The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde is an alternative hip-hop and jazz rap group from South Central, Los Angeles, California.
Playful LA crew whose jazzy Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde offered a funny, vulnerable alternative to West Coast gangsta rap.
Who are The Pharcyde?
The Pharcyde is a group from South Central Los Angeles: Imani, Slimkid3, Bootie Brown and Fatlip.
Known for
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde (1992), produced by J-Swift, with "Passin' Me By" and "Ya Mama", and Labcabincalifornia (1995) with "Runnin'" and "Drop", both produced by J Dilla. Spike Jonze shot the "Drop" video in reverse.
Style
Jazzy samples, chaotic interplay between four very different voices, humor, and an openness about insecurity and heartbreak that was rare at the time.
Impact
At the height of G-Funk, The Pharcyde showed a completely different side of LA. Their mix of humor, jazz and vulnerability fed alternative hip-hop for decades.
The Pharcyde: quick answers
What genre is The Pharcyde?
The Pharcyde’s music falls under Alternative Hip-Hop and Jazz Rap. The Pharcyde is part of West Coast hip-hop, with the most important work in the 1990s.
Where do The Pharcyde come from?
The Pharcyde comes from South Central, Los Angeles, California.
When did The Pharcyde start?
The Pharcyde has been active since 1989.
Which artists are similar to The Pharcyde?
If you like The Pharcyde, listen to A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Digable Planets, Slum Village and J Dilla.
