Rapper and music producer Grasu XXL gained faime in 1999 when, together with bandmate Paco 10 Grei he formed XXL & 10 Grei and released a critically acclaimed debut album. The group's association with legendary hip hop producer Tataee and his group, B.U.G. Mafia became official when, in late 2001, they signed with the newly formed Casa Productions.
His debut album, Curaj (Courage) was finally released after multiple delays in 2006 by Casa Productions in Romania, catapulting Grasu XXL to superstardom and making his charismatic songwriting techniques and ironic approach to lyricism a trademark for the Bacau native. Produced entirely by himself, the album established the then-only 25 year old rapper as one of Romanian hip hop's heavyweights.