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.
The Gas Face
3rd Bass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man step to him
Thanks Serch!
And now for the Prime Minister
Sinister Pete N-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi-hice!
Nice Nice Nice
Verse One: Pete Nice
Gas, past tense, made facially
3rd Bass'll express, KMD
Three blind mice on sight
Zev Lover, gave it the first light
A grin shows a trick up a sleeve
What a tangled web they weave
Deceivers, stupefied through fable
Say Let's Make a Deal at the dinner table
Put you on tour, put your record on wax ("Trust me!")
Sign your life on the X
You eXit, X-off, but what you really get:
A box of Newports, and Puma sweats ("damn!")
Tex feeds and frowns upon Emus
To give up Gas Face he drinks from a Thermos
Sub Roc cut at you with a clipper
Gas Face given, I beg to differ
Pete that was real def man but I gotta get serious now
Ey yo Don, step to 'em again
Everybody MC Serch!
Black cat is bad luck, bad guys wear black
Musta been a white guy who started all that
(Make the Gas Face!) For those little white lies
My expression to the mountainous blue eyes
Then form a face, and shake my skull cap
Dismiss the myth, that evil is not black
But opposite spectrum, this done by red man
With horns on his head, laid down the ill plan
Got all his helpers, said, "Make it snappy!
Tell all the people that their hair can't be nappy!"
Blonde and blue-eyed, or dark-skinned half a G
A disease, created by leprosy
Don't speak of bleach, bend them to right
Say, "It was night WAY before the light"
Put aside spooks, Serch leaves a trace
I've set 'em correct with the effect of the Gas Face
Next up Don
A Gas Face, can either be a smile or a smirk
When appears, a monkey wrench to work one's clockwork
Perkin his brim to the rim of my cup
Don't tempt me, you're empty, so fill'er up!
Is I'm talkin' coffee or cocoa, is you loco?
Cash or credit for unleaded at Sunoco
KMD and 3rd Bass is just ace in the hole
I mean soul, so make the Gas Face (ha)
Damn, if looks could kill
You look like host was a ghost from your grill
But still, what's the new fed, to recollect
To our passing phase to facades to Eddie Decker
For my label reads Hood, street might have a tattoo
Don't pick any card or no rabbit from my hat
Never a magician if I ever tricked 'em
"Oh shit!" Another Gas Face victim
There it is, yo fellas man
Why don't you step to the mic man?
That's how I kicks it, for Eddie Decker
Ey yo, good lookin' out Don man peace
Punji, yo who gets the Gas Face?
Little Vic for the Gas Face
Tony Dick, gets the Gas Face
No Gas Faces for Plugs One Two and Three
No Gas Face for Professor Prince Pa-paul!
? My friend Tina gets the big Gas Face
No Gas Face for DJ Subroc
No Gas Face for KMD
Hammer, shut the fuck up! Gas Face! !
What do we think about Hammer?
? GYP
Get Yours Posse does not get the Gas Face
But P W Botha gets a Gas Face
? Dante Ross gets the Gas Face
Yo stop dissin Dante on records y'all!
Elroy Elroy Elroy Cohen, gets the Gas Face! That's all
"The Gas Face" is a single produced by 3rd Bass, a trio consisting of MC Serch, Pete Nice, and DJ Richie Rich. The song was released on Def Jam Recordings in 1989 and was included on their debut album, "The Cactus Album.” The tune features Don Newkirk, who is called up for the first verse by the group.
The song is a play on the phrase "gas face," which means to give someone a facial expression that shows disgust. In the tune, 3rd Bass and Don Newkirk use the term in different ways, addressing various issues ranging from the exploitation of artists by record labels to racial stereotypes.
Pete Nice's verse begins with the statement "Gas, past tense, made facially," indicating that someone has already been given a gas face. He goes on to call out KMD, a hip-hop group co-founded by MF DOOM, for replicating 3rd Bass' style. He also criticizes the music industry's shady practices.
The second verse of "The Gas Face" is performed by MC Serch, who discusses racial stereotypes and the negative views towards African Americans. He also speaks about the actions of a "red man with horns on his head" who "laid down the ill plan" and convinced people that their hair can't be nappy.
Overall, "The Gas Face" is a hard-hitting and multi-faceted song that addresses a wide range of social and political issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Ey yo man, my labelmate Don Newkirk
Introducing Don Newkirk, who is part of the same record label
Thanks Serch!
Serch expresses gratitude for the introduction
And now for the Prime Minister
Introducing the next rapper as the 'Prime Minister'
Sinister Pete N-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi-hice! Nice Nice Nice
Introducing Pete as 'Sinister Pete' and praising him with 'Nice'
Kick 'em in the grill Pete!
Encouraging Pete to start rapping
Gas, past tense, made facially
Using the term 'Gas' to describe a facial expression made in reaction to negative behavior
3rd Bass'll express, KMD
3rd Bass will convey their negative reaction to offending behavior alongside KMD (a group)
Three blind mice on sight
Referring to those who commit wrongdoing as 'Three blind mice'
Zev Lover, gave it the first light
Referring to Zev Lover (a rapper) as the first to acknowledge the offense with his 'light'
A grin shows a trick up a sleeve
A grin when showing a trick is a sign of deceit
What a tangled web they weave
This complex deception is a consequence of their actions
Deceivers, stupefied through fable
Those committing wrongdoing are delusional and believe their own lies
Say Let's Make a Deal at the dinner table
Deceptive people propose a compromise for the offense
Put you on tour, put your record on wax ('Trust me!')
The deception involves promises of a tour and a record deal
Sign your life on the X
Trickery involves getting people to sign a contract without understanding the implications
You eXit, X-off, but what you really get:
Leaving the contract means they lose everything
A box of Newports, and Puma sweats ('damn!')
In exchange for the loss, they only get cigarettes and clothing
Tex feeds and frowns upon Emus
Tex (an offensive stereotype) disapproves of emus (another offensive stereotype)
To give up Gas Face he drinks from a Thermos
To avoid inappropriate racial reactions, he drinks from a Thermos
Sub Roc cut at you with a clipper
Sub Roc (a DJ) scratches on a turntable to demonstrate disapproval
Gas Face given, I beg to differ
Despite claims otherwise, they do give a 'Gas Face' in response to negative behavior
Black cat is bad luck, bad guys wear black
Stereotypes about blackness are pervasive in society (e.g. black cats, black clothing)
Musta been a white guy who started all that
Implying that negative stereotypes about blackness were created by white people
(Make the Gas Face!) For those little white lies
Reacting negatively to small lies told by white people
My expression to the mountainous blue eyes
Reacting to the blue eyes of someone causing offense
Then form a face, and shake my skull cap
Reacting with a facial expression and shaking one's head in disappointment
Dismiss the myth, that evil is not black
Rejecting the idea that blackness is equivalent to evilness
But opposite spectrum, this done by red man
Evil is associated with whiteness, not blackness, and this association was created by Native American stereotypes
With horns on his head, laid down the ill plan
Satan (portrayed with horns) is responsible for perpetuating negative stereotypes about blackness
Got all his helpers, said, "Make it snappy!
Satan's helpers (demons) are tasked with spreading anti-black propaganda
Tell all the people that their hair can't be nappy!"
Encouraging people to conform to white beauty standards and reject natural black hair
Blonde and blue-eyed, or dark-skinned half a G
Both light-skinned and dark-skinned people are victims of oppressive beauty standards
A disease, created by leprosy
This beauty standard is a disease in society, rooted in historical racism
Don't speak of bleach, bend them to right
Rejecting the use of skin-bleaching products that perpetuate white beauty standards
Say, "It was night WAY before the light"
Acknowledging the existence of blackness before the arrival of white people
Put aside spooks, Serch leaves a trace
Ignoring stereotypes about blackness, MC Serch is making his mark in the music industry
I've set 'em correct with the effect of the Gas Face
The 'Gas Face' is a means of correcting negative behavior linked to racist beliefs
A Gas Face, can either be a smile or a smirk
A negative facial expression can be a way of expressing disapproval or humor
When appears, a monkey wrench to work one's clockwork
When someone gives a 'Gas Face', it disrupts their plans and behavior
Perkin his brim to the rim of my cup
Perking up one's hat as a sign of alertness
Don't tempt me, you're empty, so fill'er up!
Don't provoke me, you have nothing to offer
Is I'm talkin' coffee or cocoa, is you loco?
Asking if someone is crazy for not understanding the difference between coffee and cocoa
Cash or credit for unleaded at Sunoco
Using Sunoco gas station as an example of a place to purchase gas
KMD and 3rd Bass is just ace in the hole
KMD and 3rd Bass are very talented
Damn, if looks could kill
Expressing how strongly their negative facial expressions convey their disapproval
You look like host was a ghost from your grill
Saying that someone's expression is so negative, it looks like they saw a ghost
But still, what's the new fed, to recollect
What is the new thing people are interested in discussing?
To our passing phase to facades to Eddie Decker
People are more focused on short-term trends and superficial appearances than on deeper issues, like racism
For my label reads Hood, street might have a tattoo
The record label identifies as part of hood culture, and may manifest in the form of tattoos
Don't pick any card or no rabbit from my hat
Don't fall for deception or tricks
Never a magician if I ever tricked 'em
A magician never tries to deceive their audience
"Oh shit!" Another Gas Face victim
Someone else has fallen victim to the 'Gas Face'
Punji, yo who gets the Gas Face?
Asking who deserves the 'Gas Face'
Little Vic for the Gas Face
Saying that Little Vic deserves the 'Gas Face'
Tony Dick, gets the Gas Face
Saying that Tony Dick deserves the 'Gas Face'
No Gas Faces for Plugs One Two and Three
Exempting Plugs One, Two, and Three from the 'Gas Face'
No Gas Face for Professor Prince Pa-paul!
Exempting Professor Prince Pa-paul from the 'Gas Face'
? My friend Tina gets the big Gas Face
Saying that Tina deserves a severe 'Gas Face'
No Gas Face for DJ Subroc
Exempting DJ Subroc from the 'Gas Face'
No Gas Face for KMD
Exempting KMD from the 'Gas Face'
Hammer, shut the fuck up! Gas Face! !
Commanding MC Hammer to stop talking and giving him the 'Gas Face'
What do we think about Hammer?
Asking for opinions on MC Hammer
? GYP
Unclear what 'GYP' refers to
Get Yours Posse does not get the Gas Face
Exempting the Get Yours Posse from the 'Gas Face'
But P W Botha gets a Gas Face
Saying that P W Botha (a former South African leader) deserves the 'Gas Face'
? Dante Ross gets the Gas Face
Saying that Dante Ross deserves the 'Gas Face'
Yo stop dissin Dante on records y'all!
Asking people to stop insulting Dante Ross in their music
Elroy Elroy Elroy Cohen, gets the Gas Face! That's all
Saying that Elroy Cohen deserves the 'Gas Face'
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ARETHA FRANKLIN, DANIEL DUMILE, MICHAEL BERRIN, PAUL E. HUSTON, PETER J. NASH, TED WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MakeitStop-er5kx
Here after learning Don Newkirk passed away....the first R&B artist signed to Def Jam Records. Just thinking about the road he paved for so many artists.
For those who weren't yet born or were too young for this era in Hip Hop and R&B, this was some formative years and helped usher in the genre becoming more mainstream. Being a group that included white and black artists was groundbreaking.
They also should be applauded for calling out Vanilla Ice and his sampling of other music production without any acknowledgement or approval.
Had they been on a label and not had The Beastie Boys, Vanilla Ice, and "M.C. Household Tool", I believe their success would have been much greater.
You gotta pay homage though, an incredible video!
@penplayz8645
So weird to see MF DOOM and Gilbert Gottfried in the same video, RIP to both of these legends
@rorz999
Don Newkirk died as well late last year
@myeyeswentdeaf6213
Haha! ‘Zev Love X’…remember that? It’s been so long I forgot MF Doom used to be Zev Love X of KMD.
@javiervega1065
Why is that weird?
@rashb3994
Gilbert Gottfried is dead? 😮 When people get mad about race swapping in movies I always use him as the example of a race swap I want to see with him playing Shaft, real talk.
@lordofbathurst
MF Doom Gas Face Drawls LOL
@DavidLee-uf5sb
I'm 52 yrs old and this track still sounds dope as it did in '89! I used to bump this track hard in my Aiwa walkman! It was hard to listen to this track and stand still!😂 All of mumble rap gets the BIG GAS FACE!!😜😜😜
@pellettron-nj9ci
😂😂😂😂yesssss!!!!
@coneyoster1275
The whole album was decent as hell low key.
@deadcomix
My dad would play this in our way to carshows