It was 1991. The Pharcyde—Bootie Brown, Imani, Fatlip, and Slimkid3—have been spending most of their time in Inglewood, California, at South Central Unit (SCU) studios recording demos, writing lyrics, and smoking copious quantities of weed. Round 5:00 p.m., when visitors was peaking in Los Angeles, the 4 of them would step exterior and watch the women drive by, which might quickly turn into the inspiration for “Passin’ Me By.”
The observe, which lives on the Pharcyde’s debut album, Weird Experience II the Pharcyde (1992), borrowed parts from songs like Eddie Russ’ “Hill The place the Lord Hides,” Quincy Jones’ model of “Summer time within the Metropolis,” and Climate Report’s “one hundred and twenty fifth Road Congress.” The mixture, unlocked by producer J-Swift, proved to be a key to their longevity.
Barely out of their teenagers on the time, the Pharcyde helped lead West Coast hip-hop into a brand new period with their jazz-infused beats and a lyrical model that sharply contrasted the gangsta rap that dominated the Nineties. They have been basically doing for the West Coast what De La Soul, A Tribe Known as Quest, and the Jungle Brothers have been doing for the East.
“Passin’ Me By” was one in every of three songs from the demo tape they have been purchasing round to labels. It caught the eye of a number of majors, however they finally determined to signal the dotted line with Scrumptious Vinyl, house to rappers like Younger MC, Tone Löc, and Masta Ace.
Greater than 30 years later, “Passin’ Me By” nonetheless resonates with generations of hip-hop followers. It was lastly licensed platinum in April 2025, including one other accolade to the group’s storied profession. Whereas Bootie Brown is now not a part of the unique lineup, the Pharcyde has moved on as a trio, bringing their legacy to numerous folks around the globe.
Talking to SPIN, Fatlip, Slimkid3, and Imani dive into the creation of “Passin’ Me By,” the accompanying music video and the way they really feel once they carry out it.
Keep in mind the time
Fatlip: Life was a bowl of cherries in 1991. Truly, it was a bowl of buds. We was getting excessive, smoking and making beats. We was going to plenty of conferences about movies and plenty of file business issues that we have been coping with, doing plenty of exhibits. We have been simply absolutely within the enterprise at that time and changing into considerably rap stars on that escalation to rap stardom.
Slimkid3: We have been in our early 20s. We have been mainly residing at a studio in Inglewood. That’s the place we spent probably the most time at—SCU.
Imani: All of us had completely different homes and places that we got here from, however we spent probably the most time in Inglewood at a studio or at girlfriends’ homes, surrounding areas. In ’91, I used to be ending my dance and movies profession and shit. I had been dancing and instructing rap dance courses and doing something that needed to do with dance. Simply something. Actually, I used to be simply going round folks’s dance studios, buying and selling off strikes with folks, getting in movies and all types of shit.
And the final video I did was the “Keep in mind the Time” video with Michael Jackson. That was the final video that I did. And that was ’91. On the time, we have been doing demos and recording with J-Swift and doing stuff like that. We hadn’t put the file out but. We was simply getting our demos collectively.
Scrumptious demo
Slimkid3: We recorded the primary verse at SCU. We saved the verse that we recorded at SCU and transferred it to Hollywood Sound.
Fatlip: We did the refrain and had the beat, and that was what bought us a file deal. “Passin Me By” was one of many three songs on our demo tape that bought us consideration with all of the file labels.
Slimkid3: It had “Ya Mama,” “Passin’ Me By,” and “Officer.”
Fatlip: We talkin’ about Def Jam. We talkin’ about plenty of labels that aren’t even round in the present day. However we speaking about Motown. We was simply younger guys out right here in L.A. attempting to get a file deal, and we have been truly on the verge of getting a file deal as a result of we had been at this studio for a pair years.
Imani: Plenty of labels needed to signal us, in order that they took us out to dinners and shit, tried to swoon us, wine us and dine us and shit, and by some means Scrumptious Vinyl made their technique to the entrance of the road as a result of this dude named Lamar, he got here to our studio and he was actually geeked. He was like, “I’m going to take it to my dude,” and he took it to [Delicious Vinyl co-founder/owner] Mike Ross. The remainder is historical past.
Fatlip: I feel one other issue with Scrumptious Vinyl was they didn’t need to preserve our publishing. That’s what I bear in mind.
Slimkid3: They gave us artistic management and that was an important factor to us as a result of everyone was bidding fairly rattling excessive, nevertheless it wasn’t actually in regards to the cash because it was the artistic management.
Imani: In addition they had this file that they was placing collectively referred to as “Heavy Rhyme Expertise” with the Model New Heavies. They threw us a bone as a result of they was like, “You guys may very well be on this file with all these massive wigs.” It was like Gang Starr, Grand Puba, Black Sheep, Masta Ace, and we have been the one group that wasn’t signed. When the file got here out, you already know, everyone was like, “Who is that this Pharcyde?” The music was referred to as “Soul Flower.”
Passin’ them by
Slimkid3: There was one thing we did each day at about 5 o’clock, throughout visitors time. We might all stand out on this little patch of grass in entrance of SCU, simply watching the vehicles go by, watching the women go by in these vehicles. It gave that “she retains passing me by” really feel. Nevertheless it was one thing that we may all relate to, like going after the woman that’s not providing you with play or enjoying a job. Musically, there was this loop that J-Swift and possibly Romye [Robinson] had discovered, and it was simply looming all through the studio.
It type of put you in a trance a bit of bit, in deep thought, and also you’re sitting there working in your lyrics and writing your lyrics. So as soon as we bought the GPS, it was like, “She retains passing me by.” So I used to be like, “OK I bought that story all day as a result of it’s one thing that we do on a regular basis.”
Increase Increase Pow!
Fatlip: There’s round 10 samples, if I’m not mistaken. J-Swift was our principal producer, however we have been all contributing enter. However J-Swift was the the piano prodigy that knew the MPC drum machine just like the again of his hand. So we was simply giving him loops and data, and he was chopping them up. With “Passin Me By,” we had a bunch of data and he was going to make a bunch of beats with them. Then Bootie Brown was like, “Nah, you bought to place these two data collectively.”
That principal horn pattern was Eddie Russ and the music is known as “Hill The place the Lord Hides.” The opposite one is Quincy Jones’ “Summer time within the Metropolis.” He put these two collectively after which “growth, growth, pow!”
Slimkid3: We had a lounge space the place we did choreography and stuff like that. The music looming via the completely different rooms, the file itself already gave you chills. It already gave you goosebumps.
I really feel like this music type of wrote itself, and also you have been simply fortunate sufficient to be part of it. It’s virtually like on a religious degree, you have been coloring by numbers to be part of successful. After which simply the subject, “she retains passing me by,” was extraordinarily relatable. When Fatlip went in to sing the hook, that simply took it to a different degree of goosebumps. I went in proper after he completed and put the concord on there, too. It simply took off.
Fatlip: We had the beat enjoying time and again and time and again. I bought to maintain giving Bootie Brown his props. We was all within the room, he heard the melody and he was like, “Yo, this seems like time retains passing me by.” After which I used to be like, “What about she?”Then it was like, “Rattling.” All people had a narrative about she. So we had the idea, proper? That was actually how we got here up with all of our songs—with the refrain first.
Slimkid3: That’s that GPS.
Energy Punch
Fatlip: We took a break, everyone went and did their very own factor and I got here again with that concept in my thoughts. Then I grabbed the mic and did it. And I listened to the primary refrain, and I used to be like, “Rattling that shit sound otherworldly.” Then I referred to as Bootie Brown within the room.
I used to be like, “Yo, take heed to this!” He didn’t even come all the best way into the room. He simply peeked his head within the room, and with no type of pleasure was like, “OK, end the opposite two choruses” and walked out. In order that’s what I did. Had he are available and been like, “Wow, that is loopy!” and tripped out with me, I most likely wouldn’t have completed the opposite two choruses. I’m gonna be trustworthy with you. I’ve by no means sang that shit like that once more ever in my life.
Slimkid3: Fatlip was being trustworthy. All people’s simply being trustworthy. Bootie Brown set it off, after which me and Imani was just about the cream filling within the center. Then Fatlip introduced it house.
Fatlip: You imply eight months later? [laughs]
Slimkid3: You at all times take a very long time, however when it’s achieved, it’s achieved, and it’s dope. It simply takes one particular person to be susceptible, not care and simply get on there and sing like that, or let everyone else understand it’s OK to try this, too. Then we’ll begin getting that soul music once more that we’ve craved for therefore lengthy.
Fatlip: We put out “Ya Mama” first. I don’t know what number of months we promoted it. We did the video.
Slimkid3:We did it for fairly some time.
Fatlip: It was a very completely different scenario from then and once we launched “Passin’ Me By.”
Slimkid3: Don’t neglect. “Ya Mama” was undoubtedly chosen by that radio station in Washington, D.C. They jumped on “Ya Mama” fast and it was working with that. It was cool. We at all times put out music like we play pool. The shot that you just’re taking pictures ain’t the shot that you just anxious about. You’re interested by your third shot and what’s gonna again it up, so “Passin’ Me By” was a particular subsequent shot to smash with it.
Fatlip: You’re proper, as a result of it’s type of like, had we launched “Passin’ Me By” first, who is aware of what would have occurred? The truth that we got here out so lighthearted and jokey-jokey, after which the following music was like, “Wait a minute.” It’s an influence punch. It’s a groove behind it. Some funk.
Slimkid3: It at all times made you are feeling like,”What’s subsequent?” So don’t put out your energy punch first. Let the ability punch come out second or third. However all of your different songs needs to be good songs, too. You shouldn’t have album fillers.
Price range Schmudget
Slimkid3: The finances was alright.
Imani: “Ya Mama” was like $40,000 and we hated the video when it got here out. It didn’t really feel prefer it represented us. It was part of us, however we felt like we needed to be represented otherwise. We was all fingers on deck for “Passin’ Me By.” Each single particular person had so as to add one thing. We needed to take it again to the place we began from. We went again to SCU. We integrated plenty of the visions from everyone. Fatlip had the homie Sanji [Sanjeeva Senaka], who I feel he used to go to high school with. He directed the video. We was all coming from the identical headspace and it was excellent from our perspective.
Fatlip: When the music had come out, folks had heard it, so there have been plenty of administrators hitting us up. We have been taking plenty of conferences and listening to plenty of ideas for what this video was going to be. After which there’s even some administrators that went on to get Oscars, who on the time have been like, “Yo, let me do that video.”
However then when the homie Sanji got here with it, he got here with these books that confirmed us like, “Oh, that is the black and white aesthetic that we’re going to make use of. We’re going to have you ever guys hanging the other way up,” so we went with Sanji. There was this one director particularly. He was a bit of disenchanted that he didn’t get to do the video, however I seen him after the video got here out and he simply was like, “Yo, you probably did that.” Coming from this director who, once more, went on to get Oscars, it was an actual praise.
Imani: Compared, nah, we didn’t have an enormous finances. Individuals have been nonetheless doing million-dollar movies and even $100,000 movies on the time. We weren’t doing nothing like that.
Slimkid3: I’ll say this. I don’t suppose we have been actually interested by it. Creativity is pricey. We knew that. And again within the day, the expertise wasn’t even there to present us what we have been on the lookout for so far as, let’s say, “Otha Fish.” The water was murky. It wasn’t as clear as we needed it to be or no matter, but when we had the expertise we have now now, it might have been one thing completely different, and that was an costly video. However I don’t suppose we have been interested by it monetarily on the time as a result of we have been simply attempting to be sure that the idea got here throughout prefer it wanted to be. In my perspective, I used to be not interested by what one thing value versus, “Is that this right? Is that this proper? Is that this set proper? Is it edited on beat and tempo?”
Imani: Regardless of the cash or finances was, that’s what it was. It wasn’t like, “Yo, we’d like more cash to do one thing” or “that’s not sufficient.” We didn’t have sufficient leverage to be like, “Yo, we wish some huge cash.” They OK’ed the finances as a result of we have been their group. They’re spending the cash. Second time we proved ourselves and let the leash go a bit of bit extra, after which by the point “Otha Fish” got here, it was like, “Hey man, OK. Increase.” We have been capable of do precisely what we needed.
The Junkyard
Imani: Every thing is humorous and a memorable second with that video.
Slimkid3: I really feel just like the humorous second was we have been all within the yard and there’s a automotive door. We have been like, “What if we had Fatlip trying like he’s sitting within the automotive speaking to a lady and then you definitely pull again and it’s simply the automotive door, after which all of the homies stand within the again? We laughing about it.
Imani: We in a junkyard!
HINDSIGHT IS 20/20
Fatlip: To the label’s credit score, it didn’t take a lot for them to facet with us after—no pun meant—as a result of we have been very a lot going to push our concepts.
Imani: We couldn’t have achieved it with out Scrumptious Vinyl.
Fatlip: We weren’t going to only keep quiet. They undoubtedly heard us out. And even to this present day, all we do is argue about what’s the best thought, what’s the best factor.
Imani: It was a sure vibe at Scrumptious Vinyl. None of this might have occurred with out Scrumptious Vinyl. We had such a vibe with them. In hindsight, it’s loads simpler to see, as a result of once you’re creating greatness, it’s type of exhausting to witness it being made. Nevertheless it’s simpler to look again in hindsight and you may respect shit. I see Mike Ross now, and the best way I take into consideration him now just isn’t how I considered him in 1995. Actually. I respect this man. He gave me alternative. He had a factor occurring, we had a factor occurring and collectively, we tradition clashed and made some shit for the ages. We couldn’t have did it with out him. It was one of many coolest labels.
Slimkid3: The Pharcyde, as folks see it and listen to it, was extra than simply 4 folks. It was undoubtedly Scrumptious Vinyl, the employees, everyone. It was undoubtedly all of the those that made this factor occur. We have been the eggs, milk, oil, and sugar that made this cake pop. It was undoubtedly lit by the point folks sunk their enamel into it.
2025 & BEYOND
Slimkid3: I be ok with the music. It’s like coloration by numbers as soon as once more. It’s not about us, it’s in regards to the followers. Once we’re giving this to the followers, we’re giving a thousand p.c, prefer it’s our first and our final time to ever do that shit.
Imani: It’s not our music no extra. It goes via us, nevertheless it’s not our music no extra. We’ve grown, children have grown up, it’s part of their DNA now. I really feel joyful and honored to be on stage with these dudes.
Slimkid3: Yeah, similar.
Imani: And to have the ability to do it, after which to see the folks on the market, you don’t even perceive.
Fatlip: I like you, man!
Imani: I really feel like I’m blessed.
Slimkid3: No, we’re blessed. I really feel just like the factor that was a present to us, we’re giving it to our followers as a present to them once we’re performing it.
LOOK, MA!
Slimkid3: For me, it was like, “It’s about time.” I really feel just like the universe does shit to you. It’s like a rush up and wait factor. Our focus was not for us to be platinum or not be platinum. It’s simply to do what it’s that we do. It’s timeless, and I’ve to say that. It’s so timeless that it took its time to get the place it wanted to go. And it shined on us in the present day to increase the lifetime of what it’s that we do and what it’s that we’re doing proper now, which is a brilliant blessing.
Imani: It’s dope that it went platinum, but when I’ve the chance to speak to the folks which might be truly in love with the music they usually belief us sufficient to place their children’ brains and souls into our fingers, meaning loads to me.
Slimkid3: We made it!
