Hip Hop Classic: The Pharcyde

[Sylvus]

I'd like to take a minute to recommend one of my all-time favorite Rap groups, The Pharcyde, to anyone out there who is unfamiliar.

Their beats, samples and music are top notch, and they always had a humorous and playful, almost self-deprecating style of writing lyrics. When so-called Gangsta Rap was gaining steam, The Pharcyde was rhyming about picking up a girl that ended up being a guy, a confession about masturbation, or falling in love.

Their pioneering efforts include:
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde - The 1992 debut that is easily in my top three favorite rap albums of all time. One of those albums you can listen to beginning to end without ever changing tracks.
Labcabincalifornia - 1995 follow up that definitely avoided the sophomore slump. In many ways it's stronger technically than its predecessor. Arguably as good as Bizarre Ride, I only rank it lower because the debut was so different than what had been out at the time.

If you're a fan of hip hop in any way, take a listen, I think you'll enjoy. If you're already a fan, feel free to agree with my superb taste in music.

[Zamtuk]

pharcyde

[Funkmasterr]

I liked labcabincalifornia.. Runnin was one of my favorite songs for a long time.
I think I recalled seeing them come out with an album after that though, and they got all jesus freakish. Nothing I hate more than that.

For example; Mase. He swiftly ruined any chance of his career going back to what it was. You can't change from any style of hip hop to making an album all about god, no one wants to hear it

That aside though, their first two albums I know where defintately great.

[Zamtuk]

wanted to bump this and reaffirm that they are indeed the shit.

bizarre ride II is damn near a perfect cd.

[Kargyle]

But how much street cred do they have? I can't listen to them if they don't have mad cred.

[Funkmasterr]

But how much street cred do they have? I can't listen to them if they don't have mad cred.

Way to take what I said way out of context and regurgitate it to the point that it has gone beyond the point of being cute or funny anymore, you bandwagon faggot.

[Kargyle]

Cry me a river.

You posted some stupid shit and now you are gonna whine when you get made fun of.

[Chidoro]

pharcyde has a veritble shitton of street cred. They're right up there with phantastik, zylafone, naybor, and negosheeator

[Cracc]

They had the coolest video ever made with Drop.. and yeah i owned labcabincalifornia

[StupidMcDupid]

But how much street cred do they have? I can't listen to them if they don't have mad cred.

haha, you funny fuck.They got that respect in the streets.Even though i barely remember them, their jams were good to roll with back in the day.If you know what im talkin bout.Streets going with U.G.K. down here in Texas, they been holdin it down since 93 i think.They're also inspirations to lyrical genius Chamillionaire from the "H".Just don't pick up any dike jones shit, cause he fake.Real niggas don't jam dike jones, they jam Color Changin Click!

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

But how much street cred do they have? I can't listen to them if they don't have mad cred.

rofl

[Gzette]

Houston rap is putrid shit.

[Boogahz]

Houston rap is putrid shit.

Don't make Bushwick Bill come poke yer eyes out!

[miir]

haha, you funny fuck.They got that respect in the streets.Even though i barely remember them, their jams were good to roll with back in the day.If you know what im talkin bout.Streets going with U.G.K. down here in Texas, they been holdin it down since 93 i think.They're also inspirations to lyrical genius Chamillionaire from the "H".Just don't pick up any dike jones shit, cause he fake.Real niggas don't jam dike jones, they jam Color Changin Click!

This post totally fucking cracks me up.

Do real people in real life actually talk like this... Or is it just middle class white kids who wish they were rappers who post on internet message boards?



Another thing.
I'd imagine that 99% of the people who post here don't give a flying fuck about 'street cred' or the hip-hop lifestyle. I'm sure there are thousands of message boards that cater to impressionable kids who define themselves by what rapper they are listening to this month... or by what hip-hop slang they parrot in their messages.
I think people posting in this forum actually appreciate music for what it is.... music. I like Pharcyde because they have great rhymes and excellent production. I also like the humor in their songs. I don't give a fuck about thier street cred or of the kids think they are cool.

[Funkmasterr]

You are entitled to your opinion. I am also entitled to mine and am free to post it here just like you or anyone else. And my opinion is that 95% of the people here have a bad taste in music. So how about you just deal with it? This is like the 3rd or 4th time you have said basically the same thing.

[miir]

And my opinion is that 95% of the people here have a bad taste in music.

You pretty much only listen to hip-hop, right?

[miir]

This is like the 3rd or 4th time you have said basically the same thing.

This is like the tenth time you've cried about people saying the same thing.

[miir]

Oooops, I better pipe down before Funkmasterr spits on me.

[Bojangels]

But how much street cred do they have? I can't listen to them if they don't have mad cred.

Someone could say this ten times and I'd still laugh my ass off every time I saw it.

[Funkmasterr]

This is like the 3rd or 4th time you have said basically the same thing.

This is like the tenth time you've cried about people saying the same thing.

Ok, does that defeat the fact that everyone knows your stance, yet you keep repeating it over and over like a broken record? Like I said, good for you for not liking rap but just let it go for fucks sake.

[miir]

This is like the 3rd or 4th time you have said basically the same thing.

This is like the tenth time you've cried about people saying the same thing.

Ok, does that defeat the fact that everyone knows your stance, yet you keep repeating it over and over like a broken record? Like I said, good for you for not liking rap but just let it go for fucks sake.

Apparently you either can't read or you're just fucking dense.

[Truant]

Miir just said he liked Pharcyde, and Pharcyde is considered rap.

[StupidMcDupid]

haha, you funny fuck.They got that respect in the streets.Even though i barely remember them, their jams were good to roll with back in the day.If you know what im talkin bout.Streets going with U.G.K. down here in Texas, they been holdin it down since 93 i think.They're also inspirations to lyrical genius Chamillionaire from the "H".Just don't pick up any dike jones shit, cause he fake.Real niggas don't jam dike jones, they jam Color Changin Click!

Do real people in real life actually talk like this... Or is it just middle class white kids who wish they were rappers who post on internet message boards?

I'm mexican,you dipshit.

[miir]

haha, you funny fuck.They got that respect in the streets.Even though i barely remember them, their jams were good to roll with back in the day.If you know what im talkin bout.Streets going with U.G.K. down here in Texas, they been holdin it down since 93 i think.They're also inspirations to lyrical genius Chamillionaire from the "H".Just don't pick up any dike jones shit, cause he fake.Real niggas don't jam dike jones, they jam Color Changin Click!

Do real people in real life actually talk like this... Or is it just middle class white kids who wish they were rappers who post on internet message boards?

I'm mexican,you dipshit.

Why do you try to sound like a nigga?
Identity crisis, insecure or mentally retarded?

[StupidMcDupid]

haha, you funny fuck.They got that respect in the streets.Even though i barely remember them, their jams were good to roll with back in the day.If you know what im talkin bout.Streets going with U.G.K. down here in Texas, they been holdin it down since 93 i think.They're also inspirations to lyrical genius Chamillionaire from the "H".Just don't pick up any dike jones shit, cause he fake.Real niggas don't jam dike jones, they jam Color Changin Click!

Do real people in real life actually talk like this... Or is it just middle class white kids who wish they were rappers who post on internet message boards?

I'm mexican,you dipshit.

Why do you try to sound like a nigga?
Identity crisis, insecure or mentally retarded?

Why do you try to sound like a dumbass for every topic?
And your trying to call me a retard, when your the one who posts in the retards section.Or maybe it should change to "Mirr's section"

and so what if I speak a different way from your "proper" spelling ass. I grew up with this kind of slang around me.This isn't school, it's the internet.So get over it.

[miir]

haha, you funny fuck.They got that respect in the streets.Even though i barely remember them, their jams were good to roll with back in the day.If you know what im talkin bout.Streets going with U.G.K. down here in Texas, they been holdin it down since 93 i think.They're also inspirations to lyrical genius Chamillionaire from the "H".Just don't pick up any dike jones shit, cause he fake.Real niggas don't jam dike jones, they jam Color Changin Click!

Do real people in real life actually talk like this... Or is it just middle class white kids who wish they were rappers who post on internet message boards?

I'm mexican,you dipshit.

Why do you try to sound like a nigga?
Identity crisis, insecure or mentally retarded?

Why do you try to sound like a dumbass for every topic?
And your trying to call me a retard, when your the one who posts in the retards section.Or maybe it should change to "Mirr's section"

and so what if I speak a different way from your "proper" spelling ass. I grew up with this kind of slang around me.This isn't school, it's the internet.So get over it.

Your street cred is off tha hook, nigga.

[Funkmasterr]

Miir just said he liked Pharcyde, and Pharcyde is considered rap.

Pharcyde is hip hop, not rap.. there is a big difference and im not getting into it again.

[miir]

Pharcyde is hip hop, not rap.. there is a big difference and im not getting into it again.

You gotta be fucking kidding me.
Don't try to school me on rap and hip hop. I was listening to it when you were in preschool.


So tell us, of great masterr of rap/funk/hiphop what is the big difference (in your mind) between rap and hip hop.

[Sylvus]

Ooh, I'm interested to hear this.

[Arborealus]

Can I get a street cred check on Beethoven from all the homies in the 49-228 yo?

[miir]

Can I get a street cred check on Beethoven from all the homies in the 49-228 yo?

Real niggers don't jam Queerthoven, they jam W.A.M.
fo'real!

[Boogahz]

Can I get a street cred check on Beethoven from all the homies in the 49-228 yo?

Real niggers don't jam Queerthoven, they jam W.A.M.
fo'real!

Whew, I thought you said they jammed Wham at first glance!

[miir]

Can I get a street cred check on Beethoven from all the homies in the 49-228 yo?

Real niggers don't jam Queerthoven, they jam W.A.M.
fo'real!

Whew, I thought you said they jammed Wham at first glance!

Mo'Zart, mothafucka!

[Funkmasterr]

Pharcyde is hip hop, not rap.. there is a big difference and im not getting into it again.

You gotta be fucking kidding me.
Don't try to school me on rap and hip hop. I was listening to it when you were in preschool.


So tell us, of great masterr of rap/funk/hiphop what is the big difference (in your mind) between rap and hip hop.

First off, I wasn't saying you didnt know the difference.. We have been over this subject before. I was responding to whoever said that pharcyde was rap.

The difference is pretty clear if you actually listen to the music.

Hip-Hop tends to be more mellow than rap. Lots of hip hop is story telling, another difference would be the beats. Hip Hop more often then rap has bands or actual instrumental music, while rap is more beats and samples.. This is not a rule because there is sampling in hip hop as well, but you could argue from a point of view that Hip Hop is more artistic than rap. You could also argue that in a lot of cases hip hop has a more positive tone then rap.

Rap in my mind is not divided into categories like some people believe. There is hip hop, and there is rap and thats it. Rap is generally more street driven, meaning its harsher then hip hop. You could say that rap is a more negative stance taken by people that grew up in shitty places. Its about the guns, the streets, the drugs, the jewels, all that kind of shit. I think like I kind of just said, hip hop seems to be more progressive in the sense that they are generally sending a message to rise above the bullshit, while rappers tend to perpetuate it more because they can't see past it, or don't want to ( or they are just capitalizing off of it).

Some hip hop groups-
Pharcyde
The Roots
KRS 1
Talib Kweli/Hi Tek
Common
Mos Def


Rap -
Snoop Dogg
Tupac
Biggie
Bone Thugs N Harmony


If you compared a song by an artist in each of those two categories I think you would see the differences im talking about.

Yes I fully understand that they both stem from the same place, the same founding artists. But it has evolved and split down the middle, another comparison you could make that is similar is Raggae/dancehall. They both stem from the same place, but dancehall has taken on some aspects of rap, setting artists like sean paul and damien marley apart from artists like sister nancy and stephen marley.

I think I have a valid point, but if you disagree thats fine. I maintain there is much of a difference, and some similarities between the two.

[Truant]

I understand that. It was well written thank you.

I actually was not aware that the terms were set aside for different areas. I actually thought they were just synonyms.

[miir]

I understand that. It was well written thank you.

I actually was not aware that the terms were set aside for different areas. I actually thought they were just synonyms.

Actually, those definitions and differences between hip-hop and rap he pointed out are his own personal opinions.

A accurate definition of rap is spoken, rythmic rhyming over music.
Conversely, hip-hop is a lifestyle in which rap is an integral part.

The two terms are essentially interchangeable. To say otherwise would be arguing semantics.

[Funkmasterr]

I really think that you have it wrong Miir, but at this point the discussion is getting no where and im just going to agree to disagree. I just don't see how you could say that say.. common's music and snoop dogg's music are in the same category. To me that would seem like saying that weezer and slipknot are in the same category.

[Bojangels]

I think Funk's description is more accurate. imo rap and Hip-Hop are essentially interchangeable if you're talking to someone who doesn't have much interest in either genre. I don't think claiming differences between the two is arguing semantics.

[miir]

What confuses me about your personal definitions is that every artist you list as being a rap artist has many tracks that could be considered hip hop, musically and lyrically... using your personal definitions.


I listen to a lot of house and techno.
There is a myriad of sub-genres within that type of music... but only an elitist techno-snob prick would go out of their way to correct someone for referring to a trance artist as a techno artist.

Pharcyde is hip hop, not rap.. there is a big difference

No sir, there is not a big difference.
Stop being a nit-picking elitist prick.

[Funkmasterr]

I never said that any of the artists that I listed or any of the definitions I made were 100% things. There are exceptions to all of it of course, even tupac had a couple of really mellow songs that could be considered hip hop.

I am not being an elitist prick, anyone I know that is into rap like I am would agree with what I said 100%, I can assure you of that.

[miir]

I never said that any of the artists that I listed or any of the definitions I made were 100% things. There are exceptions to all of it of course, even tupac had a couple of really mellow songs that could be considered hip hop.

So you say there's a big difference between rap and hip-hop but you admit that rap artists have hip-hop songs and possibly vice versa?

So a rapper can do hip hop and a hip hopper can do rap?
Interesting.

I don't think I've ever heard a Slipknot song that could be mistaken for Weezer... or vice versa.


So would you entertain the possibility that outside of your circle of friends, people might consider hip-hop and rap to be interchangeable terms? Or that people might have different personal definitions of what they consider rap or hip hop?

[Arborealus]

I am not being an elitist prick, anyone I know that is into rap like I am would agree with what I said 100%, I can assure you of that.

Well except for KRS 1...

What most people don't understand is that there is a big difference between rap and hip-hop. Rap is the combination of emceeing and DJing, but hip-hop possesses four main elements: graffiti, break dancing, emceeing and DJing. There are subelements, too, such as the way one walks, talks and lives. As KRS-1 says, ''Rap is something you do; hip-hop is something you live.''

But maybe he isn't as into it as you...

[Funkmasterr]

Well arb, thats all a matter of opinion. I have never been able to stand KRS-1's music, or him in general.. and don't know many people that can actually. So thats a terrible example to make, he is not a pioneer of anything like he claims to be, and I will argue that point to the grave so Miir, don't even bother.


And Miir, I can entertain the idea that people have different ideas and opinions, I think I made that very clear. It's you that keeps saying im wrong. You making commentary on rap/hip hop now when you were an avid listener when I was "in diapers" is like my dad listening to rock music in the 60s and trying to tell someone about modern rock music, which he has listened to a very minimal amount of.

But again, thats just my opinion, and I await you to tell me how im wrong.

[Arborealus]

Yes well it is a matter of your credibility versus his about a music form he has been recording in for 15+ years now...hrmmmm...

[miir]

Yes well it is a matter of your credibility versus his about a music form he has been recording in for 15+ years now...hrmmmm...

Actually, KRS1 has been at it for close to 25 years.

You making commentary on rap/hip hop now when you were an avid listener when I was "in diapers" is like my dad listening to rock music in the 60s and trying to tell someone about modern rock music, which he has listened to a very minimal amount of.

What a pitiful comparison.
Almost as bad as your Slipknot/Weezer comment.

Hip hop (or rap) has been around 20-25 years. I listened to it when I was a kid and up until recent years I was an avid consumer of it. Frankly, I don't care for the majority of hip hop (or rap) music that's come out in the past while.

I'm not sure how that make my opinions any less valid than yours. That is unless you're still in denial about being an elitist hiphop (or rap) snob.

he is not a pioneer of anything like he claims to be

Well if you can't even respect the roots of the music you claim to love, there really isn't much point in discussing this any further with you.




You have zero street cred.

[Chmee]

Mo'Zart, mothafucka!

If Wolfy Were Alive, He'd Be Playing in a Ska Band.

[Truant]

Mo'Zart, mothafucka!

If Wolfy Were Alive, He'd Be Playing in a Ska Band.

You don't think he'd be a Neoclassical Shredder? Melting faces for the masses?

UNLEASH THE FURY?

[Sylvus]

I have never been able to stand KRS-1's music, or him in general.. and don't know many people that can actually. So thats a terrible example to make, he is not a pioneer of anything like he claims to be, and I will argue that point to the grave so Miir, don't even bother.

I've been listening to hip hop my whole life. From when my brother brought home the Sugar Hill Gang record (it's one of the first albums I can remember listening to) in the early 1980s to me dubbing the tape of PE's Yo! Bum Rush the Show on one of those yellow Memorex tapes. From convincing the clerk to let a 12 year-old buy 2 Live Crew's As Nasty as they Wanna Be to rushing to the store to buy The Chronic the day it was released all the way up through the Aesop Rock Fast Cars album I downloaded a couple nights ago. I've listened and been a fan my entire life. I have two problems with this argument.

First, I've never been a big KRS-One fan. I like a few of his/BDP's songs, but he was never my favorite by any means. That said, to say that he isn't one of the most influential, pioneering artists in the genre is the hands down the dumbest thing you've said in this thread.

Not only was he an accomplished "battle" rapper and did he participate in one of the most popular early rap feuds, he was the impetus behind the whole Stop the Violence movement. He was like the first person to do an album cover holding a gun. Think about that, he was one of the biggest (if not the biggest) names on the East Coast at the inception of so-called "Gangsta Rap", and he created one of the biggest socially conscious songs in the genre, in the late 1980s. He's recorded more than 15 albums and been a part of like 10 hip hop movies.

You know absolutely nothing about what you're talking about, Funkmasterrr. Sure, you're a big fan of hip hop music, I'm not begrudging you for that. But just because you like to listen to Tupac and have been to a crackhouse or whatever in Brooklyn doesn't qualify you to comment on it with any authority.

Second, rap is hip hop. The same as an Acura is a Car, an apple is a fruit, a kleenex is a tissue. As previously stated, hip hop is the lifestyle, rapping is an element of the music of said lifestyle. Not all hip hop is rap, but all rap is hip hop. The same as not all fruits are apples, but all apples are fruits. The spoken part of a hip hop song is called "rapping", leading to a lot of hip hop music being called "rap music". It's kind of like referring to all soda as Coke or all tissues as Kleenex.

[Chmee]

Mo'Zart, mothafucka!

If Wolfy Were Alive, He'd Be Playing in a Ska Band.

You don't think he'd be a Neoclassical Shredder? Melting faces for the masses?

UNLEASH THE FURY?

Could be, I was just making an obscure reference though. Its a song by Undercover S.K.A.

[Funkmasterr]

I have never been able to stand KRS-1's music, or him in general.. and don't know many people that can actually. So thats a terrible example to make, he is not a pioneer of anything like he claims to be, and I will argue that point to the grave so Miir, don't even bother.

I've been listening to hip hop my whole life. From when my brother brought home the Sugar Hill Gang record (it's one of the first albums I can remember listening to) in the early 1980s to me dubbing the tape of PE's Yo! Bum Rush the Show on one of those yellow Memorex tapes. From convincing the clerk to let a 12 year-old buy 2 Live Crew's As Nasty as they Wanna Be to rushing to the store to buy The Chronic the day it was released all the way up through the Aesop Rock Fast Cars album I downloaded a couple nights ago. I've listened and been a fan my entire life. I have two problems with this argument.

First, I've never been a big KRS-One fan. I like a few of his/BDP's songs, but he was never my favorite by any means. That said, to say that he isn't one of the most influential, pioneering artists in the genre is the hands down the dumbest thing you've said in this thread.

Not only was he an accomplished "battle" rapper and did he participate in one of the most popular early rap feuds, he was the impetus behind the whole Stop the Violence movement. He was like the first person to do an album cover holding a gun. Think about that, he was one of the biggest (if not the biggest) names on the East Coast at the inception of so-called "Gangsta Rap", and he created one of the biggest socially conscious songs in the genre, in the late 1980s. He's recorded more than 15 albums and been a part of like 10 hip hop movies.

You know absolutely nothing about what you're talking about, Funkmasterrr. Sure, you're a big fan of hip hop music, I'm not begrudging you for that. But just because you like to listen to Tupac and have been to a crackhouse or whatever in Brooklyn doesn't qualify you to comment on it with any authority.

Second, rap is hip hop. The same as an Acura is a Car, an apple is a fruit, a kleenex is a tissue. As previously stated, hip hop is the lifestyle, rapping is an element of the music of said lifestyle. Not all hip hop is rap, but all rap is hip hop. The same as not all fruits are apples, but all apples are fruits. The spoken part of a hip hop song is called "rapping", leading to a lot of hip hop music being called "rap music". It's kind of like referring to all soda as Coke or all tissues as Kleenex.

I had a long message typed up, and I got busy and at work and it timed out so your getting the abridged version. KRS-1 is extremely overrated, yes he was a pioneer early on but his influence on the direction rap music went is almost non existent. He started the whole stop the violence thing in rap (look how that turned out, real influential).

And as far as the differences between hip hop and rap, well I discussed it with my friend to see if I was crazy or what. He agreed with me.. There is a difference between rap and hip hop, and there is a difference between hip hop music and hip hop culture. Not that I was going to change my mind anyhow, but I think I would go with the word of a CEO of a rap record label over a bunch of people on a video game message board.

But you are just as entitled to your opinions as I am.