The Pharcyde - Labcabincallifornia

Released: November 14, 1995

The Pharcyde were a hip-hop group from Los Angeles, California; consisting of Imani, Bootie Brown, Fatlip and Slimkid3 (or Slimkid Tre). While 3 of them met during their short lived dancing career (although Imani and Slimkid were already in a band), they later met Fatlip, who was introduced by J-Swift, a friend of theirs. They decided to become a rap group, instead of a dance group.

So in 1991, they released a demo tape featuring certain songs that would end up on their debut. Delicious Vinyl ended up hearing it and signed them, having them to create "Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde". The album was released in November 1992 with major production from J-Swift and was praised of its humour and positivity (similar to the early Native Tongues work), with Gold certification status earned.

The album caused a little bit of controversy with the debut single "Yo Mama", especially with them coming from the West Coast. While the West Coast was getting with the Gangsta Rap scene (NWA, Dr. Dre etc.), The Pharcyde, according to them, were a "anti-west coast gangsta rap group". People wondered why they weren't storytelling or doing "what West Coast rappers were doing", and were rapping about Yo Mama jokes. They later gained more success with "Passin Me By" and "Otha Fish".

In 1994, the group started to record their sophomore project, Labcabincalifornia, releasing "Pandamonium" during the early status of the album. The song was used for the Street Fighter movie soundtrack. Instead of using their humorous rapping and positive vibes, the album saw he group use a laidback concept along with somber themes and worked with other producers other than J-Swift, including Diamond D, M-Walk, and the late J Dilla. When released in 1995, the album had positive reviews, but unlike Bizarre Ride, didn't reach Gold status. But in fact, the album spawned two hit singles.

With its positive reviews and non-Gold status, did the laidback flow suit the group? How well did they do with it? And most importantly, did Dilla do a good job on the album?!

1. Bullshit

The Pharcyde, instead of opening with an interlude, does a motivational song about things in life and "that feeling" you should stop fighting. Each member has a good thing to talk about in this topic, my favourite being Slimkid and Fatlip. The group shows they can rap about other subjects in life than the positive.

2. Pharcyde

Although this could be the type of song used in their debut, The Pharcyde reintroduces themselves by rapping in the order the chorus goes: Imani, Bootie Brown, Fatlip and Slimkid Tre (we do it this way). Bootie Brown gives a dark and funky beat to go along with the song.

3. Groupie Therapy

This song shows that the group can still do positive songs on a laidback/somber-themed albuWhile Diamond D uses a jingle-sampled beat, they talk about situations with groupies and focus on a study of relationships. I find this a good song, as the subject of the song is really successful and interesting to me. However, the track doesn't always suit for me, making this an average song, in my opinion.

4. Runnin

I always liked this track. Dilla's beat, sax and Run-DMC vocal sample made this feel like a masterpiece, in my opinion. The group speaks about standing up for yourself and not running away. The song is more like an anthem for people who got bullied, and later became a hit on the charts, along with it being played on movies such as 8 Mile. While Fatlip talks about how it was like in school until he got older, Slimkid ends up teaching you a lesson, that there are times where you have to deal with it by yourself. No friends to support you. Oh yeah, Imani is on this track too.

5. She Said

She Said is a R&B/hip-hop track where Slimkid and Fatlip rap about the relationship they were in on a certain girl. Slimkid later gives a long singing interlude after Fatlip's verse, taking around 2-3 minutes of singing.

6. Splattitorium

Dilla produces a laidback piano beat for the group with this track. Imani starts with a stoner verse, then repeating a certain lyric with the group for 1 minute (something). Well, this is a track you could just skip. It's a little boring, especially with the repetition after.

7. Somethin that Means Somethin

With Imani nowhere to be found, Bootie, Slimkid and Fatlip makes a song, which I really like a lot. As always, my favourite verse had to be Slimkid and Fatlip, as their flows were on point with the track. Hey, Bootie Brown did well though.

8. All Live (Interlude)

The first seven tracks feature no skits and interludes apart from the opening of "Groupie Therapy". With Dilla doing the drums and a guy doing the organ, the group has fun by saying "all the way live" for nearly 1 minute. Meh.

9. Drop

J Dilla samples "The New Style" by Beastie Boys for the first single off the album, which is a standout to the album. The song has a reverse dark atmosphere and Fatlip is nowhere to be found. Imani, Bootie Brown, and Slimkid raps just for the heck of it, with Imani doing the best on the track. A long interlude of a high-pitched voice talking is following during the instrumental.

10. Hey You

Slimkid produces and works with Imani on "Hey You". The pair raps about love and wanting to get to know their girl. I'm really surprised with this because I liked Imani's verse on this instead of Slimkid. But hey, he still done good.

11. Y?

Bootie Brown produces the beat, with Dilla, which is a funky sampled beat where each member talk about situations with them wondering why it's has to "be like that". Although I prefer the J Dilla remix, this is still acceptable, especially the beat. Oh yeah, Fatlip is here too.

12. It's All Good (Interlude)

Meh, it's just an interlude.

13. Moment of Time

Slimkid raps about the people in his life that passed away and how he grew up with them. He dedicates this by saying "life is just a moment of time". I like the somber sample and the concept of the song. The chorus and the lyrics make the song feel like the type to be played acoustically in a funeral.

14. The Hustle

Bootie Brown brings out 3 (still) unknown rappers on the song: Schmooche Cat, Randy Mack, and Big Boy (not to be confused by the OutKast member or the guy on Big Boy's Neighbourhood). This always used to be my favourite song on the album (other than the singles), especially with the funky new jack swing-inspired vibe that was well-known around 1989-91. This speaks about hustling, but in a classic way. Instead of using a dark atmosphered beat, the beat samples some jolly violin background from an old song, showing that hustling songs don't always use a gangsta dark sample.

15. Little D (Interlude)

Just an interlude.

16. Devil Music

Don't be fooled by the title. With parents seeing it, they would quickly think the song shows you how you can sell your soul to the devil. Here, they talk about the record labels and the rap game and how they can be portrayed as the Devil. The song is very funky in my opinion, and the concept is really interesting, making this good to listen to. The only problem (well... Not really) is the sample. I find it weird to hear it because it sounds like distorted sounds created by Satan. Still a good song though.

17. The E.N.D.

Not to be confused with the album where the Black Eyed Peas fell off (in my opinion), Imani concludes the album with a organ opening (which is likely to be used in church) and a funky vibe with a trumpet in the background. It's really interesting in how Imani does his thing in the song and the chorus being so catchy to sing-along to. A good way to E.N.D the album.

The following are bonus tracks:

18. Emerald Butterfly

Slimkid gets another solo on the album, but as a bonus. Originally used as a b-side on the maxi-single of Runnin, Slimkid talks about being the "Emerald Butterfly" and other stuff. The song is a decent bonus with a stoner/laidback flow. Slimkid's lyrics are really good to bump to and the beat is very smooth.

19. Just Don't Matter

Normally, when Slimkid produces a track, he produces it with someone like L.A. Jay, or M-Walk; so I found it weird that he produced this track on his own, because this song is hot. Imani and Slimkid (with Fatlip on the chorus) collaborates with the Wascals for this track. I found this interesting, mostly because of the beat and the chorus. While Imani starts the track, I always had Slimkid and Buckwheat/Buckweed to be my favourites on this. Slimkid says a lot of motivational and interesting lyrics with an excellent flow, while Buck ends this with a serious note, showing that he may be relevant to the rap game soon. But that got me wondering, where is he now?! I mean, nearly 20 years later, we don't see him on the news, TV or radio. But the song is still hot.

20. Heart & Soul

This is the final bonus track on the album. This track wasn't on most (Bonus Track version) copies, but was on copies in certain countries including the UK and Australia. Using an acoustic guitar sample, this track is a very decent bonus for the album, being my favourite of the bonus tracks, along with "Just Don't Matter". The concept makes this track interesting and the chorus is really catchy. Each member has their time to rap one verse at a time, leading the track to nearly 5 minutes. Anyway, this track is a standout to me, when it comes to bonus tracks.

When Bizarre Ride came out, we actually thought that the sophomore may have another positive vibe to it. We didn't have to say, we just thought. But boy, were we wrong?! Labcabincalifornia is a very good follow up to the classic debut album. Although the album didn't reach Gold certification, the album was really hot; and the somber, laidback flow suited the group. Featuring songs like "Bulls***", "Runnin" and "Drop", the concept was really interesting to see and hear; and it was good to see the group talk about other things in their life such as dealing with death, tough stuff, and record labels etc.

What saved this album from messing up was the one and only J Dilla. Dilla was the man behind the first half of the album and created the singles "Drop" and "Runnin", which were really successful singles from the group and were one of his signature tracks. Without him, this album probably would be a normal sophomore effort, which would have many ups and downs.

Another highlight of the album other than Dilla has to be Slimkid and Fatlip. The two made the album feel like a tag team was about to be made with Slimkid's singing in choruses and Fatlip's interesting lyrics. This was the first and only album where seeing them on many tracks together felt good. Slimkid and Fatlip would later break up with the Pharcyde before their 4th album (Fatlip left after Labcabincalifornia, Slimkid after Plain Rap) and would work together as a duo; later celebrating 20 years of their Pharcyde career (from Bizarre Ride to now) by performing in many venues.

Laidback, interesting and "somethin' that means somethin'", Labcabincalifornia is a classic album, but not like "The Infamous" or "Illmatic" type of way (when I say that, I mean it is not a major classic). The album is the type that differs from other groups and rapper albums in the rap industry, making this stay in its own lane. That's right. I find this a classic in its own lane. Yes, it can be forgettable at times, but it doesn't mean this album can't be remembered for anything. The album is still remembered for having Dilla's early successful work, and its concept probably had inspiration on your favourite rapper and may later have inspiration to upcoming rappers. I recommend a purchase, stream (Spotify, Deezer etc.) or download for this album. This may not be a big classic to hear, but it is a good album.

The Furious 5ive

Drop

Runnin

She Said

Somethin' That Means Somethin'

Y? (preferably the J Dilla Remix)

Honourable Mentions

Hey You

The Hustle