Spike Jonze’s Hip-Hop Masterpiece: What’s Up Fatlip?

Posted by Maximum Fun on 11th August 2011

With all the buzz over the upcoming Jonze-directed video for Jay and Kanye’s “Otis,” I thought I’d share my own favorite Jonze video. Actually – it’s my favorite video ever.

The Pharcyde had dissolved by the time Fatlip cut this track, and it lived as a one-off single for years before Lip got it together to actually cut a whole record. I don’t think the pathetic tone was manufactured or satirical, though Fatlip has always been a funny guy. It’s a remarkable inversion of hip-hop aesthetics, and it’s hilarious and touching at the same time.