The group is perhaps best known for the hit singles "Drop", "Passin' Me By" and "Runnin''", as well as their first album, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde. Pharcyde continues to tour and record, both collaboratively and in solo projects—the most recent being Hardson's collaborative EP with the award-winning DJ Nu-Mark (of Jurassic 5) released in 2014 on Delicious Vinyl.
Pharcyde group members Slimkid3, Bootie Brown, and Imani met as dancers in the late 1980s and dancing was their main ambition as late as 1990. Around this time, Imani and Slimkid3 were in a group called "As Is" and later a group called the "Play Brothers", whilst Bootie Brown was a backup dancer for Fatlip (Fatlip being the last member to join the group). Bootie Brown recalls that their earlier dancing careers influenced their rapping – "sometimes the way I rap is almost like the way I used to dance". The group met Reggie Andrews, a local high-school music teacher who worked with the Dazz Band and Rick James, and who was a major musical influence on their debut album. The group also met producer J-Swift around this time, as he was Reggie Andrews's "star pupil" according to the book Check the Technique.
Though Humboldt Beginnings is to date the last Pharcyde album, its members have since been keeping busy with various contributions and projects. A compilation of The Pharcyde was released in 2005, titled Sold My Soul: The Remix & Rarity Collection, featuring a number of remixes and rare songs. Former member Fatlip released his solo debut in 2005, titled The Loneliest Punk, and Tre Hardson's second full-length solo album SLIMKID3's Cafe was released on April 4, 2006.
2012 saw the twentieth anniversary of The Pharcyde's debut Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde, and to mark the event Fatlip and SlimKid3 teamed up with the album's producers, J-Swift and L.A. Jay, as well as record label Delicious Vinyl, to play the album in its entirety at a tribute show at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. The performance was intended to be a one-off, but due to overwhelming success and reception, the group began touring the show 'Bizarre Ride Live', and, along with MC K-Natural, working on original music under the moniker The Bizarre Ride. In December of that year, The Pharcyde released the Amerigo Gazaway-produced "Still Got Love (Bizarre Tribe Megamix)" garnering significant praise. 2015 marked the twentieth anniversary of Labcabincalifornia, resulting in a similar tour through Europe and Japan. The group continued touring Europe through 2017.
Pandemonium
The Pharcyde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See now; catch a vision (aight) view me in the eyes of unequal
High above the plains but still remains equal
Livin on, no matter how fly there is no sequel
I am not a supreme being, freeing people
Cause many minds are zombified, that's why they never rest
Fightin for the light and fightin holes in their chest
Merely scavengers but no one who'll confess
Livin in the lost & found, trapped without sound
Dappin ass a pound means it's way underground
No, calculating cause it's all round
Round like a figure, in old school calligra-phy
So figure that you don't wanna see
Far greater than the eye so you can fly Cali
Used to have a tax on teens now they got a tax on me
But that's if you can find me
I'll be trippin with the scene with the pan-de.monium
{*scratched: "pandemonium"*}
He been causin more calamities to me than Am-ity
-ville Horror, real horror, way mo' wicked than Gomorrah
Or Sodom, I shoulda shot him but I didn't
Right then, to me my man hit it
Just because I'm tenant reason why they hit me with a rotten label
And use trickery to put my cards upon the table
So they can COPY, but they're UNABLE~!
They come SLOPPY, ill equipped to grip the sacred cables
Stretchin out, that age old fable
How they're not really my friends
They can't wait to infiltrate and get me for my ends
It's been trend-in, in everything I do
The devil tries to throw his wicked wrench into with his henchmen crew
Main reason why I, resist whack guys
And let 'em know they couldn't wrap even aluminum
(When you what?) When I'm causin pandemonium...
{*scratched: "pandemonium"*}
Somebody tell me what's wrong with this picture
(What?) How long will it take befo' it hits ya?
And you begin to understand, the dirty underhanded
Plan to place pandemonium upon the land
Face to face with the faces of death
On a daily basis, to the point we embrace this
(What?) Demonic debauchery
Negatively affecting the psyche, that's why we like to see
Some type of monster chasin
Erasin people from the face of the Earth like Jason
When that was just a movie really illustrating
The illy type of shit that they really got waitin
And I can't be condonin 'em
Sick minds perpetuatin pandemonium
{*scratched: "pandemonium"*}
Mere men or two handicapped to adapt
On my terrain they remain in the same frame of thought
And they only thought as I laughed
At they foolish attempt to pin my technique
So I set a new mark, to drumming my styles directing styles
With the presence, present, meaning un-{?} digits
Like the ninjas on my trail, you will fail in hell
The young male will prevail when all hell breaks
I hate fakes, worse I hate flakes~!
Men get worse I get 'em to make their mistakes
I stay low like a sheet of linoleum
When it comes to pandemonium
{*scratched: "pandemonium" to song's end*}
The Pharcyde's "Pandemonium" is a powerful track that explores the negative impact that pandemonium can have on society. The lyrics are delivered in a fast-paced, almost frenzied style, which fits the theme of the song perfectly. The song starts off with a reflection on the state of the world, with lyrics that seem to suggest that everything is equal, yet still unequal at the same time. The singer notes that we are all just living on, no matter how high we fly, and that there is no real sequel to life.
The next verse delves into the idea of how people are often controlled by their own minds and are unable to break free from the cycle of violence and chaos that surrounds them. The singer notes that people are merely scavengers, without anyone willing to confess their true intentions. The singer acknowledges that they are far greater than meets the eye and are able to fly above it all, but that they also have to acknowledge the reality that exists around them. The song ends with a call to resist the chaos of the world and to try and create order, despite the difficulties that are sure to come.
Overall, "Pandemonium" is a powerful song that reminds us of the dangers of chaos and how it can negatively impact our lives. The lyrics are delivered with passion and urgency, making it a standout track in The Pharcyde's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
See now; catch a vision (aight) view me in the eyes of unequal
Take a good look at me and try to perceive me and my life from my perspective.
High above the plains but still remains equal
I may have achieved success, but that does not change the fact that we all are equal.
Livin on, no matter how fly there is no sequel
I am living my life to the fullest, enjoying the present moment without worrying about the future.
I am not a supreme being, freeing people
I am not a divine entity, but I want to help and empower people.
Cause many minds are zombified, that's why they never rest
Unfortunately, many people are disengaged from the world and don't have peace of mind.
Fightin for the light and fightin holes in their chest
People are struggling to find inner peace and happiness, struggling against their inner demons.
Merely scavengers but no one who'll confess
People are scavenging for meaning in life, but they are not ready to admit their insecurities and fears.
But in time they will all undress
Eventually, people will reveal their true selves and face their fears.
Livin in the lost & found, trapped without sound
Many people feel lost and stuck in a world that does not understand them and cannot help them.
Dappin ass a pound means it's way underground
The culture of exchanging handshakes is more than just a greeting; it's a subculture that is not known to everyone.
No, calculating cause it's all round
We cannot calculate everything in life, some things are just circular and come back in unexpected ways.
Round like a figure, in old school calligra-phy
Life is round, like a calligraphic design that has no end and no beginning.
So figure that you don't wanna see
The understanding of the complexity of life can be overwhelming and hard to perceive.
Far greater than the eye so you can fly Cali
California, as a symbol of a land of opportunities, can be the place where one can achieve greatness and fly, metaphorically speaking.
Used to have a tax on teens now they got a tax on me
I used to be young and free, but now society imposes the burden of taxes and responsibilities on me.
But that's if you can find me
Finding oneself can be challenging, but it's worth the effort.
He been causin more calamities to me than Am-ity
Someone has caused me more problems than the infamous Amityville Horror house.
-ville Horror, real horror, way mo' wicked than Gomorrah
The horror that someone has caused in my life is more evil than the biblical city of Gomorrah.
Or Sodom, I shoulda shot him but I didn't
I have contemplated revenge, but I did not act on it.
Right then, to me my man hit it
In that moment, I took action and dealt with the situation.
Just because I'm tenant reason why they hit me with a rotten label
I am being labeled as a bad person just because I am a tenant and do not own my own house.
And use trickery to put my cards upon the table
People are trying to cheat me and take advantage of me by tricking me into revealing my cards in a game of life.
They come SLOPPY, ill equipped to grip the sacred cables
Those who try to trick me are not skilled or smart enough to get a grip on the true nature of life.
Stretchin out, that age old fable
People are trying to stretch the truth, even though it's an old and well-known fable that can be debunked.
How they're not really my friends
People who are trying to cheat or trick me are not my true friends.
They can't wait to infiltrate and get me for my ends
Other people are trying to take advantage of my hard work and success.
It's been trend-in, in everything I do
People trying to get at me is a recurring problem in all aspects of my life.
The devil tries to throw his wicked wrench into with his henchmen crew
The devil, metaphorically speaking, is always trying to sabotage me, and he has many followers or helpers.
Main reason why I, resist whack guys
I am strong and able to resist people who are fake, bad or untrustworthy.
And let 'em know they couldn't wrap even aluminum
I am so good at what I do that even people who are not talented cannot try to compete with me.
Somebody tell me what's wrong with this picture
I am asking someone to enlighten me about what is wrong with a current situation.
How long will it take befo' it hits ya?
I am wondering how much time it will take for someone to realize the truth about a bad situation.
And you begin to understand, the dirty underhanded
Once someone realizes the truth, they will see the underhanded and dishonest nature behind it.
Plan to place pandemonium upon the land
There is a plan to create chaos and disorder on the land.
Face to face with the faces of death
People are confronted with death on a daily basis.
On a daily basis, to the point we embrace this
People see so much death and destruction that they become desensitized to it and start accepting it as normal.
Demonic debauchery
There are many wicked and immoral acts being performed by wicked people.
Negatively affecting the psyche, that's why we like to see
These immoral acts are having a negative impact on people's mental health, but people are still drawn towards them because of their curiosity and fascination with darkness.
Some type of monster chasin
People are looking for excitement and thrill and are drawn towards the unknown and the monstrous.
Erasin people from the face of the Earth like Jason
People can be erased from existence just like in the movie 'Friday the 13th' (where Jason kills people).
When that was just a movie really illustrating
The movie depicted something that can happen in real life, even though it's just a fictional story.
The illy type of shit that they really got waitin
There are some really wicked and evil plans being made by certain people in power.
And I can't be condonin 'em
I cannot approve or accept those plans and actions.
Sick minds perpetuatin pandemonium
There are mentally unwell people perpetuating chaos and disorder.
Mere men or two handicapped to adapt
Some people are not capable of adapting to changes in life, and they remain stuck in the past.
On my terrain they remain in the same frame of thought
When faced with challenges, these people remain stuck in their old ways of thinking.
And they only thought as I laughed
Their thoughts and ideas seem foolish and outdated to me.
At they foolish attempt to pin my technique
They try to criticize or imitate my techniques but they are doing it poorly or for the wrong reasons.
So I set a new mark, to drumming my styles directing styles
I create a new and unique style that inspires and directs others to follow.
With the presence, present, meaning un-{?} digits
My style is present and deliberate, and it carries a meaning that is hard to translate or put into words.
Like the ninjas on my trail, you will fail in hell
People who try to follow or imitate me are like ninja warriors, but they will never succeed or find happiness.
The young male will prevail when all hell breaks
The new generation (the young male) will succeed and thrive in the face of chaos and destruction.
I hate fakes, worse I hate flakes~!
I despise people who are fake or unreliable, and they are even worse than people who are weak or easily manipulated.
Men get worse I get 'em to make their mistakes
I am good at manipulating people into making mistakes or revealing their true intentions.
I stay low like a sheet of linoleum
I keep a low profile and avoid confrontation or conflict.
Writer(s): Derrick Constantine Stewart, Emandu Wilcox, Trevant Hardison, Tre Vant Jermaine Hardson, Emandu Imani Rashaan Wilcox, Derrick Stewart, Stanley Adams, Romye Robinson, Xavier Cugat Copyright: Marks Edward B. Music Corp., Edward B Marks Music Company
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ardante11
If you have the full Soundtrack you have a hip-hop masterpiece.
JRob1125
THE most underrated hip hop soundtrack of the 90s....maybe of all time
Alessandro Giogio
On cassette tape my friend
dm dm
Got it
Da Connoisseur Rex
Soundtrack is fire
Jaye Bogar
Classic
Isaiah Garfias
Damn! I consider myself a very knowledgeable Pharcyde fan. Grew up on early 90s hip hop. I have never heard this song, or would even think they would be on a major soundtrack like this. This channel is the shit.
Nyyk
yeah same, i've listened to every single song but then suddenly found this and felt so ashamed. what a banger
ViewMaster617
One of my favorite music videos back in the days good times👍🏿🔥💯
Biggie Mee
Their whole career is a masterpiece to this date.