California pop-rap trio Drop City Yacht Club assembled in 2009 when rapper A Wolf met producer Kristo. The two worked on a studio project initially named the Freshmen. The duo expanded with the inclusion of beatmaker THX, who had worked with Erykah Badu, E-40, and Snoop Dogg. The trio set out on its musical mission of "finding a middle ground between the Beastie Boys and the Beach Boys," working on tracks that incorporated raunchy hip-hop styles and hints of California's sunny pop history. The group, still named the Freshmen, began releasing its music online. In January 2013 the group changed its name to Drop City Yacht Club after signing to an offshoot of A&M Records, and released their first single, "Crickets." ~ Fred Thomas