The Pharcyde is a Los Angeles hip hop group originally comprised of four members: Imani (Emandu Wilcox), Slimkid3 (Trevant Hardson), Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson), and Fatlip (Derrick Stewart). Today they cary on with just Imani and Bootie Brown.
Their first album was produced almost entirely by J-Swift, and the second album was produced almost entirely by J Dilla (under the name Jay Dee). The cohesive production made way for two really incredible hip hop LPs to be created in the early '90s, when the art form was still trying to find its place in American culture.
The Pharcyde might be best known for cuts like "Passin' Me By" and "Runnin'," but they have plenty of classic joints under their belt. Check out the 10 dopest cuts on this week's #TBT.
The Pharcyde - Passin' Me By
A bunch of artists have used the Quincy Jones "Summer in the City" sample, but J-Swift's 1993 rendition was the first instance of the smooth soul track translating in to a polarizing hip hop cut.
The Pharcyde - Runnin'
J Dilla's production on "Runnin'" is nothing short of genius. One of the great instances of his production, The Pharcyde kick absolutely classic bars on this one...
"I must admit on some occasions
I went out like a punk and a chump
Or a sucka or something to that effect
Respect I used to never get
Cause all I got was upset
When niggas used to be like
("What's up, fool?! Nigga, what's up?!")
And tried to sweat a nigga like the Lip
For no reason at all I can recall niggas throwing Cs in my face
Down the hall I'm kickin' it in the back of the school eating chicken at 3
Wondering, "Why is everybody always pickin' on me?"
The Pharcyde - Oh Shit
Back in the early '90s when jazz was still infultrating hip hop, The Pharcyde was at the forefront of the style. "Oh Shit" samples Donald Byrd's "Beale Street" for SlimKid 3, Imani and Fatlip to flow on.
The Pharcyde - Bullshit
Jay Dee (J Dilla) produced The Pharcyde's second album, Labcabincalifornia, almost in its entirety. The first cut, "Bullshit" is a smooth step back from the hyphy "Oh Shit."
The Pharcyde - She Said
One of the rare, non-Dilla cuts on Labcab was one of The Pharcyde's smoothest cuts. As they flirt with R&B, "She Said" is a great listen.
The Pharcyde - Y (J Dilla Remix)
Jay Dee produced the original, but chilled it out a little more on the remix, making the song more accessible.
The Pharcyde - Moment In Time
"Life is just a moment in time." Remember that.
"I recall being three when Sunny passed away
One of the greatest in my eyes till this very day
Too young to understand but understood the ways of good and evil
Life and death was in the breath of times fate
And God only knows that kept Peggy straight
Cuz in the very next year my Aunt Dorothy was the late
More beautiful than the word it was like killing a mocking bird
She was so young like the new year was all you heard
Almost saw it so clear the good times that we had
When my Momma showed me pictures life wasn't so bad
I got baby sat By Pat when Bedie was a small guy
And in our cousins eyes we Were both small fries"
The Pharcyde & Jurassic 5 - Hard Times
This song came out 10 years after The Pharcyde's debut, but totally revisits that golden era hip hop in the best way possible.
The Pharcyde - Drop
You can't forget about "Drop"! Watch a bunch of shirtless, dreadlocked youngsters walk around Los Angeles, as told through the lens of the one and only Spike Jonze.
The Pharcyde - Ya Mama
You remember "ya mama" jokes? Here's a rap song made before they were played out!