3rd Bass was one of a sti… Read Full Bio ↴For the French trance act, see Third Bass.
3rd Bass was one of a still-small number of white hip hop artists to achieve wide acceptance in the larger community. Along with the Beastie Boys, 3rd Bass proved that white hip hop wasn't necessarily going to become a watered-down, commercially exploitative rip-off of the genuine article, as so many white interpretations of black musical forms had been in the past. Instead, they were possessed of a well-developed lyrical technique and were respectfully well-versed in hip hop culture and tradition. They helped set the tone for the way white rappers could credibly and intelligently approach the music, and despite staying together for only two albums, they managed to create a highly positive lasting impact.
3rd Bass was formed by Queens-born MC Serch (born Michael Berrin) and Brooklyn-native Prime Minister Pete Nice (born Pete Nash), along with African-American DJ Richie Rich (born Richard Lawson). Nice had been an English major at Columbia University and hosted a short-lived hip hop show on radio station WKCR. Serch, meanwhile, had honed his skills battle-rapping at clubs and block parties and had previously released a solo single called "Hey Boy" on the small independent Idlers label. Both Serch and Nice were working as solo acts until producer Sam Sever convinced the two 20 year olds to join forces in 1987. Along with Prince Paul and the Bomb Squad, Sever produced their 1989 Def Jam debut, The Cactus Album (aka Cee/D), which was greeted with enthusiastic reviews in most quarters. Clever, good-humored singles like "The Gas Face" featured Zev Love X (later known as the great MF Doom) from KMD first appearance, "Steppin' to the A.M.," and "Brooklyn-Queens" helped make 3rd Bass's name in the hip hop underground. They followed it in 1991 with Derelicts of Dialect, which featured one of the first recorded appearances by Nas and contained a viciously funny jab at Vanilla Ice called "Pop Goes the Weasel." Accompanied by an equally humorous video, "Pop Goes the Weasel" became 3rd Bass's biggest chart single and performed some much-needed damage control in the hip hop community: not only did it prevent 3rd Bass from getting lumped in with Ice, but by extension, it also distanced at least some of the Caucasian race from the whole phenomenon, opening doors for greater inclusiveness later on.
Despite their success, 3rd Bass disbanded in 1992 when MC Serch went solo. He issued Return of the Product later that year, and the remainder of the group, billed as Prime Minister Pete Nice & Daddy Rich, teamed up for Dust to Dust in 1993. Neither was as successful or high-profile as the two gold-selling 3rd Bass albums. Serch, interested in discovering new talent, became the head of A&R at the respected, now-defunct Wild Pitch label, and later founded his own label, Serchlight Productions. Nice, meanwhile, dropped out of the music business and opened a store in Cooperstown, NY, that sold baseball memorabilia. In 2000, 3rd Bass reunited for several concerts.
Problem Child
3rd Bass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Juveniles won't smile, vows are reckless
Sexless raceless souls unrespected
Hooligans and street urchins lurkin
Doin hoods, a neighborhood's worst person
Raises ? and the pushers and perverts
Butchers cut like cold cuts the mind works
Wise or weak on the weary and the wicked
Man verse man, the haves against have-nots
House a kid for grips, leave him in his socks
Precedence of decadence is put out
Scramble hands full of merchandise he got out
Tooken taken a picture of figured strife
Subsisting on the minimal fruits of life
Attitudes are skewed from the right pile
Introduction of a character problem child
"Problem that I can't fix.." (8X)
[MC Serch]
Kids makin bids cause they're products, so what?
You still get left with a donut
No such luck in the scam to make paper
Skiddin off the edge ya portrays a faker
Fakin the plans like the plans of mice and men
lands a man a chance of one to ten
But the man ain't enough to legally drink
and guess what punk - your shit still stink!
Now you perp the role - the role of Frank Nitti
He ain't a hero cause he landed on the roof of a Chevy
So play the life of Untouchable
The fast life, the wrong life, and so much for
the criminal times but time rollin in reverse
I wanted to be older, before I saw a hearse
Take the weight off my boys who are buckwild
The life and death and times of a problem child
"Problem that I can't fix.." (8X)
[Pete Nice]
Problems problems of the Prodigal
end up on the page of periodicals
A pinnacle mess, movin blocks to sell blocks
Under locks and keys no G's clocked
He strays like a pig who don't fly straight
in the pen playin foul and third rate
Take a step back and meet your maker
See play your Maytag statistic on paper
Philosophy not of a giver he's a taker
Later words turn to dust he's the traitor
Sells you out for a quick fix dime drops
Got a chip on his shoulder without props
A bad seed leads himself the stray way
Puttin off evidence of Judgment Day
Judge not the culprit or pull the file
The life and death and times of a problem child
"Problem that I can't fix.." (8X)
[MC Serch]
I step careful - into the next frame
Lame you're just a stunt playin a sex game
I start to wink, you think he's on your hightail
Frail you're shallow as you swallow up your bare sale
Tail stickin out like a bumper to a Maxima
Taxin a brother for a fee to get sex in a wetbed
Sheddin your gear like a snake does a skin
Begin to get slim as he's sexin you in
He moves deeper, asleep is what you thought he was
But he went bolo, so low you felt and that's because
the minute he got in and violated you and became ill;
treated you just like a Flush'n'Fill
The next crisis, you're ice is clearin off your mind
Cause you're playin life from the CD of behind
Time to wake up can't you see that you're robbin wild
File this style as another of the problem child!
"Problem that I can't fix.." (8X)
The lyrics of 3rd Bass's song Problem Child is a commentary on the challenges faced by young people in society. The song speaks about the issues faced by juveniles who lack direction in life, the dangers of living on the streets, and the lure of crime. The phrase "Problem that I can't fix" is repeated throughout the song, highlighting the frustration of living in a society that does not care for its youth.
The lyrics go on to explore the different roles played by young people in society. It speaks about the negative influence of drug dealers and pushers, who prey on vulnerable young people, steering them in the wrong direction. It also highlights the problems of trying to make quick money and the dangers of being taken advantage of by those who seek to exploit the young and the naive. The song concludes with the idea that society is failing its youth, and that it is up to the young people themselves to overcome their problems and find a way forward in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Juveniles won't smile, vows are reckless
Kids are not happy, they are reckless and don't think before making promises.
Sexless raceless souls unrespected
People without identity or respect are being marginalized.
Hooligans and street urchins lurkin
Delinquents and marginalized people are lurking around.
Doin hoods, a neighborhood's worst person
A bad person from the neighborhood is doing something bad.
Raises ? and the pushers and perverts
There are criminals and sex offenders in the neighborhood.
Butchers cut like cold cuts the mind works
The mind works like cuts of meat in a butcher shop.
Wise or weak on the weary and the wicked
People can be either wise or weak in the face of evil.
Plagues a city street swell in evil-fitted
Evil is rampant in the city streets.
Man verse man, the haves against have-nots
The rich are against the poor.
House a kid for grips, leave him in his socks
A child is kept as a prisoner without even his shoes.
Precedence of decadence is put out
The pattern of decadence is being broken.
Scramble hands full of merchandise he got out
Someone steals merchandise and flees with it.
Tooken taken a picture of figured strife
A picture is taken of someone's difficult situation.
Subsisting on the minimal fruits of life
People are struggling to make a living.
Attitudes are skewed from the right pile
People have wrong attitudes.
Introduction of a character problem child
Someone who is a problem is being introduced.
Kids makin bids cause they're products, so what?
Children are being treated as products to be bought and sold.
You still get left with a donut
You are left with nothing.
No such luck in the scam to make paper
The scam to make money didn't work.
Skiddin off the edge ya portrays a faker
Someone who is fake is going over the edge.
Fakin the plans like the plans of mice and men
Someone is making fake plans.
lands a man a chance of one to ten
A man only has a one in ten chance.
But the man ain't enough to legally drink
The man is too young to drink legally.
and guess what punk - your shit still stink!
Your attitude is still bad.
Now you perp the role - the role of Frank Nitti
Someone is playing the role of a famous criminal figure.
He ain't a hero cause he landed on the roof of a Chevy
Someone is not a hero just because he landed on a car roof.
The fast life, the wrong life, and so much for
The dangerous and immoral lifestyle.
the criminal times but time rollin in reverse
The time for crime is ending.
I wanted to be older, before I saw a hearse
I wish I was older before I realized the reality of death.
Take the weight off my boys who are buckwild
Taking responsibility for friends who are wild and uncontrollable.
Problems problems of the Prodigal
Problems of wayward people.
end up on the page of periodicals
The problems are reported in the media.
A pinnacle mess, movin blocks to sell blocks
Big problems with people selling drugs.
Under locks and keys no G's clocked
The criminals are locked up, but they still have power.
He strays like a pig who don't fly straight
Someone is lost and not following a straight path.
in the pen playin foul and third rate
In prison, playing poorly and committing crimes.
Take a step back and meet your maker
Reflect on your life and meet your fate.
Philosophy not of a giver he's a taker
Someone is selfish and takes more than gives.
Later words turn to dust he's the traitor
Someone who is a traitor has no credibility.
Sells you out for a quick fix dime drops
Betraying someone for quick money.
Got a chip on his shoulder without props
Carrying a grudge without justification.
A bad seed leads himself the stray way
A bad person leads themselves astray.
Puttin off evidence of Judgment Day
Ignoring the consequences of their actions.
Judge not the culprit or pull the file
Don't judge or target anyone unfairly.
I step careful - into the next frame
Being cautious about the future.
Lame you're just a stunt playin a sex game
An unimpressive, risky behavior for sex.
Frail you're shallow as you swallow up your bare sale
Being weak and shallow by selling oneself for sex.
Tail stickin out like a bumper to a Maxima
Part of the body protruding suggestively.
Taxin a brother for a fee to get sex in a wetbed
Charging someone to have sex in a cheap bed.
Sheddin your gear like a snake does a skin
Removing clothes in a suggestive way.
Begin to get slim as he's sexin you in
Becoming thinner as someone has sex with you.
He moves deeper, asleep is what you thought he was
Someone is more experienced than you thought.
But he went bolo, so low you felt and that's because
He went crazy and you feel low because of it.
the minute he got in and violated you and became ill;
As soon as he had sex with you, he became a sick and unpleasant person.
treated you just like a Flush'n'Fill
Treating you like an object to be discarded.
The next crisis, you're ice is clearin off your mind
The next problem is forcing you to think clearly.
Cause you're playin life from the CD of behind
You're incompetent and playing life poorly.
File this style as another of the problem child!
This type of behavior is yet another problem child.
"Problem that I can't fix.." (8X)
Continuing to face problems that are unsolvable.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALLEN LANIER, DONALD ROESER, ERIC BLOOM, MICHAEL BERRIN, PETER J. NASH, SAM CITRIN, SAMUEL PEARLMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dorian DeyAmpert
I absolutely love this song, and I was born a year after this song was released and it's sad that they don't make rap songs like this anymore
A Guy Called Lex
I remember watching this video as a kid when it came out and thinking about how wild it is. It hits even harder now.
Howard Carpenter
Man it’s 2018 and it’s evidential that our kids are getting worse.....BACK WHEN RAP HAD A MESSAGE
saj8
3rd Bass were one of the groups that was speaking about the rise of the gangsta in hip-hop, even back then.
Anthony Arcanum Sanctum Regnum
And selling out into R&B mixed and Pop rap in pop goes the weasel like EPMD in Crossover and Common did with I use to love her!
Eric Stewart
Thankfully, the entire album collection from 3rd Bass are on the way. I just ordered them online already.
TheASSedoTV
This beat be bangin’ as hail!! Brings back memories :)
slimeballz
That frase "the life the death and times of a problem child" been with since it dropped... That's right I'm vintage and this a classic.
Todd Adams
Even more relevant in 2020
91Definite
Definitely and it always have