SLIMKID3 (born Tre Hardson) first introduced himself to the world as the soulful, clever vocalist and emcee in the legendary hip-hop quartet The Pharcyde. Equal parts musical visionaries and impish class clowns, the fresh-faced South Central natives ushered in a golden era of hip-hop with their critically acclaimed debut, Bizarre Ride II: The Pharcyde. The album, released in 1992, gave hip-hop one of its most enduring classics—“Passin’ Me By”—and unwittingly defined the sound of a generation. Bizarre Ride’s cartoonish lyrical landscape, laced with jazz-laden loops, “lounge-style piano breaks,” and “ya mama” jokes, ultimately secured the Pharcyde’s position as icons in hip-hop history. The now classic Bizarre Ride would go on to be certified Gold and later named by Kanye West as his favorite hip-hop album of all time… continue reading
February 2007