Founded in 1997 by Dragoș "Puya" Gărdescu and Tudor Sișu, they have been widely regarded as pioneers of the gangsta rap subgenre in their native Romania.

In 2003, group member Tudor Sișu was sentenced to three years in prison after being arrested by Romanian authorities in a widely publicized drug-trafficking case.

Group member Puya worked mostly individually on their 2004 effort, before managing to recover the rights for the band's name following a lengthy court trial.

Tudor Sișu and Dragoș Gardescu (also known as Puya) grew up in the Balta Albă Sălăjan neighborhood from Bucharest, Romania, both of them being fans of Tupac Shakur.

[8][9][15][16][17][18] In 1998, the group had its first video and national hit, called "Tupeu de borfaș" which was featuring female singer Marijuana and had lyrics dissing R.A.C.L.A.

Mafia, they released a song called Pești mici (Little fishes) which was included on the soundtrack of the short film with the same name in which Puya played the main character.

Mafia members Tataee, Caddilac and Uzzi, were taken into police custody after a concert in Turnu Severin, being charged with outrage against good customs.

[30] At Paraziții's Nici o problemă (No Problem) album release concert from 1999, a fight started between the band members of La Familia and R.A.C.L.A.

[1][2][3][4][11][7][12][32] In the same year, Puya spent four months in a prison in Belgium for the use of fake credit cards, being released after a bail was paid.

[13] As Mafia did not accept to be partners, La Familia made a diss track aimed against them called Cu cărțile pe față (With the cards face up) which was never officially released but Mafia found out about it and one of its members, Caddy registered the La Familia name to the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, asking Sișu and Puya 15.000€ to give them the name back.

[5][13][14][9][34][36][37] At the MTV Romania Music Awards 2006 edition, Puya got into a fight with Grasu XXL and Tataee in the backstage, after the latter spat on him.