Katari Cox was born in Manhattan, New York on December 30, 1976. His parents are Gloria and T. Cox. He became friends with Malcolm "E.D.I." Greenidge. They met through their mothers who were close friends. Cox, E.D.I. and their families later moved to New Jersey where they became friends with Yafeu "Kadafi" Fula. In 1992, they formed a trio. Kastro went under the alias K-Dog and the trio went under names like the Thoro Headz and the Young Thugs.