Making a name for themselves during the golden age of hip-hop in the early 1990’s, the Pharcyde’s combination of hilarious rhymes and funky, soulful beats remain a big hit with their legions of fans around the world. Now, after a short break from the spotlight, the Pharcyde are back with a stripped-down line up and a new album Humboldt Beginnings. With original members Bootie Brown and Imani at the helm, the new-look crew are preparing to head Down Under for the ‘Passin’ Me By’ tour. In The Mix took the opportunity to speak to Booty Brown about life in the Pharcyde prior to them hitting Australian shores.
The Pharcyde initially got their start in the late 80’s as dance crew ‘242’, which included childhood friends Imani Wilcox, Romye ‘Bootie Brown’ Robinson and Tre ‘Slimkid’ Hardson. The crew developed a solid reputation on the dance circuit, including appearances as ‘fly boys’ on seminal comedy sketch show In Living Colour. Their time on stage inspired them to pick up the microphone, however. Around the early 90’s the crew hooked up with MC Derek ‘Fatlip’ Stewart and recorded an album under the Pharcyde moniker, 1992’s Bizzare Ride II The Pharcyde. According to Bootie Brown, the transition from being dancers to MCs was an easy one. “It was a natural progression from being backup dancers to taking the front stage” he says on the eve of the Pharcyde’s ‘Passin’ Me By’ Australian tour. “It came to a time where we felt like we could pull off two jobs at once, dancing and being an MC”. The move paid off, as the Pharcyde’s unique blend of tongue-in-cheek humour and techi-coloured, weed-scented beats gained them instant recognition within the hip hop community. The success of singles such as the hard luck story about lost love, “Passin’ Me By”, helped propel Bizzare Ride II The Pharcyde to gold record sales status, whilst earning them a huge fan base all over the world.
1995 saw the crew release their critically-acclaimed follow-up, Labcabincalifornia. The success of this album helped cement the Pharcyde’s status as firm favourites within the hip-hop scene, and led to them enjoying increased exposure through their performances on huge tours such as Lollapalooza. “I guess I would have to say that we were blessed to have that type of success happen” says Brown while reflecting on the group’s early days. He is quick to note, however, that they worked hard for their success, and encountered their fair share of doubters along the way. “I … remember people questioning what type of music were we making” says Brown on the criticism levelled at the group’s records. “It took about 2 years of steady touring to stake our claim”. But stake their claim they did. Including a number of classic tracks such as “Drop” and the Jay-Dee produced “Runnin’”, Labcabincalifornia saw the Pharcyde continuing to build on the success of Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde.
While the crew appeared to be enjoying their newfound fame, tensions were starting to surface, with rumoured fistfights and constant arguing taking place between Fat Lip and Tre. By the time the crew released 2000’s Plain Rap, both Fatlip and Tre had either left the group to pursue other projects, or were kicked out, depending on who is telling the story. Whatever the reasons for their departure were, it appears that (at least in the case of Tre) the split wasn’t particularly amicable. “It was heartbreaking at first with Fatlip [leaving]” says Brown. ”[But] with Tre leaving it was shrewd being that it was the average scenario of money coming in to play”. Both Fatlip and Tre also began to miss shows and studio dates, adding fuel to a growing fire. In the end, both members were out, leaving Brown and Imani to pick up the pieces. “It is easier to work with someone who is willing to work than those you have to force” says Brown on the situation. “The best terms we can be at is not speaking to each other for a while”. While the departure of half the group was disappointing for the crew and their fans alike, Brown believes that the new, stream-lined Pharcyde are still at the top of their game. “It’s just a number to me” says Brown on the altered line up. “Some may miss the dynamics in characters and the voices but things change. I feel Imani and myself have stepped up our game [to make up for it]”.
After Labcabincalifornia was released, problems with the Pharcyde’s label Delicious Vinyl also began to surface. The label shelved a planned EP entitled Karma, and conflict between the group and the label became widespread. After Plain Rap was released, Brown and Imani left Delicious Vinyl to start their own label. Brown attributes the Pharcyde’s departure from their label to differences in outlook “We were growing as a group and they were not growing along with us. I feel that we outgrew the relationship we had when we first started with Delicious Vinyl”. The duo went on to form Chapter One Recordings. “Like the rest of our lives Chapter One was a natural progression from wanting to be more than just an average Joe Schmo label where someone else runs the label and you are just a face with no pull on your own company” says Brown on their new home. “It’s another blessing”.
4 years after the release of their last album, The Pharcyde have returned with a new release, Humboldt Beginnings. Brown and Imani spent the time between albums considering their achievements and options. “It has been a learning stage for me” says Brown on his break from the public eye. ”[I had] to decide if I was to take what [was] given to me … knowing we changed the direction [of hip-hop], or [if I would be] a typical bitter artist who bitches about the industry and the corporate structure”. After realising that they still had a lot to offer to hip-hop, the pair got to work. Featuring production from Spaceboy BoogieX, 88 Keys & Frank Friction and a guest appearance from J-RO of the Liks, Brown feels that Humboldt Beginnings is equal to any of the crew’s earlier work. While realising that some fans may be sceptical, Brown remains confident that the album will appeal to old and new fans alike. “It is an album that I expect that people will grow into” says Brown, who hopes that Humboldt Beginnings will provide “A smile, a laugh, a cry, a want to go out and shake my ass, and after wards go make-out feeling” for it’s listeners.
While Humboldt Beginnings is starting to gain momentum, Brown and Imani are both looking forward to their next project, the long-awaited collaborative effort with fellow West Coasters Souls of Mischief (under the name All Mighty Pythons). “We are going to finish it but we have just begun the process of getting our album out in Europe now, and soon Japan” says Brown on the Python’s project. “We have done a couple more songs but we need have to have the massive pow-wow and complete the project”. The main priority for the group right now, however, is to fine tune their live show as they prepare to embark on the ‘Passin’ Me By’ tour of Australia later this month. Renowned for their live performances, Brown and Imani will be backed by a DJ, a drummer and a keyboardist for all five dates. Brown is excited about the prospects of the tour, citing the response of the crowd as the thing he is most looking forward to about returning to Australian soil, stating that “I want to give [our show] my all so the people will give me their all”.
While it has definitely been a bizarre ride for the Pharcyde, both Booty Brown and Imani remain committed to providing their fans with their classic laid back, humorous rhymes. Regardless of the trials and tribulations which the duo has faced, they have stuck to their craft, and it is as obvious as ever that they both love what they do. While lesser MCs would have thrown in the towel years ago, Brown knows that both he and Imani have a lot to offer. For the Pharcyde, making music is what they do best, and if they can continue to make their fans happy, then they are happy. “We have remained humble in the game, and I want to remain humble to our fans” says Brown on his hopes for the Pharcyde. ”[We just want to] live life and [make] music while [we] do it. That’s what we were made to do”.
The Pharcyde tour Australia this October, be sure to check them out at the following shows:
Thu 14 Oct, Ade @ Tonic
Fri 15 Oct, Per @ Metro City
Sat 16 Oct, Syd @ Metro Theatre (BUY TICKETS)
Thu 21 Oct, Mel @ Hifi Bar (BUY TICKETS)
