While the irresistible bounce and attitude of gangster rap straight out of Compton, Calif., that swept across the nation in the early '90s, left of the dial were South Central's own the Pharcyde. In 1992 the critically acclaimed group dropped what would become an alternative hip-hop classic with Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde, drawing comparisons to A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul.
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Bizarre Ride …, the Pharcyde and Craft Recordings will release an expansive reissue on Nov. 17 that revisits the classic debut in several formats, including remasterd vinyl, CD and cassette.
Details on the imaginative reissue are available on an equally imaginative new interactive website by WhoSampled. The site examines the history, lyrics and production of Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde, as well as a trove of info on remixes and samples associated with the album, a 25th Anniversary mixtape by DJ Chris Reed, and even a "Six Degrees Of The Pharcyde" feature connecting any artist to the hip-hop veterans in six degrees or less. Try it, it works!
The Pharcyde will appear at Ophelia's Electric Soapbox in Denver, Colo., Nov. 17 and 18, and all versions of the reissue and box set are currently available for pre-order.
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