DA-108, a Russian rap group from Saint Petersburg, was formed in 1994 by Pavel Pachkay (DJ-108) and Roman "Cooper" Alexeev. DJ-108, born in 1973 in Leningrad, initially engaged in breakdancing before discovering rap and hip-hop during a study trip to the US in January 1990. The group's name originated from an article titled "Solving a Strange Number." Their debut album was recorded using Soviet equipment and featured nonsensical lyrics influenced by absurdist poetry. In 1994, Cooper joined the group, and they began performing at festivals and promotions. DA-108 released their debut LP Дорога на восток in 1999, which was later included in rap.ru's list of main Russian rap albums from 1999. The group's signature style, known as "wack style," incorporated quotes from Soviet films and old-school rap influences.
