Andrey Vladimirovich Menshikov (russian: Андре́й Влади́мирович Ме́ньшиков, born 30 June 1977, in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
), mostly known under his stage name Ligalize (Russian: Лигалайз), is a Russian
hip hop artist and a former leader of the
Legal Busine$$
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
band. Ligalize was also a member of
D.O.B. and
Bad Balance
Bad Balance is a Russian rap group considered to be one of the first rap acts in USSR. The group maintained a devoted underground following during the 1990s. The group made huge contribution to the hip-hop culture in Russia and ex-USSR countries. ...
.
Menshikov was born July 30, 1977, in Moscow. Hip-hop came in 1993: Legalize and
Ladjack organized the project "Slingshot". He called himself "Legalize" because that was the name of his first group. Slingshot was a more serious project. They began by rapping in English, as the Russian language did not seem appropriate for rap, and recorded their first underground album.
D.O.B.
Slingshot was the main part of the "Department Of Bastards" (D.O.B.). The founder of this group is Sir-J, whose background included the experience of living in neighborhoods of the
Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...
. Legalize participated in D.O.B.'s recording "''Rushun Roolet''", an English-language rap with a hard underground sound.
In Moscow Legalize completed work on the album "''Мастера Слова''" ("''Masters of Words''"). For this album, Legalize rapped in Russian.
Legal Busine$$
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 (Legalize), colorful black MC (N'Pans) and capable DJ (DJ Ton1k). In 2000 was released album of Legal Busine$$ - "''Rifmomafiya''".
P-13
In 2001 Legalize left Moscow and in Prague he crossed with a young rappers from the command P-13 (П-13). They record an album "''Провокация''" ("''Provocation''"), considered as one of the first albums of
battle rap
Battle rap (also known as rap battling)Edwards, Paul, 2009, p. 25. is a type of rapping performed between two or more performers that incorporates boasts, insults and wordplay. Battle rap is often performed or freestyled spontaneously in live ...
in Russia. Prague period lasted just over a year, and yet the Legalize is back.
Dissin' SheFF
In autumn 2002 Legalize returned to Moscow and took over the leadership of hip-hop project label D & D Music, a new company of Tolmatskogy.
XL
Despite the fact that the Liga of hip-hop for over ten years, he still had in an asset or as a solo album. In 2006, the solo album finally saw the light. The album is called "''XL''".
Discography
;Slingshot
*''Salut Frum Rusha (Unreleased)'' (1994)
;D.O.B.
*''Rushun Roolet'' (1997)
*''Мастера Слова (Masters Of Words)'' (2000)
*''Короли Андеграунда (Kings Of Underground)'' (2004)
;Legal Busine$$
*''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
*
MTV.ru profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ligalize
1977 births
Living people
Rappers from Moscow
Russian hip hop
Russian hip hop musicians