How accurate is California Schemin’? The unbelievable true story behind James McAvoy’s new film

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James McAvoy playfully embraces artifice in his first time directing, the new film California Schemin‘. Currently in UK cinemas, the movie tells the story of Silibil N’ Brains, two incredibly talented rappers who unexpectedly burst onto the scene and quickly became America’s biggest stars, before their sudden decline.

If you haven’t heard of Silibil N’ Brains, that’s not surprising. They were a unique band from the early 2000s, blending fast-paced rapping – similar to Eminem – with the playful, energetic style of Blink 182, complete with baggy clothes and baseball caps worn sideways.

People who loved the wild stunts of Jackass, skateboarding culture, and the outrageous humor of Dirty Sanchez quickly became fans of this duo, who even got to open for the popular rap group D12. But their rise to fame was short-lived, and they vanished almost as quickly as they appeared. What led to their sudden disappearance?

It turned out the popular new rap duo wasn’t American at all! Silibil N’ Brains were actually Billy Boyd and Gavin Bain, two friends from a small town in Scotland who dreamed of becoming rap stars. The story of how far they went to achieve that dream is incredible.

Learn the incredible true story of California Schemin’, featuring firsthand accounts from Boyd and Bain themselves.

California Schemin’ true story: Billy Boyd and Gavin Bain on the incredible tale

In an exclusive interview with TopMob, Bain – who used to perform as Brains McLoud – explained that his early work came from a mix of youthful energy and underlying anxiety.

Two lifelong rap fans from Dundee impulsively decided to pose as Californians, hoping to prove to the music industry that talent should be recognized regardless of background.

This project meant a lot to them, particularly after facing rejection from talent scouts in London. Bain shares that the fear of not succeeding – and being told their background would hold them back – fueled their determination. He felt incredibly driven, saying he was prepared to do whatever it took to prove everyone wrong.

Sibil N’ Brains started as a playful fib during a conversation with someone who books live music. The duo quickly embraced the idea, inventing detailed histories for their unique California-inspired project. However, this initial burst of creativity stemmed from a deeper feeling of not quite belonging.

Boyd describes it as a story about people facing unfair disadvantages due to their accent or background, who don’t get the chances they deserve.

Back in the day, many people didn’t believe hip hop could come from Scotland. We didn’t seem to fit the image the music industry expected. Things feel much more open and accepting now, but we didn’t have the same chances then.

Bain was especially upset when he was told his aspirations were impossible. He recalled being told, because of his Scottish background, he and others wouldn’t succeed and should return home – a comment he found baffling.

Armed with fresh personas and genuine rapping skills, the duo embarked on a mission to prove themselves to the world. They meticulously crafted backstories for their new stage identities, deciding where each one came from and how they ultimately found success performing in England.

Boyd explains their success came naturally because they were deeply familiar with American teenage life. They spent a lot of time improvising and developing humorous characters, drawing inspiration from his family’s connection to the Los Angeles area. They even created a backstory, claiming to be from the California cities of Hemet and San Jacinto.

It felt genuine, but we kept the details minimal so nobody would suspect anything. We even created a simple story to explain ourselves – we said we’d been skating, then travelled, and eventually ended up in London. It was intentionally vague, which allowed us to maintain the illusion.

Originally from South Africa and later a resident of Dundee, Bain had a knack for adapting to new environments. He explains with a laugh, “When you find something that works, you immediately start planning your next move, even if it seems a bit ambitious.”

We almost landed a record deal and planned to tell our story on television. There were countless ways things could have failed, but looking back, I’ve come to value our knack for thinking on our feet. The constant improvisation was exciting at first, but eventually, it left me lying awake at night, questioning everything we were doing.

Their lies actually worked in their favor. After their first performance pretending to be American, record companies started showing interest. Boyd remembers, “We were still hopeful we could reveal we were from Scotland after the show. But when someone from Island Records approached us, fueled by adrenaline, we blurted out that we were from California.” That moment changed everything. They knew they had to commit to the lie completely, and they did.

Soon after, the band landed a record deal with Sony. “We were completely broke when we signed the contract,” Bain recalls. “I told our manager, Jonathan Shalit, that we wouldn’t work for less than £70,000, and it was a total shot in the dark. He just agreed! I remember thinking I should have asked for even more.”

Looking back, the spending really took off. It’s easy when you feel like money is no object – we just weren’t keeping track. I remember mornings filled with pulling receipts from our pockets, and honestly, they’d often be for huge bar tabs – like £250 a round! We were definitely living it up, and, yeah, we had a blast doing it.

As a film buff, I’ve always been fascinated by the wild stories surrounding this filmmaking pair and how they got their start. You hear these incredible rumours about huge sums of money being thrown at them, almost like a myth. But apparently, things weren’t quite as over-the-top as people say. One of the filmmakers, Boyd, told me it definitely wasn’t a simple ‘here’s a big cheque’ situation. In fact, he’s heard people claim the advances were way higher – like, half a million pounds! – which he says just isn’t true.

For three years, we lived like rockstars, enjoying a completely expense-paid life. We didn’t realize at the time, but those costs would eventually be deducted from our future earnings. We weren’t thinking that far ahead; we were just focused on enjoying the present.

As the duo became more well-known, their deception grew more elaborate. They’d suggested they’d started their careers with the American rap group D12, and were surprised to learn they were about to see some old friends again.

Bain recalls their tour manager announcing, ‘You’re hitting the road with your best friends!’ which immediately left Bain wondering, ‘Who exactly are those people?’ They had assumed ‘best friends’ meant someone from Scotland.

I still cringe when I think about this one time. Gav, being Gav, had told a bunch of people that we used to rap battle with D12 – D12! – and we completely forgot we’d even said that. There was this huge buzz of excitement, and then it hit us both at the same time: ‘Uh oh… we’re in trouble now.’

Both their management and MTV really wanted Silibil N’ Brains to reconnect with D12, putting the duo in an awkward spot. As Bain explains, they didn’t see a way out except to do what they always do: improvise. “We decided to just act like we’d been friends with D12 for years and see what happened,” he says. Surprisingly, the strategy worked. By the end of the night, they were genuinely hanging out with the group, and the reunion felt real.

Boyd had become so good at pretending that he actually managed to sneak into the Brit Awards and met stars like Green Day and Snoop Dogg. He recalls it as a major highlight, explaining that Green Day’s drummer, Tré Cool, even invited him to visit when he was in California. Boyd felt incredibly confident, and since he looked and acted the part, no one questioned his presence.

Although going on international tours would have been difficult to hide from authorities, the band actually broke up due to internal reasons. According to Boyd, rumors of being caught are false – he simply decided to leave. He fondly remembers their time in London, but ultimately chose to prioritize his family over continuing with the band.

Sibil N’ Brains ended after a difficult phone call where the truth finally came out. “It felt like a huge weight was lifted,” he says. “It was surprisingly easy to be myself again.”

Bain struggled with the emotional turmoil of maintaining the deception, but he channeled that experience into his book, California Schemin’, which later served as the basis for McAvoy’s film. He remained committed to the persona for several more years, finding it incredibly difficult to let go. It wasn’t until a close friend passed away that Bain felt compelled to reveal the truth. He realized people deserved to know what had really happened, and that moment was a turning point for him.

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By 2026, although the band Silibil N’ Brains has disbanded, Boyd and Bain are still making music. Both contributed to a new film score for McAvoy, and Boyd is also releasing his autobiography, “What About Really?”, in June, where he’ll share his own perspective. They hope their experiences encourage others to overcome challenges, though perhaps not with quite the same level of intensity.

As a movie lover, what really excites me about ‘California Schemin” is the idea of inspiring others. I hope people watch it and think, ‘Hey, maybe I can pursue my dreams too!’ It’s about showing that if we push ourselves, we can break down those walls and achieve anything.

Bain hopes his work will inspire people to pursue their dreams. He says, “I want people to feel motivated and finally go after the things they’ve always wanted to do.” That’s his ultimate goal.

Authors

Simon Bland

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2026-04-10 13:08