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, and Exile's own group, Emanon. He was personally introduced to Exile through Emanon's other member, Aloe Blacc. In '07, Blu & Exile released their debut album, Below the Heavens, which was described by XXL as "one of 2007's most celebrated hip-hop releases."