The Pharcyde: "Knew U" Video

Video description: The Pharcyde emerged on the hip hop scene in 1992 with their debut, Bizzare Ride II the Pharcyde, on the Delicious Vinyl label. The Californian quartet consisting of Tre Slimkid Hardson, Romye Booty Brown Robinson, Derrick Fatlip Stewart, and Imani Wilcox came together to make a splash on the hip hop scene breaking the mold of the West Coast gangsta rap of its time, by producing rhymes and beats narrating hilarious skits, clownish antics, and stoned perceptions. With their unique style of rap, their light hearted lyrics, and diverse sound The Pharcyde established themselves quickly among the listeners as a legitimate hip hop force. And a force they were to keep their fan base so hooked that they waited three years before releasing their much anticipated sophomore album LabCabinCalifornia. Unleashed in 1995 this album made evident the growth of a band that had endured the realities of the music industry and fame. Manifesting a stronger lyrical content, LabCabinCalifornia showed the rap world that the Pharcyde were not just the playful cats on Bizarre Ride II, but they were musicians growing and exploring their talents. With different producers, The Pharcyde ventured into a jazzier, more sophisticated sound. LabCabin displayed the abilities of the Pharcyde as clever lyricists, as well as gifted musicians dappling in both the worlds of hip hop and jazz. In 1997, the ride began to get bizarre. While on the heels of completing their third album, Plain Rap, and in the middle of enjoying the fruits of labor as struggling artists who had impacted the world of hip hop, Fatlip decided that he would pursue a solo career. Upon Fatlip's departure it was not long before Slimkid followed suit leaving the group, Booty Brown and Imani, to make sense of their decisions emotionally, musically, and financially. Yet as always, under a new record label, Chapter One, Imani and Booty Brown focused and clung to the Pharcyde recipe that had repeatedly delivered success - retreat into the studio for a few years, lose yourself in your music, test yourself by pushing boundaries and hustle like you never knew what a record deal was. The end result of all this hard work, The 2004 return of a Band that influences the hip hop that crowds our radio waves today. The new ride for the Pharcyde starts with their recently released, Humboldt Beginnings. The duo has proven themselves once again as key players in hip hop. The album gives their fans a trip down memory lane with the same vibe and fertile lyrics from the Pharcyde's past classics. Imani and Brown display their abilities to carry on the Pharcyde name in its original fashion, seducing their audience with the same boyish charm that founded them at the beginning, now combined with the knowledge that has been bestowed upon them as men who have taken on the rap game. Humboldt Beginnings has repeatedly been described as an album before its time. http://www.thepharcyde.com

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