Timati (Russian: Тимати), owned by Timur Ildarovich Yunusov (Russian: Тиму́р Ильда́рович Юну́сов; born August 15, 1983 in Moscow[1]) is a Russian rapper, singer and actor.
He is the first son of Tatar Ildar Yunusov and Jewish Simona Yunusova (née: Chervomorskaya). He has a younger brother, Artiom. He is the grandson of composer and conductor Yakov Chervomorsky.
He graduated from a four-year music school in the violin class. He also studied at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, but graduated during his third year.
He lived in Los Angeles for three years, then moved to Moscow.
Musical career
Timati during a concert at the Formula club in Gelendyk, 2006
At the beginning of his musical career, he collaborated with the rapper Declo. He was also a member of the band Banda and a founder of the group V.I.P. 77. In the media, he debuted in 2004 with participation in the fourth edition of the program Pierwszyyj kan Fabrika zwiozd. In 2006, he released his debut studio album, entitled Black Star[2].
In 2009 he released his second studio album titled The Boss[3]. The album was promoted with the singles: “Groove On”, recorded in collaboration with American rapper Snoop Dogg[4], “Forever” (with Mario Winans), “Love You” (with Busta Rhymes and Mariya) and “Welcome to Saint-Tropez” (with Blue Marine)[5]. Also in 2009, he released his first compilation album entitled The Best, featuring his greatest hits to date[6]. Between 2009 and 2011, he was nominated for the MTV European Music Award for Best Russian Performer[7][8]. In 2011, he released the single “Rekwiem po ljubij”, which he recorded as a duet with Grigory Pełec[9].
In 2012, he qualified for the national qualifiers for the 57th Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Fantasy”, recorded in a duet with Aida. On 7 March they placed third in the final selection[10]. In June, he released his third studio album entitled Swagg,[11] which he promoted with the previously released singles “Groove On”, “Love You” and “Welcome to St. Tropez”, as well as the songs “I’m on You” (recorded with P. Diddy, DJ Antoine and Dirty Money[12]) and “Not All About the Money” (with La La Band, Timbaland and Grooya)[13]. Also in 2012, he released the single “Tattoo”, which also featured GeeGun, Anton “wArchun” Zubariev, Aleksandr “Krek” Vinokurov, Dienis “Karandash” Grigoryev and L’One[14].
In late October 2013, he released his fourth studio album titled 13[15], which he promoted with the single “Vriemia nie zdiet”[16]. In December 2014, he released an ep titled Audio Capsule[17], which he promoted on tour. He released the audiovisual recording of the performances as a concert album titled Kapsuła[18].
In 2016, he released another studio album titled Olympus.
Acting career
In 2005 he made his debut as an actor, playing the role of Supier-Fiedia in the film Muzhskoy siezon. Barchatnaja riewolucyja directed by Oleg Stepchenko[19]. In 2006 he starred in the film Zar by Fyodor Bondarchuk[20]. In 2008 he played in the film by Marius Balchunas Hitler kaput[21].
In 2006, he lent his voice to the character Maks in the Russian language version of the animated film Arthur and the Minimates[22].
Other activities
He is the owner of the B-Club. He also managed the Black October DJ-bar and the E-life store.
Private life
He is involved with model Alena Szyszkova. In March 2014, he became a father.
On the night of July 20-21, 2018, he and Yegor Krid held an unauthorized multi-thousand people mass event in Moscow on the Great Dmitrovka Street, creating a concert on the roof of a car, blocking traffic[23]. The given action was dedicated to the opening of Timati’s beauty salon. The next day, lawyer Aleksandr Chaminskiy filed a motion to initiate a case on this incident with the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Tver region and the Moscow Traffic Police[24][25][26]. The court in the case set a hearing for 1 August 2018[27].