Though Hemp was from San Antonio and Crack hailed from South Central LA, their collaboration was born in the jazz cabarets of Sarajevo, where the two friends would freestyle over the vibes of local Bosnian jazz combos. Eventually, a group was formed called Da Heineken Twins, which in turn became the Brews Brothers. Finally, Da Outfit solidified. Given their unlikely genesis, Da Outfit knew that their beats could not simply be bought at the corner store. After experimenting with instrumentals from outside producers, Da Outfit decided to do it themselves. Supa Tree Productions was created in a room at Hemp's house, and soon the duo had assembled enough beats and rhymes to enter a studio. Bosnian electronica producer Adi Lukovac and his band Ornamenti were enlisted as co-producers and sound engineers; Lost Underground, Da Outfit's debut, arrived in 2002 from Supa Tree Records. A collaboration not only of sound but of cultures, Lost Underground became a document of what's possible when unlikely talents collide. ~ Johnny Loftus