I was shocked when I discovered one of my favorite 90’s hip-hop groups, The Pharcyde, was on tour and stopping in a city near me. Given how the members of The Pharcyde had been estranged for a few decades, I never imagined I would have the chance to see them live. For this reason, I knew I needed to seize this rare opportunity by attending their concert at Music Box in San Diego on April 24, 2025.

When I entered the Little Italy venue, I was greeted with a cascade of colorful lights and various paintings of musicians lining the walls. Despite being three stories tall and fairly spacious, the Music Box felt quite intimate. While some concert-goers watched from the mezzanines, I had the perspective of being on the ground level surrounded by fans who were excited to rap every word of their favorite Pharcyde song.

The Pharcyde is an alternative hip-hop group founded in Los Angeles, California in 1989. The quartet consisted of members Imani (Emandu Wilcox), Slimkid3 (Trevant Hardson), Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson), and Fatlip (Derrick Stewart). Their debut album, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde, is highly regarded as one of the best alternative hip-hop albums of all time.

However, The Pharcyde began to part ways in the late 1990’s as the members splintered into duos. Slimkid3 and Fatlip performed under the name Bizarre Ride, and Imani and Bootie Brown continued to brand themselves with the Pharcyde name. After multiple decades of scarce contact, Imani, Slimkid3, and Fatlip reunited in 2022 under the moniker “The Far Side (formerly of the Pharcyde)” and began touring once again. While it is not publicly known why Bootie Brown has not rejoined the group, it is speculated that there is still internal tensions surrounding legal conflicts between members. 

The Pharcyde performs at Music Box in a rare reunion on Thursday, April 24th, 2025. (Photo/Olivia Degagne)

Fat Lip, Slimkid3, and Imani commanded the stage and kept the crowd’s energy up for the entire set. The trio had such incredible chemistry together that it’s hard to believe they only reunited a few years ago. The Pharcyde masterfully engaged the crowd by prompting them to finish lyrics and echo chants from one song to the next. Their set list primarily consisted of songs off their Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde and Labcabincalifornia albums. My personal favorites of the night included “Runnin’”, “Otha Fish”, and “Passin’ Me By”. In addition to showcasing their discography, The Pharcyde used the stage as a platform to reinforce their legacy.

Throughout the night, the trio chanted the mantra “The Pharcyde Lives”. This is a new slogan they have adopted to rebrand their image as rap legends who are still on the music scene. This simple phrase illustrates the enduring nature of their legacy and influence on the hip-hop community for nearly 30 years. When the show came to an end, The Pharcyde demonstrated their appreciation for their fans by interacting with them after the show by the merchandise stand, offering to take selfies and hand out autographs. 

If you’re a fan of rap and hip-hop, I would highly recommend seeing The Pharcyde in concert. With more than 30 years of music industry experience, exceptional stage presence, and hip-hop hits, I wouldn’t let their tour pass you by.