The album contains several re-recorded songs from their demo release alongside new tracks, including the minor radio hit ' Get Back', which charted at No. The band issued their self-titled debut album in April 1998 through indie label Doctor Dream Records, before signing with major label Columbia Records to release their mainstream debut Waste of Mind later that year. The first song ever composed was 'Check', which was later included on their first demo tape, One More Hit, released shortly after. Inspired by bands such as Fugazi and Descendents and uninterested in the local musical trends of the time, Zebrahead began experimenting and incorporating elements of hip-hop into their sound, leading to the inclusion of rapper Ali Tabatabaee as a co-vocalist. This led to all four leaving their respective bands and forming their own and naming it Zebrahead. All four musicians, whose bands at the time shared the same practice space, became acquainted with one another after experimenting with different music styles together. Zebrahead was formed in La Habra, California in summer 1996 by guitarist Greg Bergdorf and drummer Ed Udhus, (both formerly of the band 409), bassist Ben Osmundson (formerly of 3-Ply) and singer/rhythm guitarist Justin Mauriello (formerly of Once There).
