*proto smashray!* Me Phi Me is just straight up too good of a rapper to be a true and pure smash ray. The lyrics and the flow along with the song structure place their boots firmly in rap territory. However, the songs have that positive 90's attitude that is such an integral part of the smash rays recipe and even more importantly, the eponymous Me Phi Me raps along to a 12-stringed acoustic guitar, strummed with cool smoothness. This differentiated him from every other early 90's rap act out there. NZ Producer Alan Jansson cites him as a key influence when he created the Urban Pacific Streetsoul sound with OMC and Sisters Underground.
(Take a listen to the 1st verse of Me Phi Me's "Dream of You". Sound familiar?) Me Phi Me's success was buoyed by appearances on the Reality Bites and Strange Days soundtracks, but a second record never materialized. [DB]