Released during the dominant Gangsta rap era of West Coast hip hop, "Bizarre Ride" was described as "refreshing" due to its playful, light-hearted humor and lush, jazzy production. Along with albums such as "To Whom It May Concern..." by Freestyle Fellowship, and "I Wish My Brother George Was Here" by Del tha Funkee Homosapien, "Bizarre Ride" helped establish a new alternative scene on the West Coast, followed by artists such as Hieroglyphics, The Coup and Jurassic 5. Despite its wide critical acclaim, the album produced only moderate sales, peaking at No. 75 on the "Billboard" 200 album chart in 1993. However, on the strength of the second single, "Passin' Me By", the album was certified gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 28, 1996.