Basehead: Biography

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• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

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• Ween
• G. Love & Special Sauce
• Spearhead
• The Broun Fellinis
• N.E.R.D.
• Beck
• The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy

• De La Soul
• Frank Zappa

• Themselves
• Speech Debelle

• B.Y.O.B.
• Citizen Cope

• Jay Nichols
• Keith Lofton
• Michael Ivey
• Bill Conway

Formed:

Jan 1, 1991

Genre:

Rap & Hip-Hop Music

Decades Active:

1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

Basehead is the creation of Michael Ivey, a middle-class suburban kid from Maryland. Ivey recorded the bulk of Basehead's 1992 debut, Plays With Toys, on a four-track at home with various friends. Combining laid-back, stoned hip-hop rhythm tracks, pop hooks, drawled raps, and pseudo-folky guitar, the record received glowing reviews in alternative publications and was played frequently on college radio. Ivey assembled a touring band and used them on parts of Basehead's 1993 follow-up, Not in Kansas Anymore. The critical reception was mixed and the record didn't receive much airplay or sales. The following year Ivey assembled the alternative hip-hop collection B.Y.O.B., which featured several of his own contributions; Basehead's Faith followed in 1996.

- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide