much to say about it though. Favorite Track: Passin' Me By

Chill as hell. Plus there’s a song with my name

Interesting to say the least