Blu and Exile first met in the mid-2000s while Blu was serving as a hype man for various hip hop groups including Slum Village, Platinum Pied Pipers, and Exile’s own group, Emanon. He was personally introduced to Exile through Emanon’s other member, Aloe Blacc. In 2007, Blu & Exile released their debut album, Below the Heavens, which was described by XXL as “one of 2007’s most celebrated hip-hop releases”. In 2012, the duo released their second album, Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them.