Ed Sheeran
«Грибы» was a Ukrainian music group formed in Kyiv in 2016 that, in less than two years, became one of the most prominent Russian-language music projects of the second half of the 2010s. The core of the group consisted of Yuri Bardash, rappers 4atty aka Tilla — Ilya Kapustin and Sимптом — Daniil Dudulad. Kyivstoner was also an important part of the group’s early image, appearing in music videos, comedy sketches and live shows. The group’s main songs included «Интро», «Копы», «Велик», «Панама», «Любовь», «Минимал» and, above all, «Тает лёд».
The music of «Грибы» combined hip-hop, hip-house and club-oriented electronic music. A straight dance kick, heavy bass and a minimal amount of melodic detail were combined with rap delivery, short choruses and conversational phrases. The visual language was equally important: sportswear, balaclavas, bucket hats, concrete courtyards, bus stops, garages and other everyday spaces of Kyiv became a full-fledged part of the group’s identity.
The classic lineup of «Грибы» released only one studio album — «Дом на колёсах, ч. 1» in 2016. The following year, the group scored a massive mainstream hit with «Тает лёд» and then effectively ceased to exist while still at the height of its popularity.
Yuri Bardash, 4atty and the creation of «Грибы»
By the time the project was born, Yuri Bardash already had extensive experience in music production. He had participated in the creation and development of Quest Pistols, headed Kruzheva Music and understood the mechanics of commercial pop music, choreography and visual branding. With «Грибы», Bardash stepped beyond his predominantly behind-the-scenes role and became one of the performers himself.
The group’s story began with a search for a new sound for Quest Pistols. Bardash heard music whose direction seemed promising to him and asked 4atty to create something similar. That led to the future «Интро», which was initially intended for Quest Pistols. The material, however, differed so strongly from the earlier project that an entirely new group gradually formed around it.
The role of 4atty aka Tilla in this process went far beyond that of an ordinary rapper. He was the one who introduced Bardash to Sимптом and suggested developing the new music as a separate project. Bardash later described 4atty as the ideological “spirit” of the early «Грибы».
4atty aka Tilla
Ilya Kapustin, known as 4atty aka Tilla, was already familiar to followers of Kyiv’s underground rap scene before «Грибы» appeared. He was a member of the group «Мосты», around which the wider collective «7я Мостов» developed, and had been recording rap for years before Bardash’s mainstream project emerged.
In «Грибы», 4atty’s familiar rap style was placed in a completely different musical environment. Instead of classic hip-hop instrumentals, the tracks used a straight dance rhythm and club bass. His hard, precise articulation became an important part of the group’s distinctive sound.
His stage image was equally recognizable. 4atty often appeared in a red balaclava and kept his face hidden, supporting the group’s deliberate sense of anonymity.
Sимптом
Daniil Dudulad, Sимптом, also came from Kyiv’s rap scene. Before «Грибы», he had participated in underground battles and the projects 5В7 and «Апаска», where he worked with 4atty. His early music was noticeably darker and closer to traditional underground rap.
The original version of «Тает лёд» is directly connected with Sимптом. He wrote the song on commission for around $300 for another person, but the client rejected it. Bardash later heard the recording through 4atty and almost immediately recognized its potential.
By the time the first «Грибы» video was released, the team already knew about «Тает лёд», but decided to save the song for later. Bardash later explained the reasoning simply: if such an obviously mass-appeal song had been released first, the group’s other early material could have disappeared in its shadow.
Kyivstoner
Kyivstoner — Albert Vasiliev — occupied a special position within «Грибы». He was not one of the group’s main musical authors, but effectively became its unofficial fourth member and one of the most important figures in its visual identity.
Before joining the group, Kyivstoner had become known through short internet sketches under the names Корреспондент Радужный and Бюджетный Гай Ричи. He was invited into «Грибы» by 4atty. Kyivstoner later recalled that at the beginning he did not even know who Yuri Bardash was or what role he played in the music industry.
His sketches appeared between musical segments of the videos, while at concerts he interacted with the audience before the core trio came onstage. As a result, humor was not simply an addition to the music but a full part of the «Грибы» universe. Contemporary press was already describing Kyivstoner in 2017 as the member responsible for comedy sketches and audience interaction.
«Интро»
The group’s first major public statement was the video for «Интро», released in late April 2016. Instead of a long promotional campaign, the audience immediately received a fully formed image: unusual music, hidden faces, distinctive clothing, street humor and a stylized version of Kyiv.
The reaction was almost immediate. Within just a few months, «Грибы» were already being perceived as one of the major new names on the Ukrainian and Russian-language music scenes. «Афиша Daily» noted that only about half a year passed between the release of «Интро» and the group’s large sold-out concerts.
In November 2016, «Интро» was named “Single of the Year” at the Jägermeister Indie Awards. Other nominees included «Патимейкер» by Pika and «Возвращайся домой» by Mujuice and Zemfira.
«Копы» and the formation of the group’s own style
The next video, «Копы», consolidated the musical formula. Heavy low frequencies, a kick on every beat, short verses and an almost complete absence of unnecessary instrumental decoration definitively separated «Грибы» from a conventional rap project.
This material demonstrates the term hip-house especially well: rap does not sit on top of a dance track as an added guest element but functions as the track’s primary vocal form.
«Дом на колёсах, ч. 1»
On November 11, 2016, the only studio album by the classic «Грибы» lineup was released — «Дом на колёсах, ч. 1». The official edition contains nine tracks with a total running time of about 28 minutes. Apple Music later described it as a landmark hip-house album of the 2010s.
- «Бери грибы»
- «Пудинг»
- «Велик»
- «Копы»
- «Базару нет»
- «Любовь»
- «Панама»
- «Интро»
- «Минимал»
The album contains almost no long narrative songs. Its main themes are movement, parties, relationships, clothing, the street and belonging to one’s own circle. Short phrases are used not only for meaning, but also as an additional rhythmic instrument.
«Велик» and visual Kyiv
The video for «Велик» appeared at the same time as the album. It clearly demonstrated the group’s approach to visuals: expensive sets were replaced with ordinary urban spaces, transformed into expressive environments through clothing, lighting, movement and editing.
Kyiv was rarely shown as a tourist city in the group’s videos. The focus was on courtyards, concrete, garages, bus stops, apartment entrances and other everyday places. Combined with masks, bucket hats and tracksuits, this setting became one of the most recognizable music-related visual images of 2016–2017.
The first major concerts
Online popularity translated into live success very quickly. Tickets for the first major «Грибы» concert in Kyiv, held on December 2, 2016, in a pavilion at the Dovzhenko Film Studios, sold out in about a week. Organizers added a second show, which also sold out. In total, nearly five thousand people were expected to attend across the two nights.
The concerts were structured more like club parties than traditional rap shows. The music rarely stopped moving, comedy segments appeared between songs, and visual elements from the videos were transferred directly to the stage.
Kyivstoner leaves the group
At the beginning of 2017, Kyivstoner left the project. He explained the decision by saying that he had lost the emotions he needed from participating in the group, while in later interviews he also spoke about creative disagreements within the team. His name nevertheless remained strongly associated with the early «Грибы»: Kyivstoner’s sketches had been a major part of the first videos and the live presentation.
«Тает лёд»
On March 10, 2017, the single and video for «Тает лёд» were released. The song retained the group’s straight club rhythm but, for the first time, placed such a universal romantic theme and a large melodic chorus at the center of the track.
The basic songwriting idea came from Sимптом, although the final recording was created collectively. Official credits list Daniil Dudulad, Ilya Kapustin and Yuri Bardash among the lyricists, and Yevgeny Yaremenko among the music authors. Bardash’s verse was developed together with 4atty: Bardash suggested the meaning and individual phrases, while 4atty helped shape the final text.
The video was directed by Vlad Fishez, who had also shot other «Грибы» videos. The released version was not the first one: the team decided not to publish an earlier cut and completely reshot the video.
The phenomenon of «Тает лёд»
The response was dramatically larger than anything the group had released before. In its first two weeks alone, the video gathered around 20 million views, and by the end of 2017, Google Ukraine named it the most-watched music video of the year among Ukrainian audiences.
The video inspired a huge number of parodies and amateur remakes. Bloggers, television programs, schoolchildren and professional groups all produced their own versions. The simple structure of the original made it easy to reproduce: sportswear, a bus stop, an open field, the distinctive walk and synchronized movements could all be turned into instantly recognizable references.
By 2019, the video had passed 200 million views, and its YouTube counter later exceeded 300 million.
Awards
Even before the release of their biggest hit, «Грибы» received the Ukrainian music award YUNA 2017 in the “Discovery of the Year” category.
A year later, «Тает лёд» won YUNA 2018 as “Best Song”. The video was also nominated in the best music video category.
Why the music of «Грибы» worked
One of the group’s defining features was deliberate simplicity. The lyrics were built from short repeated phrases, everyday speech and easily remembered rhymes. The music followed the same principle: a straight rhythm, heavy bass and only a small number of additional layers.
This system was especially effective in a club environment. The words functioned simultaneously as lyrics and as part of the rhythm, making the songs easy to remember even after a single listen.
«Тает лёд» applied the same principle in a different emotional register. Instead of commands and humorous formulas, it used a simple romantic chorus, but its strength likewise came from repetition and precise integration with the sound.
The end of the project
At the height of their popularity, the future of the group suddenly became uncertain. In August 2017, Yuri Bardash announced from the stage that after December 31, «Грибы» would stop performing concerts. A final touring period with shows in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Europe was planned.
By the end of the year, a significant portion of those concerts had been cancelled, and the project effectively ceased to exist earlier than expected. Bardash’s original statement referred specifically to concert activity, but the classic lineup never released any new recordings after «Тает лёд».
Was there a «Дом на колёсах, ч. 2»?
Throughout 2017, the press repeatedly reported on a planned second album, «Дом на колёсах, ч. 2». Several years later, however, Sимптом clarified that a fully assembled second record had never actually existed: the group had only managed to prepare several songs and demos. Some of those ideas were later used in the Grebz project.
As a result, «Дом на колёсах, ч. 1» remained the only full-length studio album by the classic «Грибы» lineup.
Why «Грибы» broke up
There is no single universally accepted reason for the group’s breakup. The members later gave different versions of what happened.
Yuri Bardash primarily linked the final rupture to a conflict with 4atty and private correspondence that he interpreted as betrayal. At the same time, he continued to acknowledge Kapustin’s major creative role and described him as an ideological inspiration behind the project.
In a 2020 interview, Sимптом described a longer process: exhaustion from constant touring, worsening relationships inside the group, creative disagreements, disputes over future material and difficulties with contractual arrangements. According to him, at a certain point the members simply stopped feeling comfortable working together.
For that reason, the end of «Грибы» is better understood as the result of accumulated internal contradictions rather than one specific conflict.
Grebz
In 2019, 4atty aka Tilla and Sимптом began releasing music together again under the name Grebz. Their first releases — «Контракты», «По ремонту», «Каракум» and «0. Grebz» — deliberately continued some of the musical and visual ideas of their former group.
That same year, the album «Реппеq» was released. Sимптом emphasized that Grebz was not a reunion of «Грибы»: Bardash was not involved, and the project consisted only of him and 4atty. At the same time, some of the material did grow out of ideas originally intended for the unrealized continuation of «Грибы».
In 2023, Grebz returned with two full-length releases at once — MC COMING and STYLE IN MC. The first included «Клок», «FBI», «Трахни меня 2» and other songs, while the second featured «Юрфак», «Сахарные губы», «Ремни» and additional new material.
Discography of «Грибы»
- «Дом на колёсах, ч. 1» — 2016
Main standalone singles from the classic period:
- «Интро» — 2016
- «Копы» — 2016
- «Тает лёд» — 2017
Grebz should be regarded as a separate later project by 4atty and Sимптом rather than a continuation of the official «Грибы» discography. Apple Music also separates the catalogs of these acts.
Main songs by «Грибы»
«Интро» historically remains the starting point of the project and the recording in which its musical and visual language first came together completely.
«Копы» consolidated the hip-house formula and showed that the unusual combination of rap and a straight dance rhythm could work far beyond Kyiv’s underground scene.
«Велик» became one of the clearest examples of the group’s combination of minimalist lyrics, club bass and the visual aesthetics of urban outskirts.
«Панама» and «Минимал» capture the playful, slogan-like side of the group, while «Любовь» points toward the more melodic direction that later reached its fullest development in «Тает лёд».
«Тает лёд» moved far beyond the group’s original audience and became one of the most recognizable Russian-language pop hits of the second half of the 2010s.
The significance of «Грибы»
The most striking feature of the story of «Грибы» is the mismatch between its short duration and the scale of its cultural impact. At the end of April 2016, the group was only presenting its first video; by autumn it had already released a full-length album and was selling thousands of concert tickets; and in March of the following year it released a song that became a mass internet phenomenon.
The project never went through the normal life cycle of a popular group. There were no several successive albums documenting a changing sound, no long search for a new direction and no gradual decline in interest. «Грибы» effectively disappeared while they were still among the most discussed acts on the scene.
Musically, their main achievement was the organic combination of Russian-language rap with straight club rhythm. Sound alone, however, would not have been enough. In «Грибы», the music, videos, humor, clothing, masks and urban locations all existed as elements of a single project.
That is why «Грибы» cannot be reduced to the story of one accidental hit. «Тает лёд» became their biggest song, but by the time it appeared, the fully formed world of «Интро», «Копы», «Велик» and «Дом на колёсах» already existed. One album and a handful of videos were enough for this very short story to earn a distinct place in Ukrainian popular music and rap culture of the 2010s.
