Things really do come full circle -- well, almost anyway. After making their debut playing the song “Soul Flower” with a live band on Brand New Heavies’ Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1, dysfunctional SoCal hip-hop stoners the Pharcyde return to 4th & B with a live band on Friday.
Three original members will be present, with only prodigal son Fatlip missing in action. This won’t come as much of a shock to longtime fans of the group. Even though the quartet joined forces for recent reunion shows and posed together for pictures shown on the group’s website, Fatlip’s participation has been spotty (at best) since the Pharcyde's sophomore release, Labcabincalifornia.
Don’t expect the onetime In Living Color dancers to lament the absence of their bandmate much; the group has basically functioned without him for the better part of the last 15 years. Co-founders Imani and Bootie Brown, who have kept things going since the band’s inception in ’91, recently hooked back up with fellow originator Tre Hardson (Slimkid3), who left the band back in 2000 to pursue a solo career. With a live band in tow, this addition should help to make all of those hits from the stellar Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde come to life and give the polished live act the credibility it deserves. Bust out those giant cell phones and your Stussy gear -- it’s time to party like it’s 1995.
Blogger Scott McDonald covers music in San Diego for a few different publications and is the editor of Eight24.com
