Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde

1	4 Better or 4 Worse (Interlude) 0:36
2	Oh Shit! 4:29
3	It's Jigaboo Time (Skit) 1:26
4	4 Better or 4 Worse 5:03
5	I'm That Type of Nigga 5:16
6	If I Were President (Skit) 1:01
7	Soul Flower Remix 4:23
8	On the D.L. 4:27
9	Pack the Pipe (Interlude) 0:21
10	Officer 4:00
11	Ya Mama 4:20
12	Passin' Me By 5:03
13	Otha Fish 5:21
14	Quinton's on the Way (Skit) 2:09
15	Pack the Pipe 5:03
16	Return of the B-Boy 3:33

Barnes & Noble

Although better known as the capital of gangsta rap, in the early '90s Los Angeles had a groundswell or rappers taking an, um, different approach. The best of these groups were The Pharcyde and Freestyle Fellowship. On their 1992, BIZARRE RIDE TO THE PHARCYDE, Slim Kid 3, Imani Wilcox, Booty Brown, and Fat Lip don't merely sample George Clinton's beats, they extend the smart, off-the-wall aspects of the P-Funk philosophy. Tracks like "Oh Shit," "I'm That Type of Nigga," and "Officer," are hilariously vulgar and intelligent, while skits like "It's Jiggaboo Time" and "If I Were President," hold their rumor through repeated listening. Martin Johnson

All Music Guide

The cover shot of a Fat Albert-ized Pharcyde roller coasting their way into a funhouse makes perfect sense, as the L.A.-based quartet introduced listeners to an uproarious vision of earthy hip-hop informed by P-Funk silliness and an everybody-on-the-mic street-corner atmosphere that highlights the incredible rapping skills of each member. With multiple voices freestyling over hilarious story-songs like "Oh Shit," "Soul Flower," the dozens contest "Ya Mama," and even a half-serious driving-while-black critique named "Officer," Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde proved Daisy Age philosophy akin to De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest wasn't purely an East Coast phenomenon. Skits and interludes with live backing (usually just drums and piano) only enhance the freeform nature of the proceedings, and the group even succeeds when not reliant on humor, as proved by the excellent heartbreak tale "Passing Me By." The production, by J-Sw!ft and the group, is easily some of the tightest and most inventive of any hip-hop record of the era. Though Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde could have used a few more musical hooks to draw in listeners before they begin to appreciate the amazing rapping and gifted productions, the lack of compromise reveals far greater rewards down the line. John Bush