Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

Beats and production is on point. The overall impression is that it's an album that really wasn't taken seriously by the creators. There's so much talent visible, but the overall product only shines in moments.

4 The Golden Age of Hip-Hop saw the music bend and stretch in a variety of directions. Pharcyde are a symbolic victory for the last frame. At its time, a blazing single like "Runnin'" opened up so many ears to their bumpin' Psychedelic rap. However, it was not even the best song here. Smart production and a cohesion of tracks that is lost in this generation's widest swath possible styled drop. "Drop" whatta jam.

Fun old school hip hop. Enjoyed "Oh Shit" and the jazzy vibe

old school

This album is fun as hell. It's super goofy - there's a 4min track of yo mama jokes; at one point they smoke a blunt with a 4yo kid - but the beats are good and they're all rapping their ass off. Just don't mind the dated lyrics here and there.

Love this album. They really are top class storytellers and their use of humor and wordplay is unparalleled. This is one you really need to listen to with the lyrics out to appreciate it.

3.5

3.5

Gun hiphop. Good beats and flow. 4 stars

I thought this was a pretty cool album. I think the Pharcyde was one of the first real alternative hip-hop acts -- ignoring the prevalent gangsta rap happening on the west coast and really doing their own weird thing. I think I preferred the highs on their '95 album, but this is a bit more solid overall, minus some skits. Highlights for me were "Passin' Me By", "Oh Shit", and "Soul Flower". 4 stars.

Skits were mediocre. 4/5 stars

Oh Shit...decent opener (if you don't include the skit) 4 Better...is good fun I'm That Type...great track Soul Flower fux hard On the DL continues the groove. This one sounds weird in the best way Officer...fuck yeah Yo Mama. So stupid. So great Passin' Me By givin' me Portishead. Who did it first??? Otha Fish. This shit keeps hitting Pack the Pipe...lemme hit it again Return of the B-Boy seems more stripped down than the other tracks but still good

This was some of the most childish, immature shit I've heard in an album. There's so much musical talent and they're not taking themselves seriously which led to me really enjoying it.

not my preferred music genre, but that slaps!

Call me a fan, I just loved this.

This album feels like the start of an alternate timeline where fun, upbeat, funky, and somewhat goofy (in a good way) hip-hop dominated, and groups like Hieroglyphics, Jungle Brothers, Jurassic 5, and so on were top of the charts instead of gangster and more serious rap and hip-hop - some of which I do like, but that stuff just dominated more. I don't personally think I'll go back to The Pharcyde a lot, but I do think it deserves to be heard and appreciated, and it does still hold up as "a classic that is still fun and engaging to listen to."

Such a fun album. Like Wutang if they did acid. Back and forth from laid back to in your face, not a bad vibe in sight

This album was a lot of fun to listen to. I have no interest in listening to more. Once was pretty good.

I guess this isn't technically old school hip hop but that's what it sounded like to me, and that's pretty much the only era of hip hop I like (plus some later golden age stuff). I doubt I'd listen to this again but I did enjoy this! I saved "Soul Flower (Remix)" for my playlist.

90s hip hop was the best. Love it.

Genius

This is a highly entertaining rap quartet who bring great lyrics and a real sense of fun and energy to their flows. It sounds like a talented group of friends who are trying to make each other laugh over the top of boisterous jazzy production. There’s enough single power across the tracklist that it more than earns the almost hour long run time. There’s an interesting tension between the deliberately controversial lyrics on a song like Pack the Pipe, and the fact that you’re listening to what sounds like four classically trained theatre kids. Other tracks like Return of the B-Boy just sound like a group of boys having the most amazing party in the world. With some notable exceptions, the humour has aged very well. In fact, the skits act as spacey, rich interludes which neatly glue the songs together. It would be a much poorer release without them. It’s also a great opportunity for them to showcase their excellent singing.

One of my favorites that is linked strong to memory. Listening to this in the early 2000s on a burned CD in my friends old Chevy Nova was peak. This is a collective records with a bunch of skilled dudes having a great time. They had fun and the loose song collection follows the flow. Some great grooves and fun mc bits.

Didn't hate it

I can see why some people would find this annoying, but I dug the laid back beats and the juvenile rhymes.

This project has made me realize that I like hip hop more than I thought I did. Not that I didn't like it, but I'm consistently rating it higher than I thought I would.

Some stuff that sounded super new & interesting

Really loved all the jazz samples and beats, but some lyrics have aged poorly.

Straight up fun

A good time. Nice samples, good jazzy old school rap vibes.

Nice rhymes and old school beats.

Lots of fun.

I love the boom bap beats here and the jazzy stuff is well up my street - this has clearly had a big influence on jazz rap and abstract hip hop that i enjoy from the 2010s onwards. Shame that some of the lyrics put me off (Oh Shit especially) but a super fun record.

Vibes

when this album is at it's best, it's pretty great. the production is fun and the performances are engaging. for me, this one is solidly in the 'good, not great' camp. it's a fun listen, but never gets to the level of an all-timer.

Really good and stood the test of time. 3.85

It's just a lot of fun, quite frankly.

A work of bugged-out bonkers, peurile party genius.

A great laid back summery listen - especially in the car - with loose jazzy vibes and great rapping. Would be a 5 were it not for the lyrics which at times were a bit uncomfortable at times for a square white middleaged man. Not one to sing along with the kids.

Never heard of these guys before but this sounds like 90s hip hop distilled down to its essence, poorly aged lyrics and all. Would listen again.

4 - fun hip hop jazz infused album

all i had really listened to before now was passin me by, but theres a lot more here that rocks! rlly liked pack the pipe and otha fish

I like this old hiphop stuff

Boppin'! Loved the energy, beats, humour, and flow.

We’ve had the first week of proper sun where I’m living and this album couldn’t have come at a better time. The type of classic hip hop I love, listened to with a beer or two in the sun. Perfect.

Goofy with some great beats. Not all of the songs/lyrics aged great, but a welcome change from 90's gangsta rap.

Remember this album it was kinda an oldschool album which felt out of place in the growing gangster west side type stuff. Still some great samples beats and lyrics. Clever wordplay it was a quality album if maybe a little late for the times.

Refreshing counter to the hardcore gangsta predominance of it's time. Mostly great, occasionally less so, sometimes hilarious.

Quality beats. Enjoyable hip hop.

Wish I had heard this in my teens

Goddam if I didn't need this today. "Shot him in the ass on the down stroke"--say what? Don't know, don't care, it's awesome, though some of the lyrics haven't aged well.

First heard this a couple years ago and it’s only gotten better

Fun album.

Phat

I love me a fun rap album, the attitude and sound of these guys sort of reminds me of the chemistry the Beastie Boys have where they trade off bars, shout certain lines and just overall have more funny lines going on, basically: these guys are having fun and it shows and I just love that sort of easy going beats and fun chemistry these guys have which only makes it a better listen for me! (Also, skits that don't bring down an album? Crazy.)

OMG this hip hop album is just so juicy, love the rapping, love the breakbeats and the vibes are immaculate. They know how to cook. Tho not my fav hip hop album of this, nas better

Day434 - this is my favorite style of rap. jazzy and fun.

Unique rap album, jazzy-electronic type beats, and rhyming is pretty nice.

That's pretty chill here, yo.

Phun and phunky!

It's not perfect, but for what it is, it's pretty great.

The funnest 90s rap out there

Great 90s hip hop that was just a little different from everything else out there

Baby, fun is fun. Love that these dudes were just chopping it up.

This 90s rap album is very very 90s rap, and I think that's very very fun.

🎧Bizarre, somewhat, but moreso just fun as all get-out 90s hip hop. Fatlip, Slimkid3, Imani, and Bootie Brown are playful wizards on the mic.

Fun and interesting. The energy is frenetic

Hip-hop classic

West Coast ATCQ / DlS

Great early hip-hop beats, if you don't agree I'll pull out all the Ya Mama jokes.

My kind of boppin. Smooth. Just right.

Grew on me

dalla cover mi sembrava un album heavy metal gli darei cinque stelle solo per il fatto di non esserlo

A strong 90s hip hop album. Groovy.

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.

I’ve already explored this album and it’s a really fun 90s hip hop trip. Underrated group for the time.

I really vibe with this era of Hip Hop music and this album flew by. I knew a few of the tracks, especially "Oh Shit" which I have on a playlist I play a lot.

One of the cornerstone west-coast hip-hop acts of the 1990s, the Pharcyde is just one of those bands that you know if you're into hip-hop. They offered a completely different take on the genre with their lighthearted (at times straight-up goofy) lyrics in a time when hardcore gangsta rap dominated. Passin’ Me By is still one of my favorite hip hop songs of all time. Like most rap, especially older albums, there are lyrics that didn’t age well. But I have the perspective and memory of being there when the album was new, so it’s easier for me to overlook and think about this album in that context. 4⭐️

It’s the type of hip hop that would fit in the world of Regular Show. They’re all having a jolly good show.

This was a dope early 90s rap albums - one of my new favorites from that era. Conceptual with great thick beats and awesome tunes.

Another pivotal west coast hip hop group. In the fallout of N.W.A., other hip hop groups emerged in their stead to build on genre. On the east coast, Wu Tang Clan maintained a hardcore edge while De La Soul mellowed out with a more jazz-influenced form of hip hop. On the west coast, Cyprus Hill maintained the gangsta rap of N.W.A., while The Pharcyde took a similar approach to De La Soul while also incorporating boom bap beats. The result is an effortless, fun, and confident album that glides along.

what is the instrument you hear on 90s rap albums ? a synth? a keyboard of some sort? whatever it is, need it injected into my veins. the pharcyde is a group i knew of (mostly their biggest hit, Runnin’) but never dove into for reasons still unknown to me. glad my introduction was through their debut. it’s a solid effort. lively production with verses to match. love how animated these guys sound. i wish some of the interludes were their own full songs (especially Pack the Pipe) definitely something i’ll be revisiting.

Unexpectedly good

nice jazz / blues instruments, samples, nice rhytm

Real funky, alternative 90s Hip Hop. A fun, experimental and off-beat example of what Hip Hop can be- outside of the gangster rap, trousers down by your knees that dominated the era. For the most part I enjoyed the album, it felt vibrant and the incorporation of jazz and soul samples showed how versatile and complimentary rap can be. I'm a fan of The Pharcyde and Slimkid3, Passin me by is a classic and the beat on Soul Flower feels iconic. There is absolutely inspiration taken from artists like Slick Rick on this album, and you can see how this sort of hip hop paved the way for the likes of Outkast. There was too much going on in parts though, with cluttered instruments and chatter.. it reminded me of that era in the late 90s early 2000s when hair gel really became a thing, and lads would drown their barnet in that cheap gloopy blue shit and constantly look soaking wet. Less is more sometimes. "It's Jiggaboo time" pales in comparison to "It's Moprhin Time" by the power rangers too.. And I doubt a megajigga would be any match for the megazord. Other than that I enjoyed the album a lot. 4/5

Part of a movement of more thoughtful hip hop artists like De La Soul, Jurassic 5, Tribe Called Quest, Freestyle Fellowship. I enjoyed this album, partly because I gravitate towards this form of rap more so than some of the one dimensional artists that pollute the genre. You can see how The Pharcyde influenced the likes of Outkast, Busta Rhymes and Eminem. Their off kilter use of sampling and production methods, creates a curbside vision, car horns, cheers, chanting, real block party vibes, and nicely ties in with the promise of a ‘ride to the far side’. Very well thought out album, in concept and execution. Passing Me By, Ya Mama, On The DL, Otha Fish, are my favourites. Pretty flawless album. I was about to criticise the runtime, but by the end I don't think I'd cut anything, because doing so would take away from the well-balanced dynamic and storytelling. On occasion some of the lyrics are just vehicles to the next line, and completely meaningless, but I guess that comes with the territory when delivering slick and comprehensive flows.

De La, but from the Westside.

Damn this slaps! flow is excellent! a bit cringe at times but they got bars.

Pretty standard 90s rap, but they did it well.

A 5 for music and style. I love this album. I need to back off a bit because at least some of the tracks have lyrics I can't get behind.

7/10. Some good beats. A bit inconsistent overall but enjoyable.

++*: Oh Shit, Otha Fish ++: 4 Better or 4 Worse, 4 Better or 4 Worse, I'm That Type of Nigga, Soul Flower, On the DL, Pack the Pipe, Officer, Passin' Me By, Return of the B-Boy +: It's Jiggaboo Time, If I Were President, Ya Mama, Quinton's on the Way , Pack the Pipe 9,6/10

Fun album with good beats. Favorite track: passin me by other picks: oh shit, on the dl, ya mama

Fun Ride!

Really enjoyed this… will revisit.

A pretty breezy and fun record.

I enjoyed it

What this album lacks in quality, it makes up for in comedy.

7/10 Fun and bouncy. good flow and production especially for 1992 10-24-2024

That was fun

In my mind, The Pharcyde remain to be one of the most under appreciated rap groups of the last 30 years. I doubt they will ever get the recognition they deserve. I love Labcabincalifornia, and it contains one of my favorite hip-hop songs ever, Runnin', as one of its lead singles. It’s also easily my favorite hip-hop instrumental ever, courtesy of the legendary J Dilla, who did some incredible work for that sophomore record. But I had never dove into their debut. I’m glad they found a place on the list. Because more people need to be made aware of the power of this group. Considering I was only familiar with the one album, I wasn’t sure what kind of sound to expect. And I was shocked at just how much fun this is. They seriously mellowed things out for the follow-up, and chose to make lyrical content that actually represented something. On Bizarre Ride, the members are consistently high energy throughout. It’s interesting seeing them come out during the time when gangster rap was at its peak of popularity, and mesh the in your face energy of that genre with a certain level of silliness. They obviously aren’t taking themselves too seriously here. They were all in their 20s, and it sounds like a group of friends having a blast recording an album. This leads to some insane charisma. These guys are bouncing off the walls and absolutely rocking the house. The amount of totally ridiculous adlibs that are shouted at full volume in these tracks is hilarious. I couldn’t help but really buy into the vibe they were trying to create. And this is also aided by the production. I was not at all familiar with the work of J-Swift, as it seems his career was rather brief. His most notable work is specifically this album, and nothing else he worked on really reached the same level. But I love his style here. It initially appeared as a little overwhelming, but once I settled in, it reminded me of the best work from The Bomb Squad. So much flying at the listener at once, but it’s all sequenced really well. And much like the lyrical dynamic itself, every beat is super fun. I don’t really count their third and fourth record, since they don’t even feature all of the original members. So as far as I’m concerned, The Pharcyde released two of the best 90s hip-hop albums ever, back to back. Definitely an essential listen. Rating: 8/10

ta weno el album, corte ql que se manda

Thoughts before listening: This is an album I mostly missed in the 90s but that I have come to enjoy in recent years. Cool 90s hip hop is the best hip hop. Review: This is a very fun album. Similar in vibe to other 90s underground hip hop like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde is playful and funny throughout this album. Jazzy funk backing tracks like the ones on this album will always be my favorite hip hop sound. 4-stars

I’ve got more flavor than 7-11 slurpees If Magic can admit he got AIDS, fuck it I got herpes

Probably a bit too long, but a lot of fun songs throughout

I never knew about this! It’s not one I’d throw on anytime, but that’s probably the point. Bonus half star for being fun and creative.

You can't really put a finger on this but it flows

Classic rap is really fun to listen to

these guys are much too freaky

Passing me by is a classic. Fun album

Really solid beats & bars in the vein of Tribe, Digable, & De La.

Great album, could’ve lived without the skits. This album was almost too crude to be played in 90% of social situations, which might be why I haven’t heard it, but as I was listening I kept pulling in sounds and lyrics that I’ve heard stolen on other songs, making me think this is probably a classic album I just somehow didn’t know. I liked that the person rapping kept changing, everyone was solid and unique, every song sounded different and there were some memorable and funny lyrics. Also some hilariously simple rhymes. I saved two songs from it for my library, 4 stars.

Such a throwback. Really nostalgic re listening to this one.

Great album. Enjoyed it.

I'm really surprised I've never listened to this one before. This is some extremely solid early 90s rap with fantastic production rooted around dusty jazz instrumentals and old skool mixing and scratching. They really don't make em quite like this any more. Only song I recognized was Passin' Me By; otherwise, this was solid through and through. Standouts for me were Oh Shit, Passin' Me By, Otha Fish, I'm That Type of Nigga, and Pack The Pipe. Specifically, the production on I'm That Type of Nigga was exceptional -- core horn and bass rhythm bumps, with great use of vocal samples to give depth and a certain eeriness. Very enjoyable listen -- high 4.

Really enjoyed the beats and the flow. The beats hit those 90's beats that get me grooving as a walk around the house perfectly and the flow is reminiscent of Tribe. Biggest blemish on this album is some of the crazy skits that are like Eminem's odd ass skits. Remove all of those skits and this gets 5 star considerations.

All fun and good although I expected more from the album that brought me "Passin' Me By". But then again, what 𝘥𝘪𝘥 I expect? It's jazzy beats ✔ but with, of course, an hour of dudes excitedly rapping and I've come to realise that's just not something I particularly enjoy over great lengths. Pharcyde's cool, though. Thumbs Up. Strong 4. (Side note. "Officer" seems like a peculiar omission on the streaming service's album tracklist. Huh.)

nagyon kiraly

So fun! The beats, the instrumentals, the silly lyrics (though I am now reading the reviews and seeing that some of the lyrics are problematic, clearly I wasn't paying close enough attention). I did enjoy listening and vibing to the album.

Great album with jazz-style samples and a jokey vibe which reminds me of De La Soul. I only knew Passin' Me By before it came up on 1001, so glad to get a chance to hear more of The Pharcyde.

This is a real relaxing jazzy vibe. A lot of A Tribe Called Quest influences. I liked it except for the skits (which I have no idea why rappers love - they’re almost exclusively terrible).

wasn't really listening for lyrics on this one but the beats are great and the flows are nice

This ruled. Really funny lyrics and great beats.

Pitch perfect nineties hiphop. Point of for rampant misogyny.

It was a good album, but far too many skits in this album. They flow well with the album, but I feel after every song, there was a skit following. Despite that, some good 90's hip-hop.

I quite like how this sounds. Sometimes it's a bit tiring and repetitive, but I enjoyed it overall. Otha Fish is my favourite track. 4

It's real goofy, but I dig it

Awwwww shit

Very catchy, despite its raunchiness and crassness. Their energy and playfulness works, as it does for De La Sol and A Tribe Called Quest.

I see where De La Soul grew out of. I dug this overall. I'll revisit it to see what grown on me, and to focus more on the lyrics.

Pretty good, would listen again

Favourite tracks: soul flower; ya mama; passin me by; return of the B boy

fresh

Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde is the debut album by The Pharcyde, originally released in 1992. This record was released during the emergence of gangsta rap within the popular music scene. I wasn't alive at the time, but I'm sure this was a breath of fresh air compared to their contemporaries. They even managed to be distinct from the other jazz-rap groups such as Tribe and Digable Planets in that they employed very satirical and comical lyrics. To echo what another user said, it's good to see a group not take themselves seriously, but sucks when they should've taken themselves more seriously. These guys had bars. I'd love to hear what they could've cooked up regarding social issues or maybe even the music industry. I just feel like there's only so much humor that one can put on an album without it sounding tedious after a while. The instrumentals on here are wild. Insane sampling including Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Donald Byrd, The Meters, the list literally goes on and on. The instrumentals really make the album in my opinion. I also really like the skit tracks with the live drums. I wish they included some full-length tracks like that. A really fun album, but filled with too many "what-ifs" for it to be considered 5 stars.

Diria que quase todos raps que tem a base das músicas com uma pegada de jazz me pegam muito, Gostei muito do álbum e provavelmente vou voltar a ouvir muitas vezes, musicalmente não tenho criticas. Gosto também que são letras humorosas e descompromissadas, mas justiça seja feita, tem muitos trechos datados e passiveis de crítica.

Passin' Me By is such a classic it pushes this up to 4 star

ah the 90s strike again.

Riproaring fun!

It's a fun album. Have always really enjoyed Passing me by. Will I listen to again: 75%

More solid early 90s rap. The lyrics are fun and dirty, flow goes hard

I love this era of hip hop. I didn't really know these guys in their hey day but discovered them later. Wish I'd found them in middle school

looks dope! and is dope, not what i was expecting but i fw it heavyyyy

Pleasantly surprised by this, I was only aware of one, maybe two Pharcyde tracks so was assuming they were maybe a bit of a flash in the pan one hit underground wonder, but I thought this was very consistent and had a handful of really great tracks. The skits were solid too, felt cohesive and added to the albums flow rather than detracting from it. Fave Tracks: Soul Flower (remix), 4 Better or 4 Worse, Passin’ Me By, Return of the B-Boy 4.3/5

The beats and flow are so incredibly smooth and funky. I could listen to this on repeat for days (at which point, the lyrics would thankfully fade into the background). Passin' Me By has gotten to the love it deserves but I think Soul Flower is right up there.

Bizarre Ride is correct. I remember listening to this The Pharcyde album way back (must've been like 4 years now). I vaguely had this idea of just how out there, cartoony, and overtly lude it was, and upon revisiting I was expecting a watered-down version of those memories. That certainly wasn't the case. One thing I love about this album is just how focused each of the four MCs is. Each song here has a single motif, established by the title of the song, and each member throws either a comedic twist or a grounded take relating to the motif. 'Oh Shit', the opener, has each MC telling a story that would result in those "Oh Shit" moments (some being questionable). '4 better or 4 worse' has four parts with each MC reaching different ethical conclusions relating to their respective relationships, with Fatlip's verse being particularly eccentric. 'Officer' tackles different run-ins with the police while "Ya Mama" is just as absurd as its title makes it out to be. 'Passin' Me By' shows the four tackling lost love at various levels. The best part of this album is its lyrical personality. There's so much character coming out of all the vocals and soulful refrains here. Each MC brings their fair share of witty one-liners and fitting anecdotes, all of which are delivered with these varied and smooth flows. It's even more impressive considering this came out back in 1992; it sounds years ahead of a lot of the jazz rap that was coming out at the time (lyrically speaking). While The Pharcyde are from the West Coast, the sounds here are undeniably influenced by the jazz-rap sounds coming out of the East Coast at the time. Production-wise, you get what you'd expect here. While not every beat here is standout (for example, I'm not a fan of the more skeletal 'Pack The Pipe'), everything here is undeniable smooth and easy on the ears. I love the strange backing vocal snippets on 'Soul Flower', it's one of those small things that still adds a lot of flavor to an otherwise straightforward track. Simplicity is the key here, there are so many perfect loops like on 'Passin' me By', 'Otha Fish', and 'Oh Shit'. I love when the band harmonizes on certain refrains here, especially on the outro of 'Otha Fish'. Even though these beats are repetitive, the constant interjections and adlibs from the members of the group and the DJ scratching here ensure these songs never get boring. The skits here are generally hilarious and fun and it helps that they're not strictly skits and are typically backed with solid beats as well. I think the second half of this album is a bit less impactful than the first, but I genuinely think this is one of the most unique hip-hop albums of its time on a conceptual level. Considering its release date, I feel like this album was some sort of demonstration that hip-hop can be delivered in this tongue-and-cheek , colorful, and comedic way. It shows that there's room in hip-hop for less serious ideas, all the while still respecting the foundational aspects and ethos of the genre. It also just sounds really really good.

4/5 There's a lot of ...melodies? That sound very much like early Hip Hop. No surprise, this album came out in 1992 but there's some added elements that makes it sound like they're moving forward. Chill and humorous. Good production. Jazzy and fun. Party like energy throughout. Really good blending of beats and samples. The album is coherent and all over the place at the same time. I think there's three or four vocalist on here. It adds to the chaotic feel of the album. Sometimes the business of the production reminds me of early Public Enemy albums. It sounds dated and modern at the same time. I'm reminded of Brockhampton or Danny Brown sometime and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air or the Beastie Boys. I've listened to this in the past and dismissed it based on the "Fresh Prince" type vocals, but there's also some Easy E type vocals...anyway the more I listen to this the more I come around. It's on the cusp of the early days of rap and moving forward...to the future. This is pretty good.

6/10 decent album but nothing to write home about

100% would do the worst footwork to these songs, very fun

This was really fun. I love 90s hiphop :)

Really interesting and different! Loved it!

quirked up 3.7/5

Wow how bizzare. I can see why people rip on old rap albums now. But, this was SUPER fun.

just a great hip hop album. loved it back in my youngin days, love it now

Good reminds me of Souls of Mischief

The production and flows on this are sick as hell for 1992. If I'd have had this on the project before 2 Pac and Jeru The Damaja I reckon their ratings would have suffered. 😏 Some misogyny and transphobia, but more in a trying to be edgelordy funny way, rather than being earnest culture war bullshit. Still kinda icky, but not ruining. Fave tracks - "Oh shit" sets the scene, "Soul Flower" was a lot of fun, and "Passing Me By" I actually recognized - musta heard it on some compilations....

I was prepared to write about 90s hip hop blah blah. This is that but I really actually enjoyed this. Never heard of these guys - it was fun, easy and a pleasure to listen to. Another 3.5 - but I’m rounding this one up - fun stuff.

Really wish these '90s albums had less skits as filler and wish the humor wasn't so middle school but no complaints cause it's still so good, will definitely put it on again.

Fun!

Chill 1

Vrlo dobar album, ali sve pjesme su vrlo slične. Dobre, ali slične. Officer

Fan-fucking-tastic! Especially amidst this endless ocean of rock with icebergs of experimental, it's clear that this really is one of my favorite albums. Great job, Pharcyde.

Loved it, definitely a feel of Gravediggaz here, also a little De La Soul, but much better, less sell out and more comedic. The skits would probably start to get annoying though, so I'm bumping it down to 4 stars.

West coast old school hip hop, this draws more from the past than Dre's brand of g-funk that would take over the scene. The MCs go hard and fast, the beats have a lot going on. Some parts are dark, some uplifting, but there's hypnotic energy on every track. Better Or 4 Worse and On the DL have the smooth keys I like, Passin' Me By brings the funky bass and horns. Return of the B-Boy is a strong closer with an infectious bassline.

So refreshing compared to the monolithic wave of gangsta rap (no hate, just gets old). Lyrics are hit or miss, but musically good.

The back half runs a touch long, but I love the jazzy samples and diversity of each rapper’s flow. 3.5/5

Consistently fun. Occasionally wild. Intermittently hilarious (one does like a "Yo momma joke"). Likably rough around the edges, too. The choral rapping and repetition add to the charm. The simplicity of style, plus silliness, keeps it from the first rank of hip-hop records. And one might slightly prefer Digital Underground (an obvious comp). But with albums such as this, best to just enjoy the ride, one finds.

Awesome!!! I'm starting to think I like hip hop cause this was sooo good!!! Also I've seen this album art before so it's good to know it comes from a great album🔥🔥

I admit this is slightly out of my lane. However, I hear some decent Jazz influenced arrangements with some really good drums and bass lines, mixed with classic hip hop. I am always a fan of pushing the envelope, but sometimes I feel the use of unnecessary stupid assed lyrics annoy me. Having said that, this is really well produced!

Great hip hop album. I’m feeling stingy with the 5s lately but this is close. Sometimes they just play around too much for me. But overall I loved it. Bouncy as hell, quality rapping, and a lot of fun. Soul Flower was my fave. High 4.

Great album! So many songs I’ve heard before but didn’t realize who the artist was.

Very good, I enjoyed this. Passin' Me By is a classic. It's pretty fun to listen to, I see some similarities to De La Soul's Three Feet High and Rising.

Jams

Quite a fun album! I had not heard of them before.

I like how it mixes jazz sound and hip-hop rhythm with cartoon, sarcastic voice.

A pleasure to listen to. Gets bumped an entire star just for passin me by, one of the greatest hip hop songs ever written.

The far side of the Pharcyde

Oh Shit I'm That Type Of N***a Passin' Me By Otha Fish

In de tijd waarin rappen bijna gelijk stond aan woede en schreeuwen, kwamen er ook af en toe meer relaxte, meer flowende albums uit. Jungle Brothers, De la Soul, Tribe Caled Quest, ze boden allemaal een fijne adempauze. En nu komen we er nog één tegen. Wellicht net iets rauwer dan de genoemde drie, maar nog ver weg van de (ook ontzettend goede) Public Enemies van die tijd. De troef van Pharcyde is wat minder muzikaal. Ze zetten in op grapjes. Niet perse de sterkste grapjes, vaak wat puberaal. Nadeel van grappen als troef is ook dat er geen reden is om daar een tweede keer naar te luisteren.

Really like it, I have listened to them before but not realized the artist as such.

Hip-hop con ramalazos de jazz. Está bien. Un 4.

Great rap album, good books - feels like “West Coast Wu Tang”

Solid 4

Ah forgot about this album! Great stuff.

Great jazz beats. A few too many skits. Bootie Brown sounds like Danny Brown. Officer, Ya MAMA, and Passin’ Me By are the 3 best tracks.

Lekker album, dikke raps. Beetje jammer dat Officer niet op Spotify staat.

I love how it reeks of immature '90s teenage energy yet so well-done.

Funner than jurassic 5 misogynist

3.5

4.5

Engaging beats, edgy but catchy lyrics/flow

That first song doesn't age well. Otherwise a super funky and fun album. Repeats: I'm that type of, soul flow, on the dl, passing me by Skips: intro, oh shit, most of the skits, pass the pipe

Great album that has stood the test of time.

Sour jazz hip hop Laid back rhythm

I really enjoyed this one. Upbeat, fun, funny, immature in the most captivating way. The jazzy beats really set it apart from its contemporaries, and though there is some lyrical material that makes me bristle, there’s a wink behind a lot of it. I’m realizing that I tend to prefer artists who don’t take themselves too seriously, especially in genres like hip hop and metal where a certain badass machismo is often cultivated. The “badasses” always seem so goofy to my, like kids play-acting. There’s something much more authentic, relatable, and brave about an artist choosing to let their silly side show.

I really like funky music on that album. Lyrics were probably best described in Rolling Stone magazine "pack of class clowns set loose in a studio".

I was always more into the G-Funk sound as a kid but this is undeniable. Will stay in the rotation forever.

Easy listening. Great background jams. Influential emcees.

Really fun, upbeat vibe. A party album for sure. I think it's great.

4.0

Um um, well excuse me

why is low end theory the essential jazz rap album bro this is wayy jazzier. real jazz chords and musical phrasings. at times the writing verges on unlistenable but only very few. sonically brilliant throughout

catchy

This was pretty great. I know I'm listening to it through nostalgia colored glasses, but it was just fun track after fun track.

Decent hip-hop album, I really like the jazzy intro that sets the stage. I enjoyed the playful nature of the record, while still providing that powerful commentary that most rap/hip-hop is known for. The jazz backing gives it a huge bonus - the smoothness of the backing music seems to boost the smoothness of the entire album. Fave tracks: Oh shit, 4 Better Or 4 Worse, Otha Fish

Didn't know the group beforehand, but within one minute I knew exactly what type of album it was is gonna be, and within half an hour I knew I liked it a lot (and even recognised bits and pieces). It's not completely distinct from other alternative hip-hop acts I've heard and liked; it's funny, goofy, groovy and hooky like your De La Souls, your Tribe Called Quests, but... I think moreso, on all counts? Just a really fun time, lyrically and musically, and it kept me entertained long past the point in rap albums where I usually lose interest.

A classic hip hop feel, but with some questionable lyrical content mid-way through. Overall, an easy and enjoyable listen.

Love deze!

Jazz-influenced beats and rather silly lyrics make this a refreshing departure from the darker hip hop prevalent at the time. A fun listen.

I got a letter the other day from the dmv the other day, I opened and read it, it said THEY WERE SUCKAS. I laughed out loud. Such a fun album, you can tell they had a blast making it. Oh Shit is hilarious too and the line in Ya Mama at the end where he says “your mom was an extra in the Simpsons” was hilarious.

Fun, high energy, classic hip hop. Musically, the beats are tight and the samples are perfectly placed. Lyrically though, this album is all over the place. One moment, they're not taking themselves seriously enough. The next, the group is introspective, politically aware, and vulnerable. The next, they're transphobic, womanizing, and glorifying violence. It might have been 5 stars for me if not for that.

First hip hop album I’ve listened all the way through. Great for working and focusing and was a great experience 8/10

Enjoyable listen. NWA meets Beastie Boys

Hell yeah this is great. Infinitely cool flow.

Not something I would usually listen to but I enjoyed it. From an era when hip hop was fun, songs had a tune and were not about shooting and killing.

sounding a bit like young black teenagers met the fresh prince of bel air

I really enjoyed and Passing me By is a ckassic

Pretty good. I liked it

I didn't realize Gary Larson could rap as well

Really good album

Classicly fun hip hop with many recognizable bangers.

Great, and the skits were at least musical.

BIG FUN

fajne!

a solid rhythm section, and generally pretty agreeable rapping, even if it's very dated and saturated in black urban culture. I'm not huge into hip hop, but I can get down with this. some of the timbres and textures work really well, and help to elevate it past just being everyday hip hop. 3.5/5

Classic 90s hip hop

Fun and funky hip-hop, as has been noted in other reviews the lyrical content is of the age and somewhat dubious but there are fresh beats and cool melodies too

Nice classic 90's hip-hop. Passin' Me By I knew but the rest were unfamiliar.

I really liked this, it’s fun to listen to and musically it’s the exact kind of hip hop that I like. However, a lot of the lyrics are juvenile and outdated, which is less to my taste.

Neato

Your mama got snake skin teeth Your mama wears coat hangers for earrings, dude she looks like Your mama was making sex threats to Ricky Bell and shit Your mama jacked the Kool-aid man for a sip, nigga Your mama was walking down on Sunset with a 99 cent sign on her back (You're a sellout) Your mama's a sellout nigga your mama Nigga your mama did a pop tune nigga Your mama's glasses are so thick she look into a map And see people wavin' at her Your mother got an Ouija board on her back Sidney with EQ and everything what he be sayin' His mother be hooked, fishin' with a hook and reel at the frozen food section Tre's mama got Playdough teeth Your mother be eatin' Daytons like Now and Laters and shit Your mama's an extra on the Simpsons and shit Your mama's so fat you can't even see her legs It just looks like she's just gliding across the floor I mean really, those rhymes are tight. 4/5

Textarnir eru ekki allir mjög merkilegir, en ég er að fíla þessi beat og heildargrúvið allt saman. Barasta ljómandi skemmtilegt.

I’m a bigger fan of Labcabincalifornia but this is still great.

Amazing album - great production and instrumentation. A big fan of the skits that occur periodically too. Extremely memorable.

Goed album, erg van genoten. Passin Me By is een klassiekertje!

Really fun jazz rap record with wild vocal deliveries. I really liked this one.

Oh shit!

really like this super fun very 90s all here for it

Before today, I had never heard of the Pharcyde. They are a rap/hip hop group from the west coast of the US. The various members of this group all have excellent flow to their vocal delivery, and the beats and music achieved on this record were amazing. This is classic hip hop for sure! Some of the themes sung about on this record were hilarious, like in the song "Oh Shit" when the singer realizes he is being hit on by a transvestite. It reminded me a lot of "Funky Cold Medina" by Tone-Loc. As I've said before, I don't know what the obsession with dumb fucking skits is in hip hop/rap groups, but they can be found on this record too. I hate them, and find that they distract from the flow of the rest of the album. Overall, a surprisingly awesome listen today. I will definately listen again!! Favorite songs: Oh Shit, Return of the B-Boy, Officer, Ya Mama, I'm That Type of Ni**a, Soul Flower (Remix), On the DL, Pack the Pipe Least favorite songs: all of the dumb skits (4 Better or 4 Worse Interlude, It's Jiggaboo Time, If I Were President, Pack the Pipe Interlude, Quinton's On the Way), 4 Better or 4 Worse, Otha Fish 4/5

This is the type of album that will require multiple listens for me to fully appreciate, but the quality of the group is so crystal clear. Score another point for 90s hip hop. Favorite track: Passin' Me By

Soul Flower Remix! A favorite!!

Ya Mama got a peg leg with a kickstand! So good, so fun, so enjoyable. Music from a bygone era, so long, long, long ago. Damn, we old.

Once the beat got going it was hard to stop.

Known album,.classic

8/10 pretty cool

Thought this was an abstract hip-hop album from the bizarre production alone - and although that’s a good way to summarise the album, it’d be doing this classic a disservice. this album is hard as FUCK, and how! the beats, the bass, the delivery, the rhymes - everything ranges from generational at best to good at worst, and you can guess that everyone involved in this project were at their peak. if I were to listen to one song on this album alone, though, that would be ya mama. I don’t think any ‘your mom’ jokes have anything on this song - the worst line from this song would smash the best ‘your mom’ joke straight out of the water.

Vibrant, fun, high energy. The flows and beats on this thing are constantly interesting and fun. Favorite tracks: "Pack The Pipe", "Passin' Me By", "Oh Shit"

Iconic early 90's hip hop with great beats and a smooth jazzy sound.

I liked this one quite a bit. Lyrics are not the best, very over sexualized and kinda cringey. Looking past those though it has good beats and flow

Weird, wacky, wonderful fun. A very enjoyable album. Substance-wise, there isn’t too too much there to latch onto, but enough for me to give it an above average rating. 4/5

8/10

High 3 but Passin Me By gets it to a 4. Crazy to think we haven’t had any Tribe yet…..

good so far. like rnb rap i think doron used to cite this album so points for nostalgia

Very cool

Classic

Was planning to give this 3 stars with a note to say 3.5/5 but, on further listening on the drive to work this morning, it's a funky 4/5.

4/5

so fun

This thing is pretty fun. Rambunctious while still somehow being casual and laidback. Love the humor and the silly personal stories from the different emcees. 7/10

loved. saw a lot of influence other artists/songs have had from this album... super cool

This is just a ridiculously fun album. I like that it doesn’t take itself seriously. Still can’t believe there’s a song that’s just Yo Momma jokes. It’s a bit of a product of its time, especially with the instrumentation, but there’s a good amount of qualities that still hold up today. It is, in fact, a pretty bizarre ride! Faves: Soul Flower, Passin’ Me By, Otha Fish

Massa o hiphopzao

Suprisingly good, albeit pretty childish at times. The flow and the beats are super satisfying, and a lot of the songs do stick in your head. Only issue, as mentioned, is the lyrics can be so vulgar they're hard to ignore at times, but otherwise very good.

Tää on yksi absurdeimmista levyistä, mitä on. Minusta biitit ja rapparien flow on ihan rap-historian eliittiä, mutta sitten nää kaverit vetää ala-asteläppää :D Kuitenkin tuo kepeä ja letkeä jazz-tunnelma on sinänsä huikea ja harmittaa, kun rapissä on ollut sellaista niin vähän ysärin alun jälkeen. Esim. Kanyen ekoilla levyillä on toki pieniä viitteitä siitä. Tietty ymmärrettävää, että totisemmassa ja yhteiskunnallisemmassa meiningissä on ollut paljon enemmän tarkoitusta ja syvyyttä. Noh, joku nostalgiakersa minussa antaisi tälle melkein 5/5, mutta pitää noiden lyriikoiden takia nykyään se yksi tähti sakottaa.

I had no idea what I was expecting going into this and based on the album cover I didn't have high expectations. As someone who doesn't listen to hiphop, I thought it was great.

Very odd and very funny. Talks about all sorts of nonsense that mainstream hip hop didn't (and still doesn't). Very enjoyable, if pretty lyrically dense.

“Got more rhymes than 7-11’s got Slurpees. If Magic got AIDS, then yo I got the herpes.” (Awkward pause) This album is WACKY in such a good way.

Love how these guys sound like they are having lots of fun. Great samples and cool melodic stuff in the rapping

Another nice discovery in the world of hip-hop. The album is quite long, but doesn't get annoying or boring. That's worth a 4 stars to me!

I dont really know hiphop so each album in the 1001 is almost a discovery for me. This one was really good. I would like to enjoy it in a car roadtrip or during a bbq.

Great album loved the jazz samples and back beats.

Aggressive, jazzy, chaotic, kinda funny all at the same time. Pretty interesting contrast.

Pretty neat. Humorous lyrics and thumping beats.

dope as hell 4 stars

Good stuff

From the minute I put this album on, I was having a good time. It was early 90s hip hop with a strong funky beat and some heavy jazz influences

Really liked this. It was really playful and I just enjoyed the whole thing. 4/5

Pretty good! Comedy rap can age badly, and there are a couple of tracks that do not stack up, but it’s not all jokes, and there are some great beats here. And of course, “Passin’ Me By” is an all-timer. B

Dæma skal ei plötu eftir umslaginu. Það á sannarlega við hér. Ég bjóst við einhverju aaaaaaaaaaaaaallt öðru þegar ég horfði á myndina. En svo var þetta bara nokkuð skemmtileg plata, early 90s hip hop/rapp/drum'n'bass. Já já. Hefði alveg dansað í drasl við þetta í gamla daga.

Loved the beats and the flow but playing it in the office was a bit of an issue.

Prefs: Oh Shit, I'm That Type of Nigga, Soul Flower, Officer, Ya Mama, Otha Fish, Pack The Pipe, Return of the B-Boy Moins pref: 4 Better or 4 Worse

Quite a fun album. Much better than most of the formative rap that has been included so far. Solid 4/5

Never heard them before - liked it

This shit slaps

I love the music - it's really funky old school rap. And the rap is pretty good as well. However - a personal pet peeve of mine is albums that have actual filler on them - comedy tracks, tongue in cheek tracks, and the worst offenders of them all - SKITS and INTERLUDES. I'm never going to relisten to these stupid things - so they are literally a waste of time. And SKITS and INTERLUDES seem to have found a home on pretty much all rap albums. Just stop it. Outside of this - I like this album - it's pretty good.

Likely to be one of the funniest albums on the list, The Pharcyde evoke an earlier era of hip hop where a posse of rappers swap verses and lines. What is also striking is the guys are not interested in braggadocio and fronting as so many rappers are - The Pharcyde play up to a goofy, outside image and rap about whatever they want. The production is excellent throughout and there are some great and off beat beats and samples. Overall a superb and entertaining effort.

Liked it.

Funny and melodic raps!

The Pharcyde make their mark upon hip-hop with this aptly titled album, taking strange twists and turns through subjects and soundscapes that serve as a calm before the storm that would soon infiltrate the genre for the next couple of years. Favorites: Oh Shit, It's Jiggaboo Time, 4 Better or 4 Worse, Soul Flower, Officer, Ya Mama, Passin' Me By, Otha Fish, Return of the B-Boy.

Pretty excellent beats and lyrics, killer golden age of hip-hop record.

classic chill vibes

I liked this a lot. It’s quintessential 90s hip-hop.

Un album incontournable du Hip Hop des années 90. La pièce Passin' Me By est la plus remarquable de cet album. On la retrouve dans beaucoup de playlists de cette époque. J'aime beaucoup la production avec la construction des beats à partir de pièces jazz. On est quelque part entre Cypress Hill, A Tribe Called Quest et De La Soul. Le côté festif de cet album est très contagieux. J'aime beaucoup.

One of the more solid early 90s hip hop records with a mix of tribe called quest production and vocals that don't take themselves too seriously. Favorites: "Oh Shit", "Passin' Me By", "Otha Fish"

Definitely dated, but still wild and warped to perfectly convey their style

Classic. Goofier overall than labcabincalifornia

I can immediately see why this album is viewed with the reverence that it is. The jazz inflected occasionally hazy beats form the backdrop for energetic and innovative bars. The insults on this album are some of the best I’ve heard. This album oscillates between dated new school beats and beats that predict trip hop and jazz influenced hip hop. This album suffers from its own indulgence in parts, and ultimately ends up bloated. Some strategic cutting would have yielded a perfect album.

The album was fun. The beats were old school hip hop and the lyrics were funny and made me laugh. The album is about an hour long, but I did not skip any songs. It is not quite a 4 but I will round up.

Это Витя, это Витя, это Витя и Максим!

Cool drums Just 90-s, classic hip-hop; not sound of present; but great rare sound Prostite Za moy russkiy

Jag uppskattade detta mycket! Är ju extremt svag för east coast-hip hop från nittiotalet, och detta var inte ett undantag. Mmm.