Synopsis

The Pharcyde move through downtown Los Angeles in a surreal, dreamlike sequence where gravity, motion, and cause-and-effect seem to run backward. The group strolls through streets, alleys, and stairways while cyclists, objects, drawings, and other passersby behave in wonderfully unnatural ways. Their relaxed performance contrasts with the visual confusion, creating a playful collision between street-level hip-hop and experimental filmmaking. Brief appearances by the Beastie Boys and skateboarder Mark Gonzales add to the video's offbeat, underground atmosphere.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed backward and then reversed for playback. This makes the group appear to move normally while the surrounding action unfolds in reverse.

• The Pharcyde had to learn their verses phonetically backward so their lip movements would synchronize with the finished version.

• A linguist was brought in to help transcribe and teach the reversed vocal sounds.

• The video was shot on location in downtown Los Angeles, including Bunker Hill and St. Vincent Court.

• Ad-Rock and Mike D of the Beastie Boys appear in the video, linking it to the alternative hip-hop and independent music-video culture of the 1990s.

• Professional skateboarder Mark Gonzales also appears and contributes to the video's eccentric visual world.

• The concept became one of the most frequently cited examples of a music video built around reverse-motion photography.

• A making-of feature later documented the unusual recording process and was included with material associated with the Directors Label collection.