Formed in South Central Los Angeles in 1989, The Pharcyde are an American alternative hip-hop group whose playful, jazzy, and soulful sound helped redefine what West Coast hip-hop could look like at a time when gangsta rap dominated the region. The group's classic lineup — Imani (Emandu Wilcox), Slimkid3 (Trevant Hardson), Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson), and Fatlip (Derrick Stewart) — bonded over dance, comedy, and creativity, developing a signature multi-rapper vocal chemistry defined by self-deprecating humor, quick-witted lyricism, and off-kilter chemistry that set them apart from the era's harder-edged Los Angeles acts.

Their breakthrough came with their debut studio album Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde (1992), which went gold and became one of the most beloved alternative hip-hop albums of the era. The album produced their signature song "Passin' Me By" — a jazz-sampling anthem of unrequited love that has since been endlessly covered, sampled, and referenced across hip-hop, R&B, and pop culture — alongside fan favorites like "Ya Mama," "Otha Fish," and "Oh Shit."