Customer Reviews

The Cactus Album

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Of course when this came out it was on cassette back in 1989. I was also in 7th grade when I first purchase it, then later on lost it. I probably drop it somewhere between my relocation between New York and Virginia several years ago. Thanks to Amazon I was able to retrieve it on CD. These guys stood out because of the color of their skin, but they weren't on some corny BS. They could actually rhyme, and I respected that.

Almost every track here is great with the best being "The Gas Face"(video is funny but corny at the same time), "Product Of The Environment", "Brooklyn-Queens", "Monte Hall", and "Wordz of Wisdom" (both parts) are great. In within this album they have some funny clips between "Russell Rush", "Hoods", and "Who's On Third" which are great to listen too. My other favorites are "Steppin' to the A.M." with its funky beat. "Triple Stage Darkness" - speaking of the street (what rapper doesn't) and "The Cactus"- speaking of the anatomy which is interesting. Everything is done well and the production always matches the mood of the song.

The Cactus Album is great and Pete Nice is also one of my all time favorites with his logical rhyme style and pimped out cane that he sported religiously. If you like hip-hop, you'll love this. Highly recommended.

back n the day these boyz & this album defined non-comercial/underground skill filled rap! while "mc hammer" & "vanilla ice" were perfecting there dance steps "3rd BASS" was perfecting there mic skillz & killing anybody who dare step to the challenge of a mic fight & doin it with !NO! effort what so eva! & always getting the respect they so very much deserved from there rap peers!! they were a MUSICIAN'S MUSICIAN or a RAPPER'S RAPPER if you know what i mean(ELITE,above the rest) the "CACTUS ALBUM" is a historic piece of the evolutionary line when it comes to the history of the hip-hop genre, simpley because "3rd BASS" displays on this album some of the best & smoothest gab skillz that any rap fan had eva heard up until that moment. so if you are a fan of skilled spitta'z then i'd advise you to get your hands on this album & check out 1 of the rap bands that invented the definition!. P.S. IF ANY OF U PUNK BIT*H RACIST SOURCE MAGAZINE SUPPORTER'S ARE STILL TRYNA SPRAY THE "white boyz can't rap" MESSAGE! LISTEN TO THIS 1989 RAP ALBUM & THEN COME TRY TO TELL ME WITE BOYZ CAN'T RAP U RACIST HATER'S!?!?!?!?!?! C.W.B. 4 LIFE

Sounds as good today as it did 16 years ago. Way better than 50 cent and 100x more intelligent. The beats flow and there is just something about this that makes it a classic. This is one of the best albums I own. Buy it now...........A classic, seriously.

The Cactus Album is a hip-hop classic that doesn't get the recognition it deserves. MC Serch & Pete Nice are very underrated rappers in both their lyrics and their delivery. And like the Beastie Boys and De La Soul, they get their samples from a variety of sources (Blood Sweat & Tears, Gary Wright, Doors, Emotions, etc). Every track here is great with the best being "The Gas Face", "Product Of The Environment", "Brooklyn-Queens", "Monte Hall", and "Wordz of Wisdom" (both parts). They also have some hilarious clips between the actual songs like "Russell Rush", "Hoods", and "Who's On Third" which are also pretty cool. Whether they speak of the streets on "Triple Stage Darkness" or if they're talking about anatomy on "The Cactus", everything is done well and the production always matches the mood of the song. A great album. If you like hip-hop, you'll love this. Highly recommended.

Unfortunately most people here don't seem to like it for some strange reason. Maybe they just didn't get it. I remember buying the Cactus cassette way back when, I played it so much my then girlfriend aka BIT.. (well you understand)tried to break it. Clearly the best track was Steppin to the A.M. but it was one of those rare albums that you could completely enjoy! Too bad they broke up the group.

I remember seeing ads for this album and thinking "who are these two knuckleheads"? Then I heard a song (Gas Face) on a mix show in Atlanta and tracked down who it was, and it was 3rd Bass! I bought the album and was blown away! I would definitely put this with De La Soul, Stetsasonic, Tribe, Pharcyde as a classic. Their flow was tight, production was immaculate!

Truth be told, Pop Goes The Weasel was the beginning of the end for them. Instead of doing what they did, they somehow felt the need to to crack on someone who was already a joke. Pretty lame in my opinion, even with Henry Rollins as Vanilla Ice in the video! They had a great thing going and it seemed a bit desperate for approval.

Overall, one of the great under appreciated hip hop albums (yes entire cohesive albums) of all times!

C'mon who could argue that before these guy's did a video can say they knew that it must have been a couple of white guy's that started all that (& quote). I can honestly say they had me sold on ready " The Gas Face" in one word or two (m.c. hammer) dis hammer and you got my vote. What time is it, gas face, pop goes the weasel, all had it's own influental effect on me so again this is classic hip-hop and for those haters don't be mad just be glad somebody did it and did it well.