Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, Richard Terfry began writing raps and experimenting with his parents stereo when he was 13, which led to a brief stint writing music for Sesame Street. After performing under various monikers through his teens and gaining a small underground following, the alternative hip-hop artist donned the pseudonym Buck 65 and was picked up by the Anticon label, a highly influential collective on the avant-garde hip-hop scene during the 90s and 2000s. While Buck 65 never reached the level of fame of many of the label's other artists - like Why? and Odd Nosdam - the producer developed his sound to include a variety of experimental genres, evidently aided by many Anticon labelmates. Though Buck 65 often performs with his group, Bike for Three, he still performs and releases albums solo.