The Pharcyde

West Coast hip hop legends come to Camden Town

»Laid-back West Coast hip-hop legends The Pharcyde, who play at Koko in Camden Town this week, are considered one of the finest outfits from the genre’s second golden period in the early 1990s.

With an emphasis on good times rather than gangster rapping, the four piece from Los Angeles continues a peaceful tradition associated with New York groups De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.

They burst onto the scene with their first album - Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde, which includes the stone cold classics Passin Me By and Ya Mama.

And their second album Labcabincalifornia cemented their reputation among hip-hop’s elite with the huge singles Runnin’ and Drop.

Although their third album was a bit of a flop, and they are now touring as a two piece (two of the original members have dropped out over the years), this is an opportunity to see one of the best rap groups to grace the stage performing some of the genre’s genuine anthems.

* The Pharcyde are at Koko in Camden High Street, NW1, on Monday, July 16 from 7pm. Tickets £20, visit www.koko.co.uk