South Central Los Angeles can be called a lot of things, but thanks to Fishbone, music Mecca can be added to the list. It may be the only positive moniker the area gets, but the emergence of other bands after Fishbone like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction further cemented the reputation that Fishbone had started. The group came together in 1979 with the band members barely out of elementary school. The band consist of Angelo Moore (vocals, sax, theramin), John Norwood Fisher (bass, vocals), John "Wet Daddy" Steward (drums), Rocky George (guitar), John McKnight (trombone, vocals, guitar), Dre Gipson (keyboard, vocals) and Padre Holes (trumpet, vocals).

They bring together the sounds of punk, ska and funk that fans seemed to not get enough of. They started gaining a word-of-mouth reputation thanks to their dynamic and exciting live shows. Fishbone released their debut album in 1986 titled In Your Face. Their next album was Truth and Soul, which was released in 1988. It climbed to number 153 on the Billboard 200 chart, making them a certified success as the band added in sounds of heave metal to their already-eclectic mix.

It may have taken them a few years to release their next full album, but 1991's Reality of MY Surroundings was well worth the wait. The album turned out to be the bands most successful album, peaking at number 49 on the Billboard 200 chart. After that release came Give a Money a Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe in 1993 and Chim Chim's Badass Revenge in 1996. The 200s brought more albums from Fishbone, but none reached the success of their 1991 release. They did, however, retain a loyal following of fans who make it out to many of the band's live shows.