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A nice little EP that time forgot (3.5/5)
As you're probably aware, the Pharcyde began the first half of the nineties with two classic LPs, 1992's Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde and 1995's Labcabincalifornia. The west coast group made their mark on the rap industry as probably the funniest and most entertaining hip hop collective, through their voices, hilarious stories, and positively friendly disposition. On their sophomore LP, they moved more into a thoughtful and artistic style, over more somber beats and dealing with deeper subject matter. However, five years passed, and in 1999, the Pharcyde finally returned with "Chapter One: Testing the Waters," an EP that was the first release from their own fledgling record label. The sound will immediately strike a listener as most similar to the more personal, deeper sound of Labcabincalifornia, except for one major difference, that former member Fatlip is notably absent. Without the wildly entertaining, high-pitched MC, the Pharcyde are much more serious and mature on this outing. The lyrics are actually pretty impressive, they become emotional and talk more about struggles than before. I like the production too, a simple and subtle, slow, and mature sound that isn't too far from their previous effort. At only five songs and one skit, it's a quick listen, and it's not the most consistent either. But for what it is, it's nice. This EP seems to have been lost in hip hop's sands of time, I don't believe it received much attention when it was released and is all but forgotten today. Regardless, I think that if the Pharcyde fan is willing to shell out a few bucks, this might be a worthwhile purchase.
The album begins with "Pain," which opens to a simple instrumental cadence and scratches, and the hook is anchored by a sad vocal sample. The rappers talk about struggles and the inevitability of occasional depression, it's a nice and thoughtful song. On "Reinvent," they rap about the new direction their revitalized careers are taking (or so they hoped). The gem of this EP is "My Agenda," which recalls the group's glory days while showcasing their updated style. The beat is excellent, a slow, gloomy, and rich track. The rappers rap conversationally to a woman and talk about their lives, the hook is excellent, as they harmonize on a personal note. "For Feeling" is a vibesy, solid effort that sounds a lot like the other songs on this album, so it doesn't really stand out. The following "Interlude" is unnecessary, clocking in at twenty seconds, I guess they just wanted to bulk up the tracklist from five tracks to six. The closer "Freaky" is a good finisher, a light love song.
"Chapter One: Testing the Waters" is full of nice, similar music with a focused sound and some nice verses and production. This isn't the same quality as their two classic LPs for sure, but after such a long wait and turmoil within the group, it was a surprisingly enjoyable effort. I wouldn't call it must-have material; it's not mind-blowing, and it's far from a bargain for only five songs at a full price. It's sort of got a mysterious and enticing aura at this point, the group never really fully rebounded and this makes for an interesting piece. I'd recommend it for the Pharcyde fan at a reasonable price, it's some nice music that they would most likely enjoy.
Please note that Amazon's tracklist is incorrect. The actual tracklist is as follows:
1. Pain
2. Reinvent
3. My Agenda
4. For Feeling
5. Interlude
6. Freaky
[Tuesday, July 17, 2007]
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the real p-h-a-r-cyde
Now admittidly, this EP doesn't boast the highest quality of production this talented, inovative hip-hop group has ever put out. However, for a true fan of the Pharcyde, or even for those who think rap is just about image and beats, this album is a truely poetic, real look at what Slim Kid Tre, Bootie Brown, and Mr. Imani have to say about the world they live in. It's raw, and uninfluenced by any major label. Finaly a hip-hop group that isn't just about selling albums, selling out and selling their image. Minus the first thirty second sound bite, and you have a great album that must be listened to reppeatedly to realy hear it all. Pharcyde is truely, "Reinventin'. Representin'." And, if you like it too, I recomend you do a serch for Tre Hardson (A.K.A. Slim Kid Tre) on the web and check out his latest solo EP, The Legend of PHOENIX. Sorry! You won't find it through amazon (yet), but it is out there!
[Wednesday, July 11, 2001]
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This CD straight SUCKS!!!
Let me start off by saying that I am a HUGE Pharcyde fan. Dedicated since the release of the first album "Bizare Ride..." It had seemed like forever since the release of their second album and I was itching to hear some new tracks. Even knowing that Fat Lip had left the group I figured "How bad could it be?" Consider the question answered. Absolute sidewalk dookie. Listen up Pharcyde fans, if you feel like throwing money at the Pharcyde boys because you've got nothing better to do than waste money, then this album is for you. For all of you that remember the good ol' days of Pharcyde, funky beats, killer production, and tight rhymes, pass this album up. I wish they had a negative star rating.
[Thursday, January 25, 2001]
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