Plain Rap

Last updated
Plain Rap
PlainRap.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 7, 2000
Genre Hip hop
Length47:42
Label Delicious Vinyl / Edel America [1]
Producer Bootie Brown
J-Swift
Showbiz
Slimkid3
The Pharcyde chronology
Labcabincalifornia
(1995)
Plain Rap
(2000)
Humboldt Beginnings
(2004)
Singles from Plain Rap
  1. "Trust"
    Released: 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Robert Christgau Scissors icon black.svg [3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Plain Rap is the third studio album by Los Angeles hip hop group The Pharcyde. [6] The album was released on November 7, 2000, on Delicious Vinyl/Edel America Records. Slimkid3 (Tre Hardson) left the group after the release of the album. [7] [8]

Contents

The album peaked at #157 on the Billboard 200. [9]

Production

The album contains production from Showbiz of D.I.T.C., J-Swift, and the group themselves. [10] It features lone guest Black Thought.

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times called the album "uninspired," writing that the group "deliver their lyrics without much of the inflection and flair that made the group’s earlier material memorable." [1] The A.V. Club wrote that "too often ... Plain Rap sounds like what Labcabin's detractors unfairly accused it of being: mature and adult to the point of sounding hopelessly dull." [11] Portland Mercury wrote that "it's not that the album is horrible--it just isn't going anywhere." [12]

Robert Christgau listed "Trust" as a "choice cut." [3]

Track listing

  1. "Trust" 4:42
  2. "Network (feat. Black Thought)" 5:08
  3. "LA" 3:24
  4. "Somethin'" 4:52
  5. "Misery" 5:10
  6. "Blaze" 3:33
  7. "Rush" 3:12
  8. "Sock Skit" 1:18
  9. "Guestlist" 3:51
  10. "Evolution" 4:02
  11. "Front Line 5:08
  12. "World" 5:48
  13. "Trust (Remix)" 4:51

Singles

Single information
"Trust"
  • Released: 2000

Related Research Articles

<i>E. 1999 Eternal</i> 1995 studio album by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

E. 1999 Eternal is the second studio album by American hip hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, released July 25, 1995, on Ruthless Records. The album was released four months after the death of rapper Eazy-E, the group's mentor and the executive producer of the album. Both the album and single "Tha Crossroads" are dedicated to him. Following up on the surprise success of their breakthrough single "Thuggish Ruggish Bone", it became a popular album and received positive reviews from music critics, earning praise for the group's melodic rapping style. The album title is a portmanteau of Cleveland's eastside neighborhood centering on East 99th Street and St. Clair Avenue where the group is based and the then-future year 1999.

The Pharcyde American hip hop group

The Pharcyde is an American alternative hip hop group, formed in 1989, from South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani, Slimkid3, Bootie Brown, and Fatlip. DJ Mark Luv was the group's first disc jockey (DJ), followed by producer J-Swift and then J Dilla. 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 (1992). The group continues to tour and record, both collaboratively and in solo projects—the most recent being Hardson's collaborative EP with DJ Nu-Mark released in 2014 on Delicious Vinyl.

<i>Fear of a Black Planet</i> 1990 studio album by Public Enemy

Fear of a Black Planet is the third studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy. It was released on April 10, 1990, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records, and produced by the group's production team The Bomb Squad, who expanded on the sample-layered sound of Public Enemy's 1988 album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Having fulfilled their initial creative ambitions with that album, the group aspired to create what lead rapper Chuck D called "a deep, complex album". Their songwriting was partly inspired by the controversy surrounding member Professor Griff and his dismissal from the group in 1989.

<i>Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde</i> 1992 studio album by The Pharcyde

Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde is the debut album by American hip hop collective The Pharcyde, released on November 24, 1992 through the Delicious Vinyl and EastWest labels. The album was produced by former group member J-Swift, and features only one guest appearance, provided by little-known Los Angeles rapper Bucwheed. In the years after its release, Bizarre Ride has been hailed by music critics and alternative hip hop fans, as a classic hip hop album along with Souls of Mischief's 93 'til Infinity, and has appeared in numerous publications' "best albums" lists.

<i>Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter</i> 1999 studio album by Jay-Z

Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter is the fourth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on December 28, 1999, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. According to USA Today critic Steve Jones, the record marked a return to the street-oriented sound of Jay-Z's 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Vol. 3... featured production from Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, K-Rob, DJ Clue, Rockwilder, DJ Premier, and Irv Gotti, among others.

<i>Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik</i> 1994 studio album by Outkast

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik is the debut album of American hip hop duo Outkast, released on April 26, 1994, by LaFace Records. Having befriended each other two years prior, rappers André 3000 and Big Boi pursued recording music as a duo and worked with production team Organized Noize, leading to a record contract with LaFace. With the team producing, Outkast recorded the album at the Dungeon, D.A.R.P. Studios, Purple Dragon, Bosstown, and Doppler Studios, all in Atlanta.

<i>Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...</i> 1993 studio album by 2Pac

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... is the second studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released on February 16, 1993, by Interscope and Jive Records. N.I.G.G.A. in the title is punctuated to refer to 2Pac's backronym "Never Ignorant in Getting Goals Accomplished". The album features guest appearances from the group Live Squad, 2Pac's stepbrother the Wycked, Ice-T, Ice Cube, Treach, Apache, Poppi, Deadly Threat, R&B singer Dave Hollister and Digital Underground.

<i>Too Much Too Soon</i> (album) 1974 studio album by New York Dolls

Too Much Too Soon is the second album by the American hard rock band New York Dolls. It was released on May 10, 1974, by Mercury Records. The Dolls recorded the album earlier that year at A&R Studios in New York City with veteran producer Shadow Morton, who was enlisted by the band's lead singer David Johansen after they felt dissatisfied with the recording of their 1973 self-titled debut album. Morton had been disenchanted by the music industry, but the band's energy motivated him to undertake the project as a challenge.

<i>Illadelph Halflife</i> 1996 studio album by the Roots

Illadelph Halflife is the third studio album by American hip hop band the Roots, released September 24, 1996 on Geffen Records. It features a tougher and broader sound than their previous album, Do You Want More?!!!??! (1995). The album also contains integration of programmed drums and guest contributions by R&B musicians such as Amel Larrieux and D'Angelo, as well as jazz musicians such as David Murray, Steve Coleman, Cassandra Wilson, Graham Haynes. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. In 2006, the album was selected as one of Hip Hop Connection's 100 Best Rap Albums from 1995 to 2005. The master tapes for the album were destroyed in a fire at the Universal Studios back lot in 2008.

<i>Sister & Brother</i> 1999 studio album by Melky Sedeck

Sister & Brother is the full-length debut by Melky Sedeck, released in 1999. It mixes a variety of genres, including hip-hop, reggae, soul, and gospel.

<i>One for All</i> (Brand Nubian album) 1990 studio album by Brand Nubian

One for All is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Brand Nubian, released on December 4, 1990, by Elektra Records. The album was highly acclaimed for its politically charged and socially conscious content. Sales never matched the wide acclaim — the album has only sold 350,000 copies as of May 2013 — but it has remained in print since its 1990 release. The album is mainly produced by Brand Nubian, but it also features production by Skeff Anselm, Stimulated Dummies, and Dave "Jam" Hall. The album's production contains many motifs of hip hop's golden age including James Brown-sampled breakbeats and funky R&B loops. The album is broken down track-by-track by Brand Nubian in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.

Delicious Vinyl

Delicious Vinyl is an American independent record label founded by Matt Dike and Michael Ross in 1987 and based in Los Angeles, California.

<i>Rising Down</i> 2008 studio album by The Roots

Rising Down is the eighth studio album by the American hip hop band The Roots, released on April 28, 2008, on Def Jam Recordings. The album's title is adapted from William T. Vollmann's book Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means (2004). Expanding on the dark, dense production and political tone of Game Theory (2006), Rising Down features lyrical themes concerning issues of contemporary society, including violence, poverty, social and environmental climate, drugs, police corruption and the music industry.

<i>Return of the Bumpasaurus</i> 1996 studio album by Sir Mix-a-Lot

Return of the Bumpasaurus is the fifth album by the rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot, released in 1996 by American Recordings. It peaked at No. 123 on the Billboard 200. It includes the single "Jump on It", which samples the Sugarhill Gang's version of "Apache".

<i>House of Music</i> 1996 studio album by Tony! Toni! Toné!

House of Music is the fourth and final album by American R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné!, released on November 19, 1996, by Mercury Records. It follows the success of the band's 1993 album Sons of Soul and a hiatus during which each member pursued individual musical projects.

<i>Ironman</i> (Ghostface Killah album) 1996 studio album by Ghostface Killah

Ironman is the debut solo album by American rapper Ghostface Killah, released on October 29, 1996, by Epic Records. It was produced by fellow Wu-Tang Clan member RZA. The album's music draws prominently on blaxploitation films and soul samples. More so than on other solo debuts from the group's members, Ironman contains references to the Nation of Gods and Earths.

Floyd Harrison, better known as Sylk Smoov, is an American rapper from St. Louis, Missouri.

The Real Rock is a studio album by the reggae/rap musician Shinehead, released in 1990 via Elektra Records.

Real Love is an album by the American R&B duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1986 via Capitol Records.

Chillin' is an album by the American R&B vocal group Force MDs. The hit single "Tender Love" also appears on the soundtrack to Krush Groove.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pharcyde Runs Out of Energy on 'Plain Rap'". Los Angeles Times. November 17, 2000.
  2. "Plain Rap - The Pharcyde | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  3. 1 2 "Robert Christgau: CG: The Pharcyde". robertchristgau.com.
  4. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 514.
  5. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 634.
  6. "The Pharcyde | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  7. "Pharcyde delivers solid but unspectacular show". chicagotribune.com.
  8. Barker, Andrew (May 4, 2017). The Pharcyde's Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN   9781501321283 via Google Books.
  9. "The Pharcyde". Billboard.
  10. Wollock, David (January 4, 2001). "Cyde Two". Phoenix New Times.
  11. "The Pharcyde: Plain Rap". Music.
  12. Dunn, Katia. "The Pharcyde Sells Out". Portland Mercury.