Running Back the Clock: The Pharcyde, Dilla, and the Enduring Spirit of *Labcabincalifornia*

Tre in motion at Ventura Music Hall, channeling the spirit of Pharcyde on tour.

In April 2025, I had the honor of photographing and interviewing The Pharcyde during their Ventura Music Hall stop, one of several intimate, high-energy shows building momentum for their Labcabincalifornia 30th Anniversary celebration at The Ford. What began as documentation of a reunion tour quickly became something deeper: a meditation on legacy, innovation, and brotherhood. Onstage, it wasn’t just a reunion, but it was a resurrection. The energy was electric, warm, and weird in the best way.

Fatlip hits the robot under pink lights, playful precision during The Pharcyde’s tour stop in Ventura.

Fatlip locked in backstage, studying, reflecting, and always fine-tuning the craft.

Tre levitates mid-verse, precision, rhythm, and elevation during The Pharcyde’s electric set at Ventura Music Hall.

Thirty years after its release, Labcabincalifornia still pulses with introspection and artistry. Unlike their vibrant, chaotic debut Bizarre Ride II, this second album marked a sonic and emotional evolution, it was less cartoonish, more contemplative. Much of that growth was shaped by a then-unknown producer from Detroit named Jay Dee, later known as J Dilla. “We were doing him a favor at first,” Imani told me, laughing. “But we knew he was going to blow up.” Introduced by Q-Tip, Dilla’s studio presence was quiet but transformative. Sampling from cassette tapes, chopping records without restriction, he encouraged Pharcyde to abandon the rulebook.

Backstage still life: set times, snacks, and the quiet before The Pharcyde’s 10:15 takeover.

Imani lights up the stage, radiating joy, movement, and pure Pharcyde energy under the glow of Ventura’s red lights.

Imani backstage where he is grounded, glowing, and suited up for the show

Fatlip admitted that at first, Dilla’s choices were hard to understand. The now-iconic “Runnin’” had a 20-bar drum loop that didn’t follow any template. “It went over my head,” he said. “But now I get it, it’s brilliant.” Tre, the group’s lyrical visionary, described Dilla’s remix of “She Said” as sounding like the feeling of twilight, soft, moody, and full of emotion. To him, it felt like falling in love. Their collaboration wasn’t just creative, but it felt spiritual to them said in an interview.

Imani crouched in silhouette, holding the moment, mic in hand, as the stage pulses with light and memory.

Tre backstage before stepping into the spotlight.

Imani drenched in sweat and light, locked in, present, and pouring everything into the moment.

That same spirit carried into Ventura. I watched Imani glide across the stage like he was chasing the music itself, grinning and dancing with full-body joy. Tre was more grounded but magnetic, punctuating his rhymes with graceful leg movements like a dancer who lets rhythm live in his joints. And Fatlip, true to form, brought out the robot, cracking smiles in the crowd and within the group. It felt unrehearsed, spontaneous, and completely in sync. They were three distinct energies, orbiting the same sun.

Fatlip in focus, speaking volumes without saying a word.

Cee posted up backstage commanding presence, timeless style, and nothing but Suave energy.

Imani down front, sweat, breath, and bars in full flow as the crowd leans in.

Offstage, each member carries a different thread of their collective story: Imani as the philosopher and empath, Tre as the connector and romantic, Fatlip as the introspective craftsman still chasing sonic perfection. “We’re not just back,” Imani said. “We’re here. To bring paint where there is none.” The reunion isn’t about reliving the past, but it’s about continuing the mission.

Fatlip backstage with a smile and a point, sharing space, stories, and good company.

Imani channeling light, sweat, and soul as the crowd lifts their hands to meet him

Fatlip in full flow, commanding the mic and stage as red light blurs into motion.

The Ford show, produced in partnership with Fusicology and Dilla Fest, brought this moment to full bloom. With a live band and special guests like Georgia Anne Muldrow, Blu & Exile, Pharoahe Monch, Tha Liks, and DJ Nu-Mark, the performance honored Dilla’s far-reaching influence and reintroduced Labcabincalifornia as the timeless, layered, and soulful body of work that it is.

Imani mid-verse, mid-stride, fluid in motion and locked in under the red glow.

Imani feet barely touching the stage as Fatlip follows behind, both locked in the rhythm.

Fatlip lunges into the verse, pure motion, energy, and presence under the blue lights.

The photos I took in Ventura capture the joy and movement of that night, but the real takeaway was the feeling. You could sense it in every lyric, every shuffle, every smile shared between them. You could feel the history. And more importantly you could feel the future. The Pharcyde will be touring through September, if they’re coming to your city, don’t miss the chance to see living legends in motion.

Imani mid-kick, airborne in rhythm, letting the music move through every muscle.

An old-school fan reunites with Imani and Tre, sharing memories and a well-worn Pharcyde poster from the past.

(All photos taken during The Pharcyde's 2025 tour stop at Ventura Music Hall.)

About the author: Caitlin Jane Calica, also known as CJ is a Mixed Media Photographer with a strong desire to be understood. Her crafty side and the digital world collaborate to create an image of the world around her. She expresses her emotions and ideas in works of collaging and overlay drawings within her photographs as a result of the never-ending changes in her life.

She began her photography journey with Las Fotos Project two years ago and has grown to appreciate the art of editorial photography and beauty marketing. She aims to capture the perfect moment, one that makes you stop and stare.

This photo essay is supported by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture.