3rd Bass

3rd Bass was a New York hip-hop group formed in the late 1980s by Pete Nice, MC Serch, and DJ Richie Rich. Their 1989 debut 'The Cactus Album' included the single 'Pop Goes the Weasel,' which became one of their best-known tracks. The group's sound mixed sharp lyrics with DJ Richie Rich's scratching techniques, creating something that stood out in the city's crowded scene at the time.

They followed up with 'Derelicts of Dialect' and later 'Cactus Revisited,' which leaned into more experimental and political territory. Songs like 'Portrait of the Artist as a Hood' and 'Soul in the Hole' showed their range, from street narratives to social commentary. Their work sometimes stirred debate, whether about sampling choices or lyrical content, but they kept putting out material that felt distinct from what other groups were doing.

Though they weren't around for a long stretch, 3rd Bass left behind a handful of albums and singles that still get mentioned when people talk about that era. Tracks like 'Steppin' to the A.M.' and 'No Master Plan No Master Race' capture a specific moment in hip-hop where clever wordplay and production risks could still break through. They made music that felt both of its time and slightly ahead of it.