WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

One of Dilla's finest remixes of all time is this week's Westcoast Wednesday. The Pharcyde's "She Said" (Jay Dee Remix) appeared on their sophomore album, Labcabincalifornia. This is a perfect joint for this rainy Cali day.

She Keeps On Passin Me By.

The Pharcyde on In Living Color? Can you get any more classic than that? How about Jamie Foxx introducing the song? You got it. The shitty part is that Fox was a bunch of assholes and always cut the performances off before they were over. Couldn't they figure out a way to squeeze in a full performance at the end of the show? Ah Fuck it. Enjoy this one kiddos.

Courtesy of the MOD.

Westcoast Wednesday.

Fatlip - "What's Up Fatlip?"

... The black sheep member of the Pharcyde pokes fun of himself in one of the funniest music videos ever made. Directed by Spike Jonze, it looks like the video had a budget of roughly $47...mostly for the clown outfit.

Not only is the video wildy entertaining, the song is dope. Lip proves that despite the hardships, alleged drug addiction, and homelessness that he's faced, he's still got it. He's also still able to laugh at himself as the song is all about how bad he sucks at life. It's basically the opposite of every Jay-Z song ever made.

Westcoast Wednesday.

Pharcyde - "Drop"

This is one of the greatest videos of all time. In fact, it might be the best. Shot backwards and then played in reverse? Who thinks of that? Director and creative genius Spike Jonz that's who. And I can't forget J Dilla on the beat. How could this not be classic?

Daily Dopeness: On The DL.

Sure, "Ya Mama" was the first single. Yes, we can all relate to "Otha Fish". Of course, "Passin My Bye" is one of the greatest songs of all time. But "On the DL" is my shit. The bouncy drums, smooth bassline, and Stanley Cowell finger piano sample make this track one of the standout songs on one of the best westcoast albums of all time. Yeah, I said it.

DOWNLOAD: The Pharcyde - "On The DL"

Rock The Bells 2008: Los Angeles Recap.

Check out the Hip Hop Official video recap from the Rock The Bells Tour as they stopped in sunny Los Angeles. (a.k.a. the best day of 2008). Featuring Tribe, Nas, De La, Pharcyde, Mos Def, Ghostface, Raekwon, Meth and Red, and re-introducing the special guest performer the Black Eyes Peas (minus Fergie)!

"So hip-hop I bust nuts in graffiti." (c) Q-Tip


More footage from the show coming soon! All Access, baby.

Photos from Rock The Bells 2008 - Los Angeles

As you all know, Hip Hop Official was live+direct from the Glen Helen Pavilion in Los Angeles San Bernardino for the Rock The Bells Tour 2008. We took hundreds of photos from the event, featuring all your favorite rappers and your favorite rapper's favorite rappers.

I don't have to tell you that it was the Hip-Hop event of the year (Sorry Kanye). Everyone who performed ripped it. Not one person left unsatisfied... Well, except those that came to see MF DOOM.

Shout out to Jay Three Photogrpahy for the sick camera work.

Part 1.

Click HERE to view entire gallery.

Part 2.

Click HERE to view entire gallery.

We'll have video from the event coming this week...Stay Tuned.

[VIDEO] Tre Hardson (feat Fatlip) - "AyYoMyMan"

Tre Hardson (aka SlimKid3) and Fat Lip, both from Pharcyde fame, team up for this dope ass track. The was originally released on Tre 2002 album, Liberation. This is my new shit as of 5 minutes ago. The video is sick, I'm feeling the neon lights. Directed by Will Copeland & Little Red Robot.


This is a good look for Tre Hardson. Back on the scene, crispy and clean. (c) Black Sheep

Pharcyde - Runnin' (Philippians Remix)

Here's a fresh new remix of the classic Pharcyde track which appears on the Delicious Vinyl’s RMXXOLOGY album, in stores now. It's dope that they stayed true to the original Dilla-produced track, re-working the original Stan Getz bossanova sample. There's a crazy synthy-Atari-video-game-sounding change at the end, but it kinda works. There are millions of remix versions of the this song, and this one hold up to the best of them - except my favorite, that being Jay Dee's remix.

As a bonus, I'm giving you the mp3 version. Put that in your iPod and smoke it.

DOWNLOAD: Pharcyde - Runnin' (Philippians Remix)

De La Soul / Rock The Bells 2008 Jump-Off.

The Rock The Bells 2008 festival kicks off tomorrow, and we threw this video of De La Soul together to get you ready. The tour will come through smashing a town near you soon, so get in where you fit in. With a lineup that features Nas, Tribe Called Quest, Pharcyde, Rakim, Meth & Red, and De La (just to name a few) it's sure to be the hottest event of the year. Stay tuned to Hip-Hop Official for your exclusive coverage. Chea.

Westcoast Wednesday.

The Wascals - "The Dips"

I owed this song on cassette single (RIP) and played the shit out of it in 1993. The J-Swift produced beat was so ill to me when i was 13, and it still holds up today. Few people remember the Wascals, but you might be familiar with their "most popular" single "Class Clown," but this song right here was always their dopest track in my opinion. And my opinion is the final word in this blog.

So who the hell where The Wascals? They were a L.A. based group comprised of super young emcees Bucwheed, Spit-Anky, Alphie and St. Imey, they were signed to Delicious Vinyl Records and were originally produced by J-Swfit (the genius behind Bizarre Ride to the Pharcyde). They were often compared to their labelmates The Pharcyde and were referred to as "The Baby Pharcyde," but they reminded my a little bit more of a pre-pubescent Souls of Mischief.

They released 4 singles in 1993, and recorded an album called Greatest Hits (how retarded) that was supposed to be released in 1994, but the four members did not get along with each other (something tells me this group was manufactured) and they broke up just before the album was set to be released -- then Delicious Vinyl shelved the album. And it sat there, and sat there, and sat there, collecting dust until 2007 when Delicious Vinyl finally released the album, 14 years after the singles were first released. Too little, too late.

Out of the four members of The Wascals, only Bucwheed did much of anything after the break-up. In 1998, he changed his name to Buc Fifty, turned street, and dropped a few albums. His work with Alchemist is actually pretty dope.

The Pharcyde Returns

The legendary westcoast group reunites to rock the world at Rock The Bells. All 4 members, Imani, Bootie Brown, SlimKid Tre Hardson, and Fatlip, will share the stage together for the first time in almost 10 years. And they say Hip-Hop is dead.

[THE CHARTS] Top 5 Pharcyde Songs

It's Friday, ya'll, so you know we have to take a look at the Charts. In honor of the Pharcyde reunion at this year's upcoming Rock The Bells, we're counting down our top 5 Pharcyde songs of all time...


Damn, this was hard.


5. "Otha Fish" - Bizarre RIde to the Pharcyde



4. "She Said" (Jay Dee Remix) - Sold My Soul: The Remix and Rarity Collection



3. "Drop" - Labcabincalifornia



2. "Runnin'" - Labcabincalifornia



and of course...you already knew

1. "Passin' Me By" - Bizarre Ride to The Pharcyde



Bonus video
1b. "Passin' Me By" (Fly As Pie Mix) - Sold My Soul: The Remix and Rarity Collection

This is a rare remix, and in my opinion one of the best Pharcyde tracks of all time...so slept on.

ROCK THE BELLS 2008

Hip Hop Official has your EXCLUSIVE Press Conference access as Guerilla Union unveiled the all-star lineup for the 2008 festival. A Tribe Called Quest will headline the show, and performances will include De La Soul, Rakim, Red & Meth, Ghost & Raekwon, the mighty Mos Def, and a legendary reunion of the Pharcyde...all 4 members: Bootie Brown, Imani, Slim Kid, and Fatlip together on stage for the first time in 10 years. Like Woah.

We got 2 videos for you.

1) Supernatural freestyling the entire festival lineup. This dude is half-man, half-amazing.
Rock The Bells 2008 Lineup: The Freestyle
>


2) Highlights from the Press Conference, with interviews from Tribe, De La, and more..
Rock The Bells 2008 Press Conference



Rock the Bells 2008 jumps off in Chicago on July 19h. Get in where you fit in.