Biography
Legalize is a musician, author of soundtracks for the films “Taras Bulba”, “Bastards”, “Stone”. He became famous as the founder and member of the underground association DOB Community, as well as the rap groups “Bad B. Alliance”, “Legal Bizne$$”, Bad Balance, “P-13” and “YAROST Inc.”
Rapper Legalize
Today he is engaged in a solo career and production activities.
Interesting Facts
- Born and raised in the Ostankino district of Moscow, which he mentioned more than once in his work.
- He trained in karate for many years and has a brown belt.
- On the album of the rapcore group “IFK”, “Mosquito Man”, Liga participated as a DJ.
- Decl's first verses were written by Legalize.
- In the video of the group “Legal Bizne$$” for the song “Pack of Cigarettes” Jeep and then-beginning rapper Decl appeared for the first time
- Legalize is known as the author of a number of soundtracks for films, including such blockbusters as “Taras Bulba”, “Bastards”, “Stone”.
- Legalize's verse could be heard in an advertisement for Fint chocolate and in some other advertisements.
- At different times, the producers of Legalize were Vlad Valov and Alexander Tolmatsky.
- For a long time, the backing MC of Legalize was Batista.
- The first single from the album "" was released on May 2, 2005 and was timed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.
- Despite its commercial success, the album "" caused conflicting opinions among the country's hip-hop audience, nevertheless significantly increasing it (the audience).
- At various times, Legalize performed with 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Naughty By Nature as an opening act during their tour in Russia.
- On April 18, 2007, Legalize appeared on the cover of the first issue of the Russian Billboard. The main theme of the issue was Russian hip-hop.
- In September 2007, the National Federation of Phonogram Producers, based on the results of the sale of legal copies of the album “,” awarded Legalize two “Golden Disc” certificates at once.
- Legalize, together with the group "Velvet", recorded a remake of the song "I want to be with you" by the rock group "Nautilus Pompilius" especially for the Russian Music Awards 2007 ceremony.
- On August 19, 2009, Legalize, together with music critic Valery Posternak, held a lecture-performance on the topic “Music of the Streets.” This event was held at the Garage Center for Contemporary Art and was sold out.
- Legalize was one of the judges on the TV show Battle for Respect 3.
- Together with the group “Bi-2” he recorded the soundtrack for the film “Black Lightning”.
- He starred in the documentary series from UGW “Hip-Hop in Russia: From the 1st Person” (season 3).
- He works closely with the Polish rapper Sokol (WWO). Collaboration began in 2008, when Legalize took part in a Slavic track, for the recording of which many MCs from Slavic countries were involved.
- On April 21, 2010, at the first annual award in the field of Hip-Hop Culture “Russian Street Awards”, Legalize presented two new tracks “Moments” and “Sleeping Areas”. Legalize's back-MC was Mezza Morta.
- On October 8, 2010, as part of the V Science Festival at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, a joint lecture was held by Legalize and Doctor of Law, Professor Vitaly Vasilyevich Bezbakh on the topic “Copyright infringement using modern means of communication (Internet).”
- He produces American artists, including New York rappers Shaz Illyork and Labba.
- Despite the fact that he has not released a solo album since 2006, he is one of the most touring and highly paid Russian hip-hop artists.
Childhood and youth
Andrey Vladimirovich Menshikov (real name of the rapper) was born on July 30, 1977 in Moscow. The parents of the future star least of all expected that their offspring would become famous as a hip-hop performer. Legalize's father is a chemistry professor who planned for his son to follow in his footsteps and connect his life with science.
Andrey grew up as an active child. It is known that in his childhood he practiced karate. The boy devoted seven years to martial art and achieved some success - he took prizes at regional competitions. But sports didn’t work out for Menshikov due to the fact that his whole nature was drawn to the illusory world of sounds, which captivated him almost from the cradle.
Music conquered Legalize's other hobbies
In conversations with media representatives, the artist has repeatedly said that while his peers were kicking a ball around in the yard, he was mastering programs for creating samples and beats.
After school, at the insistence of his parents, the young man applied to the Institute of Chemical Technology. True, the talented rapper did not manage to graduate from higher education. After four years, he realized that a technical specialty was not for him and that he did not want to do anything other than music.
After Andrei heard the American band NWA in 1990, his life changed dramatically. Inspired by the creativity of Californians, Menshikov got the idea to create something similar in Russian realities.
Legalize in his youth
In 1993, thanks to a strange coincidence, the young man met Moscow MC Ladjak. Together the guys created a project called Slingshot. Colleagues wrote their songs in English, since Russian rap was not popular in those days.
At some point there was even talk of a contract with an American label, but it didn’t work out. It is known that as part of this project, Legalize managed to record the album “Salut From Russia”, but released it only in 2015.
Creative path
In 1990, Andrei first heard the work of the group “NWA” from America. From that moment on, his life became different. He was so inspired by the group’s music that he himself set himself the goal of creating a band, but in Russian realities.
After 3 years, he met MC Ladjak. Together the guys formed the group “Slingshot”. The repertoire was recorded in English. They even planned to sign a contract with a foreign label, but nothing worked out. The joint album was released only in 2015 with the title “Salut From Russia”.
In 1994, Andrey became a member of the hip-hop formation “DOB Community”. DOB's album "Slave Lamps" was also recorded. After 2 years, he went to live in the Congo, where he began rapping in French as part of the group “AERO Skwadra”. A year later, he left the state because the war began there.
In the Russian Federation, Andrei tried to change his creative style. In 1998 – 2000, he worked on the collection of the group “Legal Business$$”, participated in the group “Bad Balance” and was in a duet with Decl. At the same time, the album “Rhymomafia” was released, which received positive reviews.
In 2005, Andrey began collaborating with the Monolith Records label , began touring the country and released a video for the song “First Squad”. The video work was created in anime style.
In 2006, Andrei’s work gained popularity. He wrote the song “Future Mothers,” which became the title song for the TV series “Club ,” and also starred in this project personally. This composition was the first in his work to be heard on the radio. The tracks were included in the lists of the most downloaded ringtones. At the same time, he released his solo album “XL”.
In 2006, Legalize also presented the track “Bastards,” which became the title track for the film of the same name. He made him even more famous; Andrei was nominated for the MTV Russia Movie Awards.
In 2012, Legalize presented another soundtrack for the film “Stone”, it was called “Time to Collect Stones”. At the same time, his mini-album was released in collaboration with the group “Legal Bizne$$”, it was called “Wu”.
Fans saw Legalize among the producers of the “Rage Inc” project. 3 years later, he released a video for the song “Fight” together with the group “Onyx” from America.
In 2021, his second solo collection was released, which was called “Live”. It was called a new stage in the work of Legalize - a revival.
For some time , Legalize did not perform on stage, for which he repeatedly asked forgiveness from his fans on social networks . In 2017, he presented his album “Live” during a concert at the Yota Space club, despite the fact that this collection went on sale a year ago. It was decided to shoot videos for a number of popular songs.
At the same time, the single “Untouchables” was released in collaboration with Burito. It was decided to include it in the third album, which was released in 2018. It was called "The Young King".
In fact, Legalize continues to be creative. He works in styles that are new to him, for example, the house duet Filatov & Karas “One More Day ,” which has become popular among Andrei’s fans.
In 2021, Legalize gave an interview to The Flow, in which he was as honest as possible. You can watch it on YouTube. He continues to tour, collecting sold-out shows.
Music
In 1994, Legalize, together with the groups “Slaves of the Lamp”, Just Da Enemy and Beat Point, entered the hip-hop formation DOB Community. This year, Andrei participated in the recording of the album of the DOB group and helped “Slaves of the Lamp” with writing songs.
In 1996, the artist went to the Congo, where he began rapping in French as part of the group AERO Skwadra. In the new country, Andrei’s worldview changed dramatically, and he realized that recitative is not a memorized text, but pure improvisation that comes from the soul. A year later, the artist left the country, as civil war began in the Congo. Together with his wife, he was deported to his homeland as a foreigner.
Legalize
Upon returning to Russia, Legalize made every effort to change the style and direct the guys’ minds in a different, new direction, because they still recorded rap under the DOB label
The period from 1998 to 2000 turned out to be extremely fruitful for Menshikov. The artist was always in the public eye - he worked on the “Legal Business$$” album, sang in the group Bad Balance and collaborated with Decl. In 2000, the album “Legal Business$$” was released – “Rhythmomafia”. The record turned out to be strong, clearly demonstrating to listeners that Andrey puts not only emotions, but also meaning into the lyrics of his compositions.
Legalize - "Life"
In 2005, the artist attracted the attention of the distribution label Monolith Records. In the same year, he became the most toured rapper in the country. On the eve of May 9, 2005, Legalize released a video clip for the song “First Squad” (rap to the tango tune “Tired Sun”).
Legalize - "First Squad"
For domestic show business, this format was new. The video was created in anime style and the video was directed by Daisuke Nakayama. In the story, Soviet pioneers fight Nazis with swords, and T-34 tanks fight German science fiction robots.
2006 is the year that divided Legalize’s career into before and after. During this period, he became popular even outside the rap community. The youth series “Club” was released, the soundtrack to which was Legalize’s composition “Future Mothers”. The artist appeared in the film as a cameo. The song quickly became a hit, it broke established patterns and was incredibly frank.
Legalize - "Future Mothers"
By the way, old fans did not understand this change of course, but thanks to “Moms,” Legalize sounded on the radio, appeared on TV, and his tracks appeared on the lists of the most downloaded ringtones. At the same time, his debut solo album “XL” was released.
In the same year, Alexander Atanesyan’s film “Bastards” was shown on cinema screens. The rapper wrote the soundtrack of the same name for this film. With him, Legalize was nominated for the MTV Russia Movie Awards.
This was not his last work in the film industry. In 2012, the film “Stone” was released with Sergei Svetlakov in the title role. Legalize composed the song “Time to Collect Stones” for the film.
Legalize - “Time to Collect Stones”
In mid-2012, a mini-album of the musical group “Legal Bizne$$” - “Wu” was presented, in the recording of which, according to tradition, Menshikov also took part. Fans also saw the popular performer in the project “Rage Inc,” in which Legalize was assigned the role of producer.
In 2015, the artist shot a video for the song “Fight”, which was recorded with the American group Onyx.
Legalize & Onyx – “Fight”
In 2021, Legalize released his second solo album, “Live.” This record became a kind of return, or rather, a rebirth. These are almost two dozen tracks, and more than half of them were recorded in collaboration with notable representatives of other genres - Vladimir Presnyakov, Bianca, Andrey Grizzly, Ika and others. The album includes songs that have long been familiar to the listener, as well as previously unreleased compositions.
During his career, Legalize managed to work with singers Maxim (the song “Sky, Fall asleep”), Tina Kuznetsova (“Melody of the Soul”), artist Dato (“Dzhanaya”), rappers Detsel (“God Is”), N’Pans (“Who you are like that”) and the group “Velvet” (“I want to be with you”).
Legalize & Dato - “Janaya”
The artist did not give concerts for some time, for which he repeatedly apologized to fans on social networks. And in April 2017, Legalize presented the album “Live” at the Yota Space club, which appeared on the shelves back in 2021. Videos were shot for many songs from the record (“Melody of the Soul”, “I Will Cover”, “Caravan”, “Karma”, “On the Day the War Ended”, “Gagarin”, “Fight”).
Beginning of a musical career
A year later, he was forced to leave the country as civil war broke out in the Congo. He and his wife were deported as a foreigner.
Upon returning to Russia, Legalize made every effort to change the guys who were still recording rap under the DOB label. The guy spent most of his free time trying to change his style and direct the guys’ minds in a completely different direction.
In 1999, Legalize, together with Vlad Valov, organized “Bad B. Alliance” and literally a year later released the album “Rhythmomafia”. After this, the guy decided to go to Prague, where he recorded another album, “Provocation,” on his label.
In 2005, he managed to attract the attention of the distribution label Monolith Records. In the same year, he became the most toured rapper in the country. Just a year later, his debut solo album “XL” was released.
Having succeeded in hip-hop, Legalize opened all doors for himself. From 2007 to 2011, he took an active part in the life of the domestic rap scene and worked on his second solo album, produced by The Alchemist.
In mid-2012, the whole world saw the small album “Wu”, and also fully enjoyed the participation of the famous artist in the project “Rage Inc”, where Legalize was assigned the role of producer.
Personal life
Legalize tries not to advertise his personal life. But still, journalists managed to find out that Menshikov was officially married to the popular singer Simone Yori. The musicians were part of the same rap movement DOB Community, and their romance developed rapidly; soon the lovers got married. At that time, Simone already had a child, Jacques-Anthony, whom Andrei Menshikov accepted as his own and even gave him his last name.
Legalize and Simone Jori
Unfortunately, over time, their relationship exhausted itself, and the couple divorced. And then Jacques grew up and also decided to become a rap artist. And here a scandal broke out. Journalists vying with each other trumpeted that Legalize's son did this, Legalize's son did that. But at that time, Andrei and Jacques-Anthony did not communicate. In an interview, the musician says that it was a painful story, and today Jacques does not call himself his son, just as, in principle, Menshikov does not call Jacques.
Jacques-Anthony
Thousands of questions from journalists rained down on Legalize, and the musician does not hide the fact that this was very stressful for him. In his opinion, this is nothing more than an interference in personal life. After all, today the man is happily married, he has a son, who was born in 2008. But the rapper does not intend to talk about his current family with the press. This time it is even more closed from prying eyes.
Rap musician Legalize
His Instagram contains mostly photos from concerts and posters for upcoming performances, only occasionally flashing shots of him with his son, and even less often with his wife. In July 2021, Legalize published a photo of his beloved, which he tenderly captioned: “My love, my wife. 13 years together."
Interview with Legalize: “There is something to read”
Andrey Menshikov (Legalize) is one of the leaders of our hip-hop industry, the man who essentially popularized it in Russia. He is not averse to reading (rap), delving into himself, working with amazing artists.
COSMO: Before the interview, your press agent asked you to send me the topics that we will talk about. Are you preparing for an interview?
ANDREY: Actually, yes. You have a magazine for girls, and you don’t need to intimidate them with global problems, you need to tune in and hit the right note.
C: Can you intimidate?
A: It happens. I don’t like this myself, but I’m a soul-searching person, I have different periods in my life, crises, when all you do is soul-searching. Now there is such a streak. It seems to me that this should be in everyone to a reasonable extent. The main thing is that this self-criticism generates creative energy, and not vice versa.
C: Do you prepare for everything like you would for an interview, or do you more often just let things happen?
A: It’s not very professional to leave things to chance. Better prepare. To do this, you don’t always need to think a lot; in some circumstances, the brain itself begins to look for a way out. For example, the evening before a concert, it is enough for me to imagine the approximate order of songs that I will perform. And everything will be implemented in the best possible way. And I will spend my energy before the performance on something else. But when you have a huge flow of work, it’s difficult to foresee everything. Therefore, I feel more comfortable with a more measured lifestyle, when quantity does not harm quality. If you repeat the same word a thousand times, its meaning is lost. It’s the same with concerts – can you imagine performing the same songs every day?
C: When you first started performing in the 90s, did you have to work extra hours? At first, you always give your best.
“REP SOUNDS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN RUSSIAN THAN IN ENGLISH.”
A: This is called developing skills, that is, you first had to create yourself. And we didn’t have rap - we had to come up with the rules of this game, then teach them how to play by them. After all, rap in Russian sounds different than in English. These are phonetically different languages, we have a lot of sibilants, the words are longer, we had to break them down into syllables and combine them with each other in a certain way. Breathing control is very important. When you rap, you have to leave pauses to breathe.
The 90s were a cool time. It's called the "golden era of hip-hop." And in general, so many new things were happening in music. It fired me up and hooked me then. The roots of all this go back to childhood. Grandmother worked for more than thirty years as editor-in-chief of children's radio broadcasting in the USSR. Legendary man! “Pioneer Dawn”, radio play “Club of Famous Captains”. My grandmother was idolized by her colleagues, artists, and announcers. I think that’s where my interest in diction and speech came from.
C: Where did you get all this clothes and paraphernalia then - remember, there were wide jeans, caps with folded visors, alarm clocks on chains?
A: Even earlier there were times of black marketeers. Remember, the film “Courier” is the era of the heyday of break dancing, a new culture, when guys at hotels exchanged things with foreigners for pioneer ties and red flags. My sister’s friends took white sneakers, tore off logos like “Sports” and used felt-tip pens to draw Nike labels, crooked and incorrect. I asked my grandmother to embroider the word Nike on my sweatpants. Then markets began to appear, and one of them, CSKA, sold wide pants. And we competed to see who had the wider pants. I remember I bought myself jeans, I came to a party at Dukat (One of the first night discos in Moscow - Cosmo note), and I was met by a friend who had exactly the same jeans, but wider. Such a bummer!
Source
Legalize now
In 2021, Andrey and the singer Burito recorded the single “Untouchables,” which, according to the artist, was to be included in his next album. Fans were looking forward to this event.
Recently, many rappers have been quite successful in combining hip-hop with house. So Legalize decided to do something similar. In the fall of 2017, he recorded a joint track with the Moscow house duo Filatov & Karas. The video for the song “One More Day” was directed by Igor Voloshin, known for the films “Nirvana”, “Olympius Inferno” and the TV series “Olga”.
Filatov & Karas vs. Legalize - "Another Day"
The main female role in the video was played by athlete Angela Peresypkina. In the story, Legalize fights for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. He was kept company by a dog, whom he treated to meat. The viewer liked this work, and in just 4 months the video received 3 million views.
From the very beginning of 2021, the singer began to delight fans with new works. At the end of January, a clip of Legalize with Zdobsi Zdub and Loredana appeared on the Internet. The song is called “Balkan Mama” and it sounds appropriate.
In March, a joint track was released with the group “25/17” called “Fate (Damned Rap).”
Legalize - “Don’t Believe the Hype” (video premiere, 2018)
And in April 2021, the musician presented his third solo work - the album “The Young King”. It included 11 tracks. In the same month, the musician shot the first video for this album, “Don’t Believe the Hype.”
In June 2021, he gave a long, honest video interview to the YouTube channel The Flow, in which he talked about both his successes and weaknesses, and also shared his critical attitude towards his actions. The rapper admits that he understands that he cannot regain his former popularity, but now he is in the right creative tone. Legalize continues to tour and sell out houses.
Legalize: “I understand everything. 42-year-old rapper sounds like a failure"
The Bad B. Alliance video “Hope for Tomorrow” is one of the most important markers for those who are over 30 today, and one of the first breakthroughs of hip-hop into the mainstream of Russian show business. Andrey “Legalize” Menshikov is the only member of this short-lived rap group who remains popular today. In the fall, he made a splash by releasing the unexpectedly acutely social video “Stagnation 2.0,” which became the first news from the album “ALI,” released on all digital platforms on April 24. On this occasion, we spoke with Legalize about how he decided to record an album about the state of affairs in the country and remember the past. Well, since hip-hop was and remains perhaps the most democratic style in world music, the conversation also naturally went on a first-name basis.
