James Brandon Best, aka Pedestrian, who grew up in both southern Virginia and southern California, first began writing raps at age 15, though he didn't start actually performing them until a few years later, after he had dropped out of high school. In 1998 he moved to San Francisco to co-found the Anticon label/group with friend Sole. Though music was always his first love, due to work and school (he enrolled in UC Berkeley) his first release, the 12" The Toss & Turn, wasn't issued until 2004. The next year, Pedestrian's full-length debut, Unindian Songs, Vol. 1, came out.