Malchishnik
Encyclopedia
Malchishnik is a sex rap group from Russia
who were the first Russian rap artists to gain mainstream popularity during earlier 1990s.
. The group was planned as a Soviet counterpart of then-popular New Kids on The Block
. Emphasis was to be made on sweet appearances and flashy costumes.
Adamov recruited five young guys for the band from Arbat breakdancers. Original band members included vocalists Kris, Klyopa, Dan (Andrey Kotov), Raf and music producer Muatabor (Pavel Galkin).
Adamov then asked Dolphin (Andrey Lisikov), a famed breakdancer, apprentice song-writer and a friend of Dan to write some lyrics for the group. Dolphin was satisfied with his fee, so when Mutabor couldn't practice in group's first tour because of his wedding ceremony, Dolphin agreed to substitute him. He effectively joined Malchishnik in the summer of 1991.
During this tour, Dolphin proposed changing the concept of the band by turning to more "fashionable" and "progressive" music. He suggested modeling their sound after American dirty south pioneers 2 Live Crew
. Since Dolphin, Dan and Muatabor all were b-boys, hip hop music was a natural choice for them. Adamov agreed and then excluded all band members except mentioned threesome.
Dolphin practiced as a lyricist, Muatabor as a beatmaker and Dan contributed to both areas, while all three were rapping. Trio went to the studio to record their debut album in 1991.
They have since recorded and released four studio albums and one live record. None gained any mainstream success or media coverage, as they appealed neither to newer generations of hip hop fans nor to pop audience.
Their current record company is Classic Company, a record label which specializes in publishing shanson
music, with Malchishnik as their only rap artists.
Both members still maintain solo careers as record producers and club music DJs, as well as "Barbitura" side project.
Their 1990s albums featured production influenced by Miami bass
, old school hip hop
and synth pop. The lack of modern music equipment in post-Soviet Russia was reflected in the quality of these records.
Their post-hiatus albums showcaed more professional production with influences from drum and bass
, big beat
and crunk music.
fans have always viewed Malchishnik as a pop group. This caused some controversy as to whether Malchishnik should be considered the first Russian rappers or not.
During the first years of their career, they were one the most popular artists in Russia, particularly among pop-oriented teenagers. With techno and later, house music
gaining mainstream popularity in mid-1990s, Russian youth lost interest to hip hop. While 2000s saw the rise of a vivid Russian rap fandom, reunited Malchishnik maintains very limited popularity.
Malchishnik's legacy has influenced some newer Russian dirty rap artists such as Pornorap and Fucktory. These followers stay at the level of popularity that is far below of what Malchishnik had in earlier 1990s, but probably higher than Malchishnik has today.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
who were the first Russian rap artists to gain mainstream popularity during earlier 1990s.
Formation
Initially producer and manager Alexey Adamov aimed to form a commercially successful boy bandBoy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
. The group was planned as a Soviet counterpart of then-popular New Kids on The Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
. Emphasis was to be made on sweet appearances and flashy costumes.
Adamov recruited five young guys for the band from Arbat breakdancers. Original band members included vocalists Kris, Klyopa, Dan (Andrey Kotov), Raf and music producer Muatabor (Pavel Galkin).
Adamov then asked Dolphin (Andrey Lisikov), a famed breakdancer, apprentice song-writer and a friend of Dan to write some lyrics for the group. Dolphin was satisfied with his fee, so when Mutabor couldn't practice in group's first tour because of his wedding ceremony, Dolphin agreed to substitute him. He effectively joined Malchishnik in the summer of 1991.
During this tour, Dolphin proposed changing the concept of the band by turning to more "fashionable" and "progressive" music. He suggested modeling their sound after American dirty south pioneers 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
. Since Dolphin, Dan and Muatabor all were b-boys, hip hop music was a natural choice for them. Adamov agreed and then excluded all band members except mentioned threesome.
Dolphin practiced as a lyricist, Muatabor as a beatmaker and Dan contributed to both areas, while all three were rapping. Trio went to the studio to record their debut album in 1991.
Reunion
In 2000 DJ Dan and Mutabor reunited to record new Malchishnik songs. They cite nostalgia and fun as motivational factors.They have since recorded and released four studio albums and one live record. None gained any mainstream success or media coverage, as they appealed neither to newer generations of hip hop fans nor to pop audience.
Their current record company is Classic Company, a record label which specializes in publishing shanson
Shanson
Russian chanson is a neologism for a musical genre covering a range of Russian songs based on the themes of the urban underclass and the criminal underworld. This song style, originally called blatnaya pesnya , has been popular in Eastern Europe ever since its first appearance in the beginning of...
music, with Malchishnik as their only rap artists.
Both members still maintain solo careers as record producers and club music DJs, as well as "Barbitura" side project.
Discography
Style
Malchishnik was one of the first artists to openly use explicit lyrics on Russian music scene. Frequent use of obscene language and explicit descriptions of sexual acts provided shock value and attracted listeners raised within conservative and asexual Soviet culture.Their 1990s albums featured production influenced by Miami bass
Miami bass
Miami bass , is a type of hip hop music, that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Its roots are directly linked to the Electro-funk sound of the early 1980s, pioneered by Afrika Bambataa & The Soulsonic Force and later on by UK-based musician Paul Hardcastle...
, old school hip hop
Old school hip hop
Old school hip hop describes the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music , and the music in the period preceding it from which it was directly descended . Old school hip hop is said to end around 1983 or 1984 with the emergence of Run–D.M.C., the first new school hip hop group...
and synth pop. The lack of modern music equipment in post-Soviet Russia was reflected in the quality of these records.
Their post-hiatus albums showcaed more professional production with influences from drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
, big beat
Big beat
Big beat is a term employed since the mid-1990s by the British music press to describe much of the music by artists such as The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, and Propellerheads typically driven by heavy breakbeats and synthesizer-generated loops and patterns in...
and crunk music.
Reception
Most Russian hip hopRussian hip hop
Russian hip hop is hip hop music produced in Russia or in the Russian language in other countries, including former Soviet states as Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.-General summary:...
fans have always viewed Malchishnik as a pop group. This caused some controversy as to whether Malchishnik should be considered the first Russian rappers or not.
During the first years of their career, they were one the most popular artists in Russia, particularly among pop-oriented teenagers. With techno and later, house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
gaining mainstream popularity in mid-1990s, Russian youth lost interest to hip hop. While 2000s saw the rise of a vivid Russian rap fandom, reunited Malchishnik maintains very limited popularity.
Malchishnik's legacy has influenced some newer Russian dirty rap artists such as Pornorap and Fucktory. These followers stay at the level of popularity that is far below of what Malchishnik had in earlier 1990s, but probably higher than Malchishnik has today.