Associated acts DJ Hobot Genre Hip hop music Albums Kacheli, Efir V Norme | Years active 2004–present Website www.centrgroup.ru | |
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Record labels CAO Records, Monolit Records, ЦАО Records Members Guf, Ptaha, Slim, Princip Similar Slim, Basta, Kasta, Legendy Pro, Smoky Mo Profiles | ||
CENTR (Russian: «Центр» or CENTR) is a Russian hip hop group from Moscow. Winner of the MTV Russia Music Award for Best Hip Hop Project in 2008.
Contents
It was established in 2004 in Moscow by rappers Guf and Princip.
The main theme of the lyrics is stories from life (including stories connected with drugs).
History
The group was formed in 2004 by two Moscow rappers Rolexx and the Princip. Initially, they wrote an unofficial album titled "Gift", ony 13 copies of which were made and given up to their close friends for New Year.
Since 2002, Aleksey Dolmatov, also known as Guf, worked on his debut album "Подарок" (Podarok/Gift).
In 2006 the group "Dymovaya Zavesa" (Smoke screen) and Guf released an album "Этажи" ("Floors"). Besides "Smoke screen" creativity the Centre group again began to write songs, old songs of group were republished. During 2006–2007 participants of "Center" were engaged in album "Gift" reprinting which left in 2007. In 2006 Guf, Slim and the Ptaha wrote down the songs "Мутные Замуты" ("Mutnye zamuty"/"Cloudy trafficking") and "Жара 77" ("Heat 77"), written specially for the movie "Heat".
Soon guys began to write the songs which were connected with the use of drugs. At the end of 2006 "Centr" created a label "ЦАО records" "TsAO Records" on which in 2007 the republished album of "Dymovaya Zavesa" ("Smoke screen") "Etazhi" ("Floors") is issued. There is a solo album of Guf "Город Дорог" ("Gorod Dorog"/"City of roads") which was recognized as one of the best albums of that year in the Russian rap a bit later.
On October 25, 2007 the group released its debut album "Kacheli" ("Качели", "The Swing"). Princip, co-founder of the group "Centr" at that time already went out of prison and after release wrote down together with Centr group the songs "Железное небо" (Zheleznoe nebo/Iron Sky) and "Исповедь" (Ispoved' /Confession) which have entered an album "The swing", in a year — an autobiographical couplet for the song "Будни" (Budni/Everyday life) on an album "Эфир. В норме" ("Efir. V norme"/"Broadcast. Normal") In 2007 Guf together with Basta writes the second soundtrack — the updated song of the first "Моя игра" (Moya Igra/My game) to the movie "Бой с тенью 2: Реванш" (Boy s ten'yu 2: Revansh/"Shadowboxing 2: Revenge")
On September 9, 2008 the group performed in the Day of the Actor broadcast on A-One (TV channel).
In 2008 there was the second album of group — "Эфир в норме" ("Efir. V norme"/"Broadcast. Normal"), the main themes of the album were drugs, Moscow streets and militiamen. Participants admit the texts, as well as what narcotic substances they used (see a slang of addicts). Same year there is in DVD hire "Centr. Broadcast normal. Concert in Moscow". The Centr group wins the award "MTV RMA" together with Basta for the song "City of roads" from the album "The Swing". In 2008 the group becomes the main headliners of the 1st day of the international Splash festival! in Russia carried out in Moscow in a skatepark "Adrenaline", organized which Phlatline.
In the summer 2009 Princip was detained by militia again. The same summer, in June, Guf left the group. He declared it in the interview. In September, 2009 there was the Slim's debut album "Холодно" (Holodno/It's Cold) and the music video to the track of the same name. In October there was also a debut album of Ptaha "Ни о чем" (Ni o chom/About anything). In December there was the second Guf's studio album "Дома" (Doma/At home) which has been let out any more on "TsAO". On January 7, 2010 Ptaha in the interview declared about the group disintegration. However, despite that, Centr group tours (now as Slim & Ptaha) proceeded as planned. After disintegration of group a music video for the song "Легко ли быть молодым" (Legko li byt' molodym/Is being young easy(?)) was shot. It was shot because under the terms of the contract with the label, Centr was supposed to shoot two music videos for the "Broadcast.Normal" album. Each participant of group was shot separately at different times and in different places, so they didn't see each other (Though Slim and Ptaha were often crossed)
On November 3, 2011, after long transfers, a collaboration album between the remaining members of Centr and a young group called "Легенды ПРО" (Legendy PRO/Legends PRO), named "Легенды ПРО... Centr" ("Legends PRO … Centr") was finally released to positive critical reception. The simple album title is actually a careful wordplay, because "Pro" (as in "professional") also means "About" in Russian - so the title can be read as either "Legends PRO... (&) Centr" or "Legends about Centr". At the end of March, 2012 there passed the hip-hop-award Stadium RUMA 2012 where the album "Legends PRO… Centr" became "An album of year", and Slim also won the nomination "Rapper of Year".
In October 2014, rap.ru (one of the biggest rap-sites in Russia, similar to XXL in the US), published an interview with all three original members of Centr, who after three years started recording together again. In autumn 2015 Centr as Guf, Slim & Ptaha have gone on a Russia-wide concert tour. On September 21, when performing in Krasnoyarsk, Guf and Slim were arrested after the show, charged for "usage of drugs" (cocaine in their case), which is still a serious crime in Russia. However both were released on September 27 with no further charges pressed. On October 13 a press-conference with Guf, Slim and their lawyer was held in Moscow. Upcoming third album of Centr is coming in spring 2016 according to Centr themselves.