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Besides the upper-middle-class frat-punks-in-rap-clothing shtick of the Beastie Boys and emissary/producer Rick Rubin, who both gained a legitimate, earned respect in the rap community, there were very few white kids in rap's first decade who spoke the poetry of the street with compassion and veneration for the form. That is, until The Cactus Album. Matching MC Serch's bombastic, goofy good nature and Prime Minister Pete Nice's gritty, English-trained wordsmithery (sounding like a young Don in training), 3rd Bass' debut album is revelatory in its way. For one, it is full of great songs, alternately upbeat rollers ("Sons of 3rd Bass"), casual-but-sincere disses ("The Gas Face"), razor-sharp street didacticism ("Triple Stage Darkness," "Wordz of Wizdom"), and sweaty city anthems ("Brooklyn Queens," "Steppin' to the A.M.," odes to day and night, respectively), with A-plus production by heavyweights Prince Paul and Bomb Squad, as well as the surprising, overshadowing work of Sam Sever. The duo may not have come from the streets, but their hearts were there, and it shows. The album embodies New York life. Not every single idea plays out successfully -- Serch's Tom Waits impression on "Flippin' Off the Wall..." is on the wrong side of the taste line, and "Desert Boots" is a puzzling Western-themed insertion -- but they are at least interesting stretches that add to the dense, layered texture of the album. The Cactus Album was also important because it proved to the hip-hop heads that white kids could play along without appropriating or bastardizing the culture. It may not have completely integrated rap, but it was a precursor to a culture that became more inclusive and widespread after its arrival.
© Stanton Swihart /TiVo
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Unknown, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Prince Paul, Producer - Aretha Franklin, ComposerLyricist - Ted White, ComposerLyricist - Paul E. Huston, ComposerLyricist - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, Producer, MainArtist - Daniel Dumile, ComposerLyricist - Zev Love, FeaturedArtist
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Keith Shocklee, Producer - Eric Sadler, Producer - James Henry Boxley III, Producer - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, Producer, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Mc Serch, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mertz, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer - David Victor Kealy, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Mc Serch, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, Producer, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Mc Serch, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer - Mr. Puffy Mcscruffy, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, Producer, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Mc Serch, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Prince Paul, ComposerLyricist - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Keith Shocklee, Composer, Producer - Eric Sadler, Composer, Producer - Gary Wright, ComposerLyricist - Hank Shocklee, Producer - James Henry Boxley III, Composer - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Mc Serch, Producer, Co-Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer, Co-Producer - Nick Sansano, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Not Applicable, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dave Dorrell, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - CJ Mackintosh, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer - Mr. Puffy Mcscruffy, Producer
℗ 1988 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Dave Dorrell, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - CJ Mackintosh, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer - Mr. Puffy Mcscruffy, Producer
℗ 1988 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Keith Shocklee, Composer, Producer - Eric Sadler, Composer, Producer - Gary Wright, ComposerLyricist - Hank Shocklee, Producer - James Henry Boxley III, Composer - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Soirée, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Mc Serch, Producer, Co-Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer, Co-Producer - Nick Sansano, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1990 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Keith Shocklee, Composer, Producer - Eric Sadler, Composer, Producer - Gary Wright, ComposerLyricist - Hank Shocklee, Producer - James Henry Boxley III, Composer - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist - Soirée, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Mc Serch, Producer, Co-Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer, Co-Producer - Nick Sansano, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1990 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Sam Citrin, ComposerLyricist - Sam Sever, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Prince Paul, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - David Dorrell, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer - Christopher John Mackintosh, Remixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Prince Paul, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Dorrell, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - CJ Mackintosh, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Prince Paul, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Dorrell, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - CJ Mackintosh, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1990 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Prince Paul, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Dorrell, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - CJ Mackintosh, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Prince Paul, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Dorrell, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - CJ Mackintosh, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, MainArtist - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Prince Paul, Producer - Aretha Franklin, ComposerLyricist - Ted White, ComposerLyricist - Paul E. Huston, ComposerLyricist - Peter J. Nash, ComposerLyricist - Michael Berrin, ComposerLyricist - 3rd Bass, Producer, MainArtist - Daniel Dumile, ComposerLyricist - Mc Serch, Producer - Prime Minister Pete Nice, Producer
℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Besides the upper-middle-class frat-punks-in-rap-clothing shtick of the Beastie Boys and emissary/producer Rick Rubin, who both gained a legitimate, earned respect in the rap community, there were very few white kids in rap's first decade who spoke the poetry of the street with compassion and veneration for the form. That is, until The Cactus Album. Matching MC Serch's bombastic, goofy good nature and Prime Minister Pete Nice's gritty, English-trained wordsmithery (sounding like a young Don in training), 3rd Bass' debut album is revelatory in its way. For one, it is full of great songs, alternately upbeat rollers ("Sons of 3rd Bass"), casual-but-sincere disses ("The Gas Face"), razor-sharp street didacticism ("Triple Stage Darkness," "Wordz of Wizdom"), and sweaty city anthems ("Brooklyn Queens," "Steppin' to the A.M.," odes to day and night, respectively), with A-plus production by heavyweights Prince Paul and Bomb Squad, as well as the surprising, overshadowing work of Sam Sever. The duo may not have come from the streets, but their hearts were there, and it shows. The album embodies New York life. Not every single idea plays out successfully -- Serch's Tom Waits impression on "Flippin' Off the Wall..." is on the wrong side of the taste line, and "Desert Boots" is a puzzling Western-themed insertion -- but they are at least interesting stretches that add to the dense, layered texture of the album. The Cactus Album was also important because it proved to the hip-hop heads that white kids could play along without appropriating or bastardizing the culture. It may not have completely integrated rap, but it was a precursor to a culture that became more inclusive and widespread after its arrival.
© Stanton Swihart /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 33 track(s)
- Total length: 02:04:37
- Main artists: 3rd Bass
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Def Jam Recordings
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2019 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2019 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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