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The Pharcyde Vs. Pharcyde

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

The Pharcyde has been broken up for quite some time. Pharcyde members Fatlip (Derrick Stewart) and Slimkid3 (Trevant Hardson) are being sued by former bandmates Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson) and Imani (Imani Wilcox) in a dispute alleging breach of contract and misuse of the group's name; the pair still owns and operates under the name The Pharcyde. The suit being heard in Los Angeles federal court follows a decade-old split that left the group splintered and a 2008 attempt at a reunion that was appropriately brief, considering the lingering disagreements between the founding members. The legal complaint stems from Fatlip and Slimkid3's departure - a move that left Brown and Imani with control of the famous moniker according to a contractual agreement that awarded them,

”names, likenesses and other identifying material, only in connection with the sale or promotion of recordings recorded under the recording contract as amended.”

All four members were said to have agreed to the terms following their reunion. Adding insult to injury, the former members of The Pharcyde have been booking shows as Pharcyde, potentially confusing consumers who believe they are purchasing tickets to an official performance - shows that are often booked just days before or after The Pharcyde has performed. Bootie Brown and Imani detailed the rift that plagues the former bandmates and their personal frustrations in an interview with Okayplayer last year. They are suing Fatlip and Slimkid3 for breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition, amongst other things. Check our exclusive interview with The Pharcyde to read Imani and Bootie Brown's side of the story.

Spotted at AHH