Cactus Album

3rd Bass | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000DSCI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,916 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sons of 3rd Bass

2. The Gas Face

3. Monte Hall

4. Oval Office

5. Soul in the Soul

6. Triple Stage Darkness

7. M.C. Disagree

8. Wordz of Wisdom

9. Product of the Environment

10. The Cactus

11. Flippin' off the Wall Like Lucy Ball

12. Brooklyn-Queens

13. Steppin' to the A.M.

14. Who's on Third

15. Wordz of Wisdom, Pt. 2

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A LATE 80's TIME CAPSULE, July 27, 2004

By 

M. R. ZOGLIO - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cactus Album (Audio CD)

Released at the end of the 80's, this album sums up all that was good (and fun) about rap/hip hop at the time : mad sampling (from BS&T, Aretha Franklin, Gary Wright, etc.), having minor beefs with other artists (like M.C. Black & Decker), minimal cursing (I don't mind it but it's hard to play other stuff with your kids around, if you really care), and it was less violence oriented (see previous note). M.C. Serch, Prime Minister Pete Nice, D.J. Richie Rich, and a host of guest artists (KMD's Zev Love X!!! - that's MF Doom for those of you too young to remember) come together to make The Cactus Cee/D a perfect late 80's time capsule of fun rhymes and funky beats. Now if only someone would step up and release a version of The Cactus Vide-Yo on Dee/Vee/D.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kick 'em in the grill Pete!, May 27, 2005

By 

Alan Pounds "Minnesota Hip-Hop Fiend" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cactus Album (Audio CD)

3rd Bass is sadly remembered for "Pop Goes the Weasel"; a track dissing Vanilla Ice on their 1991 album. Little do those uneducated listeners know; 3rd Bass had one of the greatest hip-hop albums to come out of the golden age of rap. Their raw talent on the mic, and their flawless production, puts "The Cactus Album" on par with just about anything that was released in 1989. Although their flow may not have been as prominent as some, the production of the album more than makes up for it, which is a slew of people, but mainly Pete Nice, MC Serch, and Prince Paul. The album is full of variety, and possesses a large amount of familiar samples (more than most).

The first cut on the record, "Sons of 3rd Bass" is one of my favorites, and features samples of Blood Sweat & Tears "Spinning Wheel". "Gas Face", the song that 3rd Bass are really known for, is among the best on the album, featuring samples from The Emotions, and "Respect" by Aretha Franklin. "Wordz of Wisdom," also a 3rd Bass anthem, features samples from "Never Let Me Down Again" by Depeche Mode. "Product of the Environment" has got to by my favorite at this point. It's just got the illest beat. "The Cactus" is also a very engrossing track, featuring samples from "Peace Frog" by The Doors. "Brooklyn Queens" is another standout track, and one that their know for, featuring samples from Kool and the Gang, Steve Martin, and Stevie Wonder. "Steppin' to the A.M." is probably one of my other favorites, featuring samples from "Time" by Pink Floyd, "Time to Get Ill" by The Beastie Boys and "Stoned to the Bone" by James Brown.

If you thought that the Beastie Boys were the only white dudes that were kickin' those raw skills back in the late 80s, think again. 3rd Bass' "Cactus Album" proves that brilliantly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic, February 18, 2004

By 

BiolanteX (Valparaiso, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cactus Album (Audio CD)

This album may get overlooked by some people. 3rd Bass's mainstream reputation is mostly based off of years of thier biggest hit, "Pop Goes the Weasel", getting air play, aswell as some memories of pimp canes and names shaved in the backs of heads. Some people may write them off as "toy rap" (as so un-eloquently stated by an earlier reviewer). However, I doubt they have actually heard the real product. In reality, those individuals are quite clueless, because the Cactus Album is definantly one of the iller ablums of 1989.

The beats are very creative and fresh. Prince Paul blesses 3rd Bass twice, with the lovely beats for "The Gas Face" (which features a young Zev Love X aka MF Doom) and "Brooklyn-Queens." Unexpectingly though, Sam Sever's production is just as impressive, with very infectous new school beats for songs such as "Stymie's Theme" and "Wordz of Wisdom II." The MCs, Serch and Pete Nice, definantly aren't slouches on the mic either. These white kids can rip the micraphone, and many tracks display their battle skills and clever word play. Other tracks display some view-points on society, dismissal of 1 dimensional pop-MCs of the day (MC Hammer, etc.), and some irrelavent fun (such as "The Cactus", which you may guess is a metaphor for a certain male appendage).

One of the only negative points I could think up is the presence of a wack beef with the Beastie Boys which is all over "Stymie's Theme." I imagine this was mostly percipitated by Russel Simmons who was bitter about the Beasties ditching him for Capitol Records after reported money and creative disputes. After the droping of such classics as Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head, this beef kinda makes 3rd Bass look like asses in retrospect. I also think the skit-like track "Jim Backus" runs on a bit longer than necesary. However, these small criticisms definantly do not warrant bringing this album down from a 5 star rating. The Cactus Album is a classic for sure.