Celebrate 20 Years With the Pharcyde Through the Familiar & Unexpected (Mixtape)

Over the weekend, Heads celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Pharcyde’s sophomore album, Labcabincalifornia. Released on November 14, 1995, it was the follow up to their hugely successful debut from three years earlier, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde. Featuring the singles “Drop,” “Runnin’,” and “She Said,” it was a more grown-up, developed sound for the Los Angeles group, whose earlier work was heralded for its humorous undertones and silliness. While not as commercially successful as its predecessor, the album is a classic piece of West Coast, underground Hip-Hop, highly influential in the future of L.A.’s distinctive sound from artists like Jurassic 5 and the Project Blowed collective several years later.

With much cause for celebration, this album’s anniversary has spawned some dope projects, including this 33-track mixtape that explores key pieces of the L.P. like the cuts “Groupie Therapy” and “Somethin’ That Means Somethin'” while also exploring the inspiration behind Lacabincalfornia‘s production. Samples drawn from artists as far-ranging as Bob Marley and the Vince Guaraldi Trio are included, giving listeners and auditory road map into the minds of the album’s producers, which include a then little-known Detroit beat maker calling himself Jay Dee and the legendary Diamond D of the Diggin’ in the Crates Crew. Mixed by Chris Read, the tribute mix is a Wax Poetics-sponsored effort and also features alternate versions, remixes, and a capellas. Check it out.

Related: 20 Years Later, The Pharcyde’s “Labcabincalifornia” Is Far Greater Than The Credit It Received (Editorial)