By Mike Hodge
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE PHARCYDE- TRE' "SLIM KID" HARDSON...
I was recently fortunate enough to conduct an interview with TRE "SLIM KID" HARDSON, a founding member of one of Raps most famous groups in history- THE PHARCYDE! THE PHARCYDE began way before any music was ever recorded as a group. To explain the origin of the PHARCYDE you have to venture back before the Gold/Platinum albums and the hit songs- "Ya Mama", "Passin me by", "Drop", "Runnin", etc. SLIM KID, IMANI, BOOTY BROWN, and FATLIP started a b-boy dance group called "242" during their college days. They initially formed because of a common love for hip hop, dancing, and choreography. They quickly became very popular dancers at clubs and parties in the Oakland hip hop scene. This eventually landed them dancing appearances on the hit Fox program "In Living Color". By that time they were hired as dancers and back up rappers for several hip hop acts in the early 90's. To them it seemed logical to take their love of the music scene to the next level and record and album of their own. Along with the release of their debut album(Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde) came the hit songs "Passin Me Bye" and "Ya Moma", which landed them instant fame in the industry. This was just the beginning of the historic rap legacy of THE PHARCYDE. Years/tours(including a performance at Lollapalooza 94) later they released a 2nd LP titled "LABCABINCALIFORNIA". This album spawned the hit songs "Drop" and "Runnin" which received enormous radio play. The group would not remain the same though, as member FATLIP was removed from the lineup about a year later. PHARCYDE proceeded to make incredible alternate rap music with only 3 members. Then, somewhere after the next EP and right before the 3rd LP- member TRE' HARDSON decided venture into a solo career of his own. Now, lets fast forward to present time and find out what’s going on in the life of TRE' "SLIM KID" HARDSON.

HODGE- Let me start of by congratulating you on all your success so far in your career! THE PHARCYDE is Legendary among hip hop fans.

HODGE- Your currently working on solo efforts with a new unique sound all your own. Can you clear up the numerous internet rumors surrounding your departure from the group?

TRE'- Yeah, that’s the big question.

HODGE- I know you probably get asked that one all the time. I think people won't leave it alone because the theirs like 5 common explanations floating around on the net.

TRE'- What have you heard?

HODGE- I've heard about some problems with you Label Delicious Vinyl. You making a ton of tracks and they kept rejecting all ideas.

TRE'- Yeah, that was irritating, but that wasn't a part of me leaving the group. That was just apart of us being highly upset about what was going on on our label. Things were really really bad.

HODGE- I've also heard the financial rumors about your old Label being shady about paying you?

TRE'- Yeah. Yup. What else is out there man?

HODGE- I read that you wanted to do a lot more music with instruments. Like having a "live" band. Maybe not all the other members of the group agreed with adding "live" instruments to the format?

TRE'- Well, that wasn't the case as far as me leaving is concerned. Everything goes through evolution ya know. I thought it was a good idea to incorporate a band since I was working with a band anyways.

TRE'- My whole thing about the PHARCYDE split was because I had a solo deal. But that didn't mean I wasn't gonna be in the group anymore ya know.

HODGE- Was that your Phoenix project?

TRE'- Yeah that was my "LEGEND OF PHOENIX" solo. I was working on that and I was going through some pretty dark times at that point. But, it had nothing to do with me leaving the group. The other guys found out that I had a deal to do a solo record and they were upset about it. I was like "yo, I'm still working with you guys wassup". They were like either you do this or you do that. I'm like you know what I would never make you choose, don't make me choose. That’s how it should be. I really took it bad. I was like "fuck that then". You wanna make me choose than fuck that...then we're not family like that then. I wouldn't do that to someone else so I wouldn't expect it to be done to me. You treat people like you wanna be treated you know. That’s how I took that. It was real difficult. You just have to actually be in the situation I guess. I'm for music first. It wasn't a good time man. It definitely wasn't a good time. Everybody was going through some pretty rough depressing times. Especially with Record Companies doing what they were doing. Just like now. Everything is pop now, so don't really know what's good music anymore. So maybe Delicious Vinyl was going through something like that back then. And because they wanted that "pop" sound they were telling us our stuff wasn't good. I was like Dude, are you listening to it or not. It felt like super slavery ya know. Like we were just trying to please somebody now. That’s when music starts to deteriorate.

TRE'- I also think that maybe Delicious Vinyl at that time didn't have any distribution so they would tell us what they would tell us just to keep us there. Cause we were trying to be out awhile ago ya know. Just because of that fact that we never got a royalty check from them from day one. The troubles there were real bad. Definitely bad. That was that situation. I wish it were better, but it's not.

HODGE- I'm glad you finally cleared all that shit up.

HODGE- You dropped your debut solo album "Liberation" n late 2002. The album was critically acclaimed by the media. However, some longtime fans of the PHARCYDE were undecided about your evolving sound. Do you feel that your adjusted style of music will grow on those fans who admired your previous efforts with PHARCYDE? TRE'- I think people will like what they want ya know. People want "Bizarre Ride" our first record. Whenever we've done records, I mean "LABCABINCALIFORNIA" was a very good record...even "PLAIN RAP" is a good record. It's a lot slower, but it's definitely a good record. It can be sequenced properly. If people take time and just listen to the lyrics...I think "PLAIN RAP" was a really good record as far as lyrics are concerned. We definitely evolved. That’s when my Phoenix energy was coming out. I was surprised my damn self like "wow, okay", a lot of my stuff wasn't as abstract anymore. It was more direct and to the point. And the solo stuff I do now is a lot more direct and to the point. Not abstract anymore. I've learned a lot through reading books and starting adjusting the direction in which my horses are running. They aren't running in different directions anymore. They're running in the same direction now. It's a lot of powerful messages coming out. People still want it to have fun ya know. I wanna have fun to but I've evolved into a grown man now. I know the people we grew up on like Bob Marley and stuff like that were like Prophets speaking about the times. We've always been ones to speak about the times. When we were younger we still didn't give a fuck and it sounded happier. It's all in how you looked at it. I definitely wanted to get back to making happy music and shovel all the shit out so I can get to that point. And now I've gotten there. My music is starting to reflect that. That’s really cool with me. We're all like sponges so if you put us in clean water that’s what we’re gonna put out, but if you put us in toilet water you’re gonna get piss ya know. So that’s how we are as artists.

HODGE- Your solo album featured collaboration tracks with a diverse range of musicians such as- MC LYTE, Kim Hill, & Saul Williams. You've also done collabs on previous albums with such artists as- SUBLIME, KORN, BRAND NEW HEAVIES, BEASTIE BOYS, & SOULS OF MISCHIEF. What other musicians would you add to your Collaboration wish list?

TRE'- I like the FOO FIGHTERS. I've always wanted to do something with them. Who else? I don't know man. It's really bleak out there. The only thing we get to hear out there now is like Brittany. The top 5 of the Year ya know what I mean. We need more. Music was more back in the day. They're not the only options, but we need more.

TRE'- I would like to do something with OUTKAST. I like OUTKAST cause they're just being themselves fully, and we get to hear it. I like ANDRE. He's just creative. Remember "SouthernPlayalistic"? We used to play that album more than any of them man. It wasn't like any of them either. That’s what I'm talking about.

HODGE- On your solo album you used a lot of "live" instruments. When you do shows nowadays, do you use a "live" band?

TRE'- Oh yeah, completely.

HODGE- Are their any unreleased PHARCYDE tracks floating around from when you were still with the group?

TRE'- Yeah man. Theirs the "KARMA" record. It'd be nice if it came out... but it woulda been nicer if it had came out when it was supposed to. You could see like a journey through all the records. It woulda been like piecing together all the records to see this really incredible thing man. We had such a good bonding time when we did the "KARMA" Record. We did that at my crib in like 2 weeks time. I think people would really dig it. Everybody we played it for in our lil circle tripped out when they heard it. It was just like a lil shroom trip ya know.

HODGE- So the "TESTING THE WATERS" EP isn't the same album as "KARMA"?

TRE'- No, that’s a totally different album. That’s a cool album right there.

HODGE- Delicious Vinyl recently released a "Best Of" PHARCYDE album. However, I can't call it a best of cause it's missing songs from the "Testing the Waters" EP and the Lethal track called "Pandemonium" from the Streetfighter soundtrack.

TRE'- Yeah they released that shit prematurely. Plus they don't have rights to some songs that should be on there. I gotta add "Pandemonium" to my stage set list. Just re-vamp it a lil bit.

HODGE- Throughout your career you've toured and done shows with such artists as- A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, DE LA SOUL, CYPRESS HILL, TONE LOC, YOUNG MC, 311, and ICE-T. Any wild stories from the road that you can share with us?

TRE'- Theirs a lot of wild stories and I can't share not one, lol. What goes on- on the road…stays on the road. It's the code, lol.

HODGE- Any luck organizing that FOO FIGHTERS collab track you were interested in?

TRE'- No, I talked to them though. Everybody's just really busy ya know. When I finally did talk to them I was going through a stage where I was really trying to get my solo shit going ya know. It was kinda difficult. I saw them at Cold Chiller. They were playing with Queens of the Stone Age, which is an incredible band as well.

HODGE- I recently heard a re-union track with both FATLIP and yourself. It was MYA’s new "Fallen Remix". That shit was incredible! Any future plans to work with FATLIP again?

TRE'- Yeah, we're actually trying to do a record together. We have this HOT fucking joint man! It's sick, it's really sick. We're trying to get a deal for it. We also did a song on PRINCE PAULS last album. It's the hidden track at the end. Look out for our Record. We've done a lot of stuff. As soon as the opportunity opens up we're gonna finish the record.

HODGE- What's the title of that album?

TRE'- Undecided so far.

HODGE- I noticed a few strange things on the PHARCYDE "Cydeways" DVD. One thing that struck me as odd was the "Trust(computer graphics)" video. In the video it shows a miserable FATLIP trying to reconcile with you guys. When he approaches the group the security attacks him. Was that the songs original intention? a FATLIP diss?

TRE'- No not at all. I wanted it to be Claymation not C.G.I. The label needed a video to promote the "PLAIN RAP" album. It was supposed to be that classic Frosty the Snowman style claymation. I didn't have any intent to diss FATLIP like that at all. Delicious Vinyl and the company that made the video came up with that idea. I thought that it just wasn't really funny at all.

HODGE- Also, on the DVD was an interview where you 3 were asked about the true reasoning behind FATLIP's removal from the group. The explanation was basically some footage suggesting his departure was due to an airport incident in which FATLIP had a passport dilemma. That seemed a little strange to me?

TRE'- No, that was the straw that broke the camels back incident. It was an accumulation of a lot of incidents. That was just another incident. We just had to continue to keep cleaning up after his actions. He's a cool guy though. He's older now and changed a bit ya know.

HODGE- Throughout PHARCYDE's albums are several references to Marijuana use. Did those references apply to yourself as well?

TRE'- I smoked the least weed of all. I was more of a shroomer. I did shrooms at will. That’s where a lot of my spiritual stuff came from because I was always shroomed out somewhere. Anyways, I don't wanna promote it though, lol.

HODGE- As a huge fan of the Oakland hip hop scene I was psyched to learn about a PHARCYDE/SOULS OF MISCHIEF joint project called- "THE ALL MIGHTY PYTHONS". I hear this album is still in the works. Did you attribute any lyrics on some of the first recordings?

TRE'- A long time ago I was apart of that. I did one song and then that was it. It woulda been nice but I didn't get a chance to cause I was focused on my solo stuff.

HODGE- What are your thoughts on IMANI & BOOTY BROWN's decision to carry on the PHARCYDE legacy?

TRE'- I don't know man. That’s all they got ya know. Pretty much. I wouldn't take it from them at all. They need to do their thing and that’s the way their doing it.

HODGE- Has everyone managed to put past differences aside yet?

TRE'- No.

HODGE- Do you guys still keep in touch with one another?

TRE'- I talk to FATLIP a lot. Not as much as I want to. I'm an independent artist so all of my energy has to stay focused on where I'm going. If I'm doing something with him than I'll be there. If not than I have to get back to putting things in order with my own company.

HODGE- Any chance of you ever appearing on either PHARCYDE's or FATLIPS future projects or vice versa?

TRE'- It would be nice to continue to do stuff with FATLIP for sure. But the PHARCYDE stuff, not really. Not really cause they would have to ask me. I've already reached out ya know.

HODGE- What about touring together? Would you and FATLIP ever think about touring together performing old PHARCYDE material, or as separate acts on the same tour?

TRE'- Yeah, I'm sure if we make that album together than we'll tour. We've done shows together already.

HODGE- What can the fans look forward to from you in the near future? Any more solo projects in the works?

TRE'- Yeah I'm thinking about maybe making two more records and that's it. I don't know man. It's just a really crazy time for music right now. I really love music a lot man. My hearts getting hurt right now that’s for damn sure. I just wanna do it for the love. Maybe I can help somebody else be the best they can be, lol. Who knows man.

HODGE- I wanna thank you for taking this time out to do the interview with me! Being a big fan since day one, this was an incredible opportunity for me. Any last words for your fans reading this?

TRE'- It was my pleasure Mike. Yeah man, just take everything that your doing to the fullest. To all my fans who've stayed loyal over the years...Thank you, I really appreciate the love!

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