Boondox (aka Smoke) and Kalage (aka Shawn Jay) hail from Albany, GA, a small town outside Atlanta that is best-known as the birthplace of soul legend Ray Charles. The pair chose the name Field Mob to represent the Field, a small area of Albany where they grew up. The two met in high school after Boondox saw Kalage freestyling in the school courtyard. Boondox challenged him to a battle the next day, and they decided to become partners afterward. The duo landed a deal with a small independent record label and recorded their first single, which caught the attention of MCA. MCA quickly signed them to a deal, and in 2000, they released their first album, 613: Ashy to Classy. Despite their age and lack of experience, 613: Ashy to Classy was a polished effort that featured clever lyrics and solid production. The same can be said for From tha Roota to tha Toota, the 2002 follow-up that showed the Georgia natives collaborating with Trick Daddy and moving closer to the OutKast-esque production work they hinted at on their debut. The pair of youngsters has shown that they can compete with the best hip-hop has to offer, and they've done it while wearing their country roots with pride. Light Poles and Pine Trees, their first album for Geffen, was released in 2006. ~ Jon Azpiri