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The Pharcyde is a West Coast alternate hip-hop group formed in 1989 in South Central Los Angeles. The four original group members, Imani (Emandu Wilcox), Slimkid3 (Trevant Hardson), Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson), and Fatlip (Derrick Stewart) are famous for their clever punchlines, immersive storytelling, and hilarious lyrics. Although they have never won awards in the mainstream media, their presence and influence have not been overlooked by artists and fans of hip-hop.
Slimkid3, Bootie Brown, and Imani first met dancing while still in their late teens. After going through multiple iterations as a group, Fatlip joined, and they began partnering with Reggie Andrews (a local high-school music teacher who worked with the Dazz Band) and Rick James (a very prominent 80s artist). After recording their first demo, they hired their fitting manager Paul Stewart. Stewart had also worked for Cypress Hill and De La Soul; groups from around the same era of hip-hop that were pushing the boundaries of the genre just as The Pharcyde would soon do.
On November 24, 1992, The Pharcyde dropped their first (and my favorite) album, “Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde.” The album starts with funky piano and beats on the song Oh Shit. Unlike most other hip-hop albums from this time—where artists often set the stage by reminiscing on how they got here from the ghetto or what the album will be about— listeners quickly come to realize this album is the exact opposite. There is no story or theme spread throughout it except for encouraging listeners to laugh and have a good time. Songs like “Oh Shit,” “4 Better or 4 Worse,” and “Officer” all tell stories of group members getting themselves in unfortunate yet funny predicaments which keeps the listener interested and entertained. Their most famous song “Passin’ Me By” is about the members’ aphorism of someone being “out of your league”—no matter how much you long for someone, it doesn’t mean that your wish will come true. Some other underrated favorites are “Ya Mama” and “Soul Flower” which have some of the best grooves from the album and are funnier each time you listen. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1996, and became one of the most praised and influential alternative hip-hop albums of the 1990s.
In 1995, The Pharcyde released their second album, “Labcabincalifornia.” The album received mixed reviews upon release, due to the different musical direction from the light-hearted playfulness of their debut. Legendary producer J Dilla produced a few tracks, and the lyrics delved deeper into personal struggles, relationships, and societal issues, offering a more serious and reflective tone compared to their earlier work. Tracks like “Runnin’ ” and “She Said” showcase the group’s ability to convey complex emotions and vivid storytelling. Other tracks talk about the hip-hop scene and how they don’t enjoy its direction; a topic that they previously never cared about. Although it didn’t receive a gold certification like the first album, the album peaked at 17 in the US R&B category from Billboard.
Courtesy of Becker Kotob
After “Labcabincalifornia,” the group experienced some lineup changes and took a hiatus. Releasing very little in the 2000s, members could be found featured alongside big artists like Bootie Brown on the track “Dirty Harry” by the Gorillaz. On November 24, their most famous album will celebrate its 32nd anniversary, and special versions of previous anniversaries can be found online. I had the privilege of seeing them in October, and it was as lively as I could have imagined. Although they are now in their 50s, they still have as much energy as when they first entered the music scene, and their amazing group of followers certainly agree. Imani—who did all the ad-libs on the album—still did them live and showed off his moves to the crowd when other members would sing. At the end of the show, they came back for an encore, and the crowd shouted, “The Pharcyde Lives!,” a signature slogan that pushes back against the misconception the band is washed up. Thanks to this loyal fanbase, they continue to stand the test of time. Long live The Pharcyde!
