Andrey Vladimirovich Menshikov (Russian: Андре́й Влади́мирович Ме́ньшиков, born 30 June 1977, in Moscow), mostly known under his stage name Ligalize (Russian: Лигалайз), is a Russian hip hop artist and a former leader of the Legal Busine$$ band. Ligalize was also a member of D.O.B. and Bad Balance.
Ligalize | |
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 Ligalize in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Andrey Vladimirovich Menshikov |
| Also known as | Liga |
| Born | June 30, 1977 |
| Origin | Moscow, Soviet Union |
| Genres | R&B, Hip hop |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | Intelligentny khuligan Productions |
Menshikov was born July 30, 1977, in Moscow. Hip-hop came in 1993: Ligalize and Ladjack organized the project "Slingshot". He called himself "Ligalize" because that was the name of his first group. Slingshot was a more serious project. They began by rapping in English, as the Russian language did not seem appropriate for rap, and recorded their first underground album.
D.O.B.
Slingshot was the main part of the "Department Of Bastards" (D.O.B.). The founder of this group is Sir-J, whose background included the experience of living in neighborhoods of the Bronx. Ligalize participated in D.O.B.'s recording "Rushun Roolet", an English-language rap with a hard underground sound.
In Moscow Ligalize completed work on the album "Мастера Слова" ("Masters of Words"). For this album, Ligalize rapped in Russian.
Legal Busine$$
Project "Legal Busine$$" (Легальный Бизне$$) with N'Pans seemed more attractive than just a solo MC Legalize. In general terms, the project looked like this: a talented Russian MC (Ligalize), colorful black MC (N'Pans) and capable DJ (DJ Ton1k). In 2000 was released album of Legal Busine$$ - "Rifmomafiya".
P-13
In 2001 Ligalize left Moscow and in Prague he crossed with a young rappers from the command P-13 (П-13). They record an album "Провокация" ("Provocation"), considered as one of the first albums of battle rap in Russia. Prague period lasted just over a year, and yet the Ligalize is back.
Dissin' SheFF
In autumn 2002 Ligalize returned to Moscow and took over the leadership of hip-hop project label D & D Music, a new company of Tolmatskogy.
XL
Despite the fact that the Liga of hip-hop for over ten years, he still had in an asset or as a solo album. In 2006, the solo album finally saw the light. The album is called "XL".
Discography
- Slingshot
- Salut Frum Rusha (Unreleased) (1994)
- D.O.B.
- Rushun Roolet (1997)
- Мастера Слова (Masters Of Words) (2000)
- Короли Андеграунда (Kings Of Underground) (2004)
- Legal Busine$$
- Рифмомафия (Rifmomafia) (2000)
- Bad B.
- Каменный Лес (Stone Forest) (2000)
- Новый Мир (The New World) (2001)
- Ligalize & P-13
- Провокация (Provocation) (2003)
- Solo
- XL (2006)
- Живой (Alive) (2016)
- Молодой Король (Young King) (2018)
- ALI (2020)
- Mixtapes
- Liga'MIX (2009)
- Провокация Mixtape (Памяти МС Молодого) (Provocation Mixtape - R.I.P. MC Molodoy)' (2009)
External links
- Official website (in Russian)
- MTV.ru profile (in Russian)