Flipsyde formed in 2003 in Oakland, California. From the start, the group's diverse mix of hip-hop and alternative rock was reflected by its equally diverse lineup. Frontman Steve Knight had grown up in Alabama and traveled heavily as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, while rapper The Pipe was raised in a bilingual household by his Brazilian father. Guitarist Dave Lopez was a Chilean immigrant, while DJ D-Sharp was a mixtape veteran who had previously collaborated with hip-hop acts like Blackalicious. Together, the musicians made their debut with 2005's We the People. The album's lead single, "Someday," was used as the American theme song for the 2006 Winter Olympics, becoming a Top 40 hit in Finland, Germany, and Sweden. The follow-up single "Happy Birthday" was another international hit, topping the radio charts in the Czech Republic and cracking the Top 10 in Austria, Germany, and Sweden. Flipsyde worked with producer Akon on their second album, 2009's State of Survival, before releasing a string of EPs and mixtapes during the following decade, including The Phoenix, Tower of Hollywood, and Transform.
