Southern California hip-hop trio Pacific Division, commonly known as Pac Div, began in 2006 in Palmdale, about 60 miles north of Los Angeles. Originally an unwieldy 11-strong crew, they soon slimmed down to a core trio of brothers Gabe and Mike Stevenson (aka Like and Mibbs) and their high-school friend Bryan Young (aka BeYoung), together with Canadian producer Steve Thornton (aka Swiff D). Their self-released debut mixtape, Sealed for Freshness (Blend Tape), was a big success; with a relatable, everyday style that was more hipster than gangster, it gained them an instant fan base and a deal with Motown. Through the label they released a self-titled EP and three more mixtapes, but their planned debut album, Grown Kids Syndrome, never materialized; instead, they left the major and signed to indie eOne, which released their actual debut album, The Div, in 2011. Their sophomore joint, GMB, followed hot on its heels the following year, with features from Ty Dolla $ign, Kurupt, Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar, and Blu. The group then took a six-year break, during which Like focused on production, working with Lamar, Miller, Anderson.Paak, and Asher Roth; he also released three instrumental albums and, in 2016, a solo rap album, Songs Made While High. Pac Div returned with their third album, First Baptist, in 2018. ~ John D. Buchanan