Mushrooms And Russian Rap: An Unlikely Collaboration

do mushrooms russiani rap

Griby, also known as Mushrooms in English, is a Ukrainian rap group from Kiev. The group was started in 2016 by music producer and record label owner Joeri Bardasj. Their musical style is a blend of hip-hop and house, infused with Slavic motifs and Eastern European culture. Griby has gained a dedicated following in Russia, with their songs and music videos going viral and attracting millions of views. The group maintains a low profile, avoiding press interactions and photographs to cultivate an air of anonymity, which only adds to their intrigue. With their unique style and captivating presence, Griby has become a cultural phenomenon in the world of Russian rap.

Characteristics Values
Name Griby, Grebz, "Mushrooms"
Origin Kiev, Ukraine
Genre Hip-hop, House, Hiphouse, Russian Rap
Language Russian, Ukrainian
Members Yuri Bardash, Ilya Kapustin, Symptom NZHN, Chatty
Producers Yuri Bardash, Joeri Bardasj
Record Labels Kruzheva, Kruzheva Music
Notable Songs Tayet Lyod, Velik, Intro, Melting Ice
Views Millions on YouTube and social media
Image Anonymous, "Shadow"

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Ukrainian rap group 'Griby'

Griby (Russian: Грибы, pronounced [ɡrʲɪbɨ]), which translates to "mushrooms" in English, is a Ukrainian rap group from Kiev. The group was started in 2016 by music producer and record label owner Joeri Bardasj (also known as Yury Bardash).

Griby's musical style is a blend of hip-hop and house (hiphouse), infused with urban Slavic themes, popular Eastern European culture, and "gorgeous ladies." Their unique sound and image have propelled them to viral success on YouTube and Russian social media, with their song "Tayet Lyod" becoming a cultural phenomenon. The group maintains a low profile, avoiding press interactions, photographs, and striving for anonymity.

Griby is part of a wave of Ukrainian musical acts that have gained popularity in Russia, influencing a new movement dubbed "UkrPop." Their music has been described as having its "own style" that sets it apart from typical pop. Russian music critic Alexander Gorbachev praised their ability to "incorporate elements of Russian hip-hop and turn them into well-made house music." Ukrainian music critic Andrei Nedashkovskiy compared Griby to the British group Gorillaz, underscoring their innovative impact on the music scene.

The Ukrainian hip-hop scene has its own distinct character, influenced by the region's homegrown rave culture and electronic music fusion. Ukrainian rap has demonstrated leadership in certain areas, such as the natural pairing of hip-hop and electronic music, which in the US has often been categorized as "experimental." Ukrainian rappers navigate the complexities of the industry, making choices about collaboration and business relationships in a landscape influenced by Moscow's more established musical elite. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian hip-hop, including acts like Griby, is making its mark on the musical landscape, gaining followers and breaking into new markets.

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Yuri Bardash, founder of 'Griby'

Yuri Bardash is a Ukrainian music producer and the founder of the record label Kruzheva Music (also known as Lace). He is also the founder and "helmsman" of the rap group Griby, which means "mushrooms" in Russian. Bardash started the band in 2016, and they have since become a viral phenomenon, with their videos garnering tens of millions of views on YouTube.

Griby's musical style has been described as a blend of Russian hip-hop and house music, with urban Slavic themes and popular Eastern European cultural motifs. The group's anonymity and reluctance to engage with the press have only added to their intrigue and popularity. They have been compared to the British virtual band Gorillaz, and their song "Tayet Lyod" ("The Ice is Melting") became a massive hit, with its release in 2017 propelling them into the spotlight.

Yuri Bardash, also known as Yura Bardash, is a key figure in the group's success. He is a talented producer with a keen eye for talent and a break dancer himself, being a part of the hip-hop culture. Bardash is said to have a legendary notebook where he wrote down his ambitious goals and dreams, and he has certainly made a mark in the music industry.

Bardash's project, Griby, has not only conquered Ukrainian and Russian charts but also won over Russian followers, broken Russian charts, and dominated social media networks. Their unique style and sound have set them apart from traditional pop, and their songs have become a cultural phenomenon, with parodies and references appearing in various forms across Russia.

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'Griby' and anonymity

Griby, or "mushrooms" in Russian, is a Ukrainian rap group from Kiev that gained popularity in Russia and across social media for their unique style and viral music videos. The group was started in 2016 by music producer and label owner Joeri Bardasj (also known as Yuri Bardash).

Griby's musical style is a blend of hip-hop and house (or "hiphouse") infused with urban Slavic themes, popular Eastern European culture, and simple, catchy beats. Their music has been described as commercial and not burdened by philosophical maxiators. The group's songs, such as "Intro" and "Velik," have amassed millions of views on YouTube in a short span of time.

Griby has intentionally maintained anonymity and avoided media attention. They do not give interviews, do not allow themselves to be photographed, and strive for anonymity. This "shadow" image has further piqued the interest of fans and created an air of intrigue around the group.

The group's members include Yuri Bardash (producer and lead singer), rappers Chatty Ilya Kapustin or Kapustina and Symptom NZHN (also known as Symptom Onzheone), and the Kyivstoner YouTube sketcher. Despite their efforts to maintain anonymity, Griby has become a cultural phenomenon, with their songs and imagery permeating popular culture in Russia and Ukraine.

Griby's success has sparked discussions about the appeal of Ukrainian rap in Russia and the potential benefits of rapping in Russian versus Ukrainian. Ukrainian rap groups face the dilemma of whether to rap in their native language, appealing to a country navigating its post-Soviet identity, or opting for Russian to access a larger audience in Russia and other Russian-speaking former Soviet Union countries.

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'Griby' and hip-hop

Griby, or "mushrooms" in Russian, is a Ukrainian rap group from Kiev that blends hip-hop and house music with Slavic themes and Eastern European culture. The group was started in 2016 by music producer and label owner Joeri Bardasj (also known as Yuri Bardash). Their unique style and viral music videos have attracted a large following on YouTube and social media, with their first video, "Intro", gathering a million views in just four weeks.

Griby's music has been described as "commercial" and "Russian rap laid on a club beat." They incorporate elements of Russian hip-hop and turn them into well-made house music, creating their own style that sets them apart from other pop artists. The group's songs, such as "Ice is Melting Between Us" and "Velik," have become cultural phenomena, with social media exploding with parodies and their fans rocking Griby t-shirts.

The group maintains a mysterious image by avoiding contact with the press, not giving interviews, and not allowing themselves to be photographed. This "shadow" image further warms up fan interest in their new songs. Griby's success has contributed to a larger movement of Ukrainian musical imports, dubbed "UkrPop," which has been winning over Russian followers, breaking Russian charts, and dominating social networks.

One of the group's distinctive features is its bass-heavy post-Soviet aesthetic, reflecting the region's recent military developments and post-Soviet identity. This blends with urban themes and Slavic motifs to create a unique sound that has resonated with audiences both in Ukraine and Russia, showcasing the cross-cultural appeal of their music.

Griby's impact extends beyond their music, as they have become a cultural phenomenon in their own right. Their songs have sparked dozens of parodies and imitations, showing how deeply they have captured the imagination of their fans. The group's success has also drawn attention to the broader Ukrainian rap scene, with artists like Yarmak gaining recognition for their earnestness and direct address of social issues.

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Russian rap and commercial music

Rap and hip-hop have become increasingly popular in Russia since the mid-1970s, when the genre was influenced by the Eurodisco movement in Soviet Russia. Breaking, DJing, skateboarding, and MCing were some of the first elements of American hip-hop culture to become popular in the country. Russian rap, like Canadian rap, is also inspired by Jamaican music, which gained popularity during the fall of the Soviet Union.

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, new notable performers appeared on the Gazgolder Records label, owned by Basta. Some of the most popular Russian rappers include Oxxxymiron, Basta, Noize MC, and Husky. In 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced rap music, claiming that it would lead to the degradation of Russia and encouraged the Council for Culture and Art in St Petersburg to bring rap culture to heel. Despite this, rap has become Russia's most important genre, with rappers like Pharaoh and Face transforming the country's hip-hop scene.

Commercial music in Russia is still presided over by "weird disco crooners" who began their careers in the Soviet-era 1980s. However, in the last few years, a new generation of rappers has emerged who openly discuss issues like depression, experiment with new sounds, and prefer androgynous fashion. These artists make most of their money from merchandise and live performances in Russia's major cities, rather than record sales.

In recent years, Ukrainian pop music has also become increasingly popular in Russia, with bands like Griby (which translates to mushrooms in Russian) winning over Russian followers, breaking Russian charts, and dominating social networks. Griby's style has been described as incorporating elements of Russian hip-hop and turning them into well-made house music.

Frequently asked questions

The members of the rap group "Mushrooms" are Yuri Bardash, Ilya Kapustin, Symptom NZHN, and Kyivstoner. Yuri Bardash is also the founder of the group and a well-known Ukrainian producer.

The musical style of the "Mushrooms" is a fusion of hip-hop and house (hip house) with urban Slavic-themed motifs. Their music has been described as commercial and simple, promoting the aesthetics of bedrooms and Kiev slang.

Some popular songs by the "Mushrooms" include "Intro," "Cops," "The Ice is Melting," and "Melting Ice." Their music videos have garnered millions of views on YouTube, and they have won several awards for their songs.

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