Rhythm-al-ism

Description

Released in 1998 on Profile, Rhythm-Al-Ism was the closest Quik ever got to making a
commercial splash. “You’z A Ganxta” and “Hand in Hand” made radio waves across
the country and the less radio-friendly tracks like “Medley For A ‘V’” were bumping
out of car stereos. Combining his soulful, jazzy P-Funk/G-Funk beats with his
effortlessly smooth flow, Rhythm-Al-Ism was the quintessential West Coast Party.
Squelchy synths, bouncy bass, monstrously knocking drums and freaky keys – this is
peaking acidic party-rap, straight out the gate. Music for gliding, for skating, for time
with your people and your poison. Sunshine. No cares. BBQs. Heavy smoke in the air.
Dripping with wit and good humour. A real swing to the vibe.
The album opens with Quik setting out his mission statement with “Rhythm-Al-Ism
(Intro)”, telling us what this is all about before the self-explanatory “We Still Party”
rocks the spot. It’s definitely all about the party here, complete with Quik’s signature
head-nod/body-moving beat. Next up, the undeniable laidback funk and dripping
swing of groove-laden “So Many Wayz”. This positively slaps.
Then we get to the three huge singles. The R&B-tinged radio-friendly minor-hit
“Hand In Hand” closes the first side only for the flip to get straight into the rolling
and scratching of bleepy computer-funk banger “Down, Down, Down” (featuring a
particularly nice use of Howard Johnson’s epochal “So Fine”). The effortlessly
smooth, flute and guitar-laced “You’z A Ganxta” completes the trio. Next up the fast-
paced, vocoder-enhanced, woulda-beena-global-hit “I Useta Know Her”. This coulda
(shoulda) been a single too. Head-nod funk workout “No Doubt”, with its ace sample
of Prince’s “Sexy Dancer”, closes out the second side.
“Speed” races out the gate on the second disc, sampling Edwin Birdsong’s “Rapper
Dapper Snapper” in a harder, better, faster, stronger way than those daft Parisian
punks. Amphetamine-swift raps over soaring, string-drenched b-boy beats. A total
anthem. Up next, the staggering, near 8-minute laconic, lounge-y sax-rap of
“Whateva U Do” cools things down and smooths things out with its flute wrapping
around a sample of Smokey Robinson’s “So In Love” and some oh-so-classy lounge-
piano tinkling. And speaking of smooth, things don’t get much smoother than the
blissfully melodic glider-anthem “Thinkin’ ’Bout U” riding that ace flip of SWV’s “Use
Your Heart”. Exceptional.
The exquisite funky-flute-slapper “Medley for a ‘V’ (The P***Y Medley)” opens the
fourth and final side, with star turns from Snoop Dogg and a typically suave Nate
Dogg. It’s followed by the supremely skanked-out “Bombudd II”, a beautifully sweet
reggae-fuelled ode to the herb. “Get 2Getha Again” is slick funk. Stunning.
This 2022 Be With double LP re-issue has been mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis,
cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry. Unusual for the time, Rhythm-
Al-Ism was originally pressed as a double and we’ve reproduced the original LA vibe
picture sleeve and insert to match.