Customer Reviews

Plain Rap

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Pharcyde is my favorite hip-hop group probably of all time, but I still am not going to give this album 5 stars. There is no way that you can be a true hip-hop fan and listen to "Plain Rap" and tell me that this is the best or even one of the best albums of all time. The true peak of creativity for the Pharcyde rests in either "Bizarre Ride" or "LabCabinCalifornia", and in no way does this album exhibit the mood or direction that makes the pharcyde unique. I give this album 3 stars simply for Imani, Brown, and Tre's attempt to progress without the presence of Fatlip, but otherwise it would be quite mediocre. I have even read interviews by imani and booty brown themselves talking about how they liked making "Plain Rap", but it wasn't at all the direction they wanted to take. It seems to me like there must have been some outside influence (i.e., label pressure, creative struggles in between members) that made this album as dissapointing as it was. In don't blame them, there are few hip-hop pioneers from the late 80's and early 90's that have been able to produce a solid album within the final years of their career. It seems like GOOD hip-hop in the 90's used immaturity and rawness to it's advantage.

After giving the world _Bizarre Ride II_ (a bonafide classic) and the mellow soul of _Labcabincalifornia_ (SHOULD be a classic) the third album comes out of nowhere, unfortunately sans the clever and always humble Fatlip. Thank god, there's next to nothing worth listening to in the scene today, because of "alt.metal" and endless puffy clones there's no innovation or life like there was in the scene back in the early 90s. Even the strong lads I normally count on, Wu Tang and Busta, on their latest discs basically mailed it in, but all you have to do is spark one and listen to "Network" to know what the score is - Pharcyde 3, rest of 'em 0. "Rush" is also very tight. Its even mellower and more soulful than _Labcabincalifornia_ so it may take you a few spins to appreciate the subtleties and align with the new perspective. The basic message has unchanged from day one : "Crews get together put some love back in the Network."

After Volume 1, I really was worried. Would they ever rediscover the genius and beauty they had in Labcabincalifornia? Never fear. They have. This is the slowest tempo Pharcyde album ever, and arguably the best. A couple songs are very R&B, with vocal harmonies which soar. I've always hated Bone because of their gangster influences, but the Pharcyde really reasserts their vocal ability here, as well as their lyrical prowess. Even without FatLip, if you dig Pharcyde, or even if you just dig HipHop, this is a cd you cannot afford to miss.

Imani, Tre and Booty Brown you guys bring the smoooove...and its all good. I remember you guys from when you took us on a Bizarre Ride. What's Fatlip up to? Well it doesn't matter anyway you guys hold it down any way. Even though Key group members left the Temptations they still remained and didn't loose much. This stuff that you guys are rockin is just something else. With lingering cuts like "Somethin" "Trust" this effort sounds good when I'm movin down through the hood. Its good when I'm at home and it will sound good in the club readers peep "guestlist", Hey The Pharcyde is Back and f the Source I give you 5 mics for this fantastic CD. Also the cover art and is very smart.

Ok Ok. I read the reviews below and I can agree somewhat for all of you who enjoy the classic Pharcyde with Fatlip. I enjoy it too... But, obviously this group has matured with time. This album doesn't have tracks that Bizarre Ride offers or Labcabincalifornia. In songs like "Trust", "Networks", and "Misery" they rhyme about what they have learned over the years. If you are a true Pharcyde fan you will appreciate this album as they have gone from boys to men.

The Pharcyde without Fatlip is like ATCQ without Phife, it just cant work. The cd was alright though, not terrible. Trust is definetely the best song on the cd. Network is good too, and frontline is ok. The rest just uhh, sucked. Imani is a good MC and all, but I would recomend saving your $ and getting something else unless you are a hardcore pharcyde fan.

Pharcyde's first two CD's are nice. This one isn't. Send FatLip to rehab and bring him back fast. Without him the group is sub-par.

Pharcyde has been going downhill ever since their first album and it appears they have hit rock bottom with this effort. The title pretty much says it all. The raps are boring and for the most part uncreative. Very few acts have been able to do the R&B tie in with their tracks and 'Plain Rap' is certainly not one of them. They should of learned from LabCabin that their R&B ...... The beats, with exception to the remix track, sound like something a 9 year old could make with their computer. If you are looking for a great rap album go buy Bizarre Ride II. Avoid this one at all costs. Hopefuly the group will learn from their mistakes or go their seperate ways. This fan can't stand to see what they have become.

It's good to see the cyde 'rockin the mic again. I dunno if ya'll slept on Chapter 1, but the Pharcyde are back (albeit Fatlip) in the mainstream. With the popularity of De La, Common Sense and the likes, it was a smart move for the trio to drop this LP right now, so ya'll go cop this for my boys (sup Imani).

"Trust" and "Network" (w/ Black Thought fr: The Roots) are just plain sick ... the mic skillz for sheezy but especially the choruses. "When it seems, there's no one to trust / you can always count on Pharcyde to bust / we readjust the bust from dawn to dusk ... "

Fans from back in the day and current backpackers: go pick this one up and support the cyde. The only drawback to the album is the lack of real prodcucers (next time around!?!), but Bootie Brown holds it down in the meantime.

Solid effort overall.

Although this album never had the impact of Bizarre Ride, it has be given its due credit. It seems like this is their most over-looked work and should be revisited. There aren't any house party anthems, but I still listen to this album more than any of their others. If you like downtempo hip hop you will love this record.