3rd Bass

From Free net encyclopedia

3rd Bass were a rap group in the late 1980s and early 1990s, notable for being one of the first white rap groups in history. Like the Beastie Boys, 3rd Bass helped prove that white rap was viable both critically and commercially.

MC Serch (Michael Berrin), Pete Nice (Pete Nash) and DJ Richie Rich (Richard Lawson) were the three founding members of the group. Richie Rich was a local d.j. and is African-American, Nice was a student at Columbia University and hosted a hip hop show on WKCR. MC Serch rapped at clubs and block parties and released a single called "Hey Boy" on Idlers, an independent record label.

Sam Sever, a producer, convinced Nice and Serch to work together in 1987. Sever, Prince Paul, and the Bomb Squad produced The Cactus Album (The Cee/Dee), a critically acclaimed debut LP.

As reported in many interviews, MC Serch at one point tried (unsuccessfully) to join the Beastie Boys. Upon signing to Def Jam, 3rd Bass inherited their label's feud with the Beasties. The Cactus Album was released shortly after the Beastie Boys walked out of their contract with the label (high on mega-success of License to Ill). 3rd Bass' debut featured numerous derogatory remarks about the group and their defection to Capitol Records. The Beastie Boys retaliated on their early 1990s release Check Your Head. Their song "Professor Booty" takes a clear swipe at MC Serch's tendency to dance in 3rd Bass videos, with MCA's line "dancing around like you think you're Janet Jackson" clearly directed at him.

In 1991, 3rd Bass released Derelicts of Dialect, which included vicious teasing of fellow white rapper Vanilla Ice. The track critical of Vanilla Ice, "Pop Goes the Weasel", was the group's biggest chart single and helped separate the two phenomena of Ice and 3rd Bass. Whereas Vanilla Ice was regarded as a culture thief who watered down the sound of rap, 3rd Bass managed to identify themselves as unambiguously white, but still respectful of hip hop's traditions. The video for "Pop Goes the Weasel" featured alternative icon Henry Rollins parodying Vanilla Ice—receiving a beat-down at the hands of 3rd Bass at the end of the video. Pete Nice contributed his part of the beating with his trademark walking cane.

MC Serch went solo in 1992 and released Return of the Product, which includes the second major label recording of Nas, who would become a prominent rapper. Nice and Rich teamed up; as Prime Minister Pete Nice & DJ Daddy Rich, they released Dust to Dust in 1993. Their lead-off single, "Rat Bastard" was rumored to reflect bad blood between the pair and their former partner, Serch. Neither act achieved much popularity after 3rd Bass disbanded.

Around the time of the split, MC Serch was involved with the production of the movie Zebrahead. As recalled by Zebrahead's star, Michael Rapaport, MC Serch originally wanted to star in the film but was unable to secure the role. Serch ended up producing the film's soundtrack.

MC Serch worked at Wild Pitch, a now defunct label, then founded Serchlite, a record label and publishing company responsible for signing another Caucasian New York City hip hop group, Non Phixion. Nice retired and opened a baseball memorabilia store in Cooperstown, New York, cited by some sources as the second largest collection open to public display (aside from the official Baseball Hall of Fame).

In 1999, 3rd Bass reunited for gigs at Tommy Hilfiger's birthday party and that summer's 30th Anniversary Woodstock concert in Rome, New York. A reunion album was rumored, but to date there has not been a release or much else revealed about any progress made.

[edit]