What happens when a Russian-born beatmaking lawyer and a well-regarded local spoken word artist with roots in Jamaica join forces? The answer is Fly Gypsy. The duo of producer Alexei Jendayi and emcee Kowboy Kom has been working together for roughly a year, and at a rather rapid pace. In the summer of 2009, they released The Vodka & Rum Mixtape. Last month, the EP, Change for a Dollar, hit iTunes.

And when they’re not making music, they’re performing. If you happen to be headed to Philly on Thursday, or know someone who’ll be there, FG will be at the the Fillmore at TLA with D.C. artist-of-the-moment, Wale.

DCist caught up with the guys during a rare moment of downtime.

Prior to coming together, what were you all doing artistically/professionally/etc.? When did you really start plying your craft as individuals?

Kom: Few people know about it, but Alexei practiced international law for four years at Sidley Austin before going into music full-time. He was jetting down to Geneva all the time to represent countries in the World Trade Organization. All along, he kept up his music, producing and writing for a lot of local artists. As for me, I spent a lot of time touring colleges doing spoken word, as well as doing poetry and life skills workshops. Spoken word is the best foundation any emcee can have and it has definitely taught me a lot not just about writing, but also performing.

Your press bio has Kom’s point of origin being Jamaica and Alexei’s as Russia. How did you two come together in D.C.?

Alexei: Kom was born in Jamaica, came to the States when still a kid, and grew up in Brooklyn for the most part. I grew up in Russia, came to the U.S. as an exchange student and stuck around. Both of us have been in D.C. for the last few years. We first met at a cipher at Bar Nun, the legendary D.C. open mic spot where Raheem DeVaughn cut his teeth. I was playing guitar, Kom dropped some verses. The crowd went wild! Over the next couple of years, though, we focused on our own projects. Finally, last year Kom stopped by my studio to drop a verse on an election-time single “The Ruler.” The verse was so sick, I gave him a few more tracks. He came back with more dope verses. So we started working together, and soon Fly Gypsy was born.