Siberian farmyard rap goes viral! And the crowd goes wild!

January 17, 2016 10:26 AM

Do you listen to a lot of hip-hop in in the Yakut language? Me either. But that changed when I happened upon the story of Ayal Adamov, Monty Python fan and student at Northeast Federal University, Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia. One day, he heard a song that celebrated bling and money and conspicuous consumption. He felt a profound sense of disgust and, in response, composed a song that celebrated his own, humbler, rural roots. The accompanying video has to be seen to be believed; it is embedded in this article in the Siberian Times.
posted by jason's_planet (33 comments total)

I know about Yakutsk only from hours playing Stratego.
posted by HuronBob at 10:42 AM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

An anti-bling rap video featuring fresh steaming cow shit and young Yakut women who are more beautiful than any of the scantily clad eye candy you see in the typical rap videos: yep, this has to be seen to be believed. And with any luck, Yakutsk will now be more than a place on an American board game.
posted by kozad at 10:46 AM on January 17, 2016 [9 favorites]

Once I used to think I was cool because I liked Mexican rap and Punjabi rap. I see now I am a mere callow youth, with much to learn from The Master.
posted by seasparrow at 10:48 AM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

For comparison, Тимати feat. L'One и Сергей Мазаев - GQ seems to be the original video that spawned the Yakutsk response. GQ has a version with translation here.

I love what they've done in the response but I'm honestly not sure how much of the original is itself parody. Maybe someone with more familiarity with the song and the culture behind it can weigh in?
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 10:59 AM on January 17, 2016 [3 favorites]

Amazing. Also, it looks like the original - with English subs - is here.
posted by Frobenius Twist at 11:00 AM on January 17, 2016 [14 favorites]

"GQ has a version with translation here."

That's not a translation. That's a joke commentary about what's happening visually.
posted by I-baLL at 11:19 AM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

That "translation" video is from here:

http://video.gq.com/watch/english-translation-timati-gq

The description reads:

"In the spirit of cultural understanding, we had the viral Russian rap song translated (by two editors who don't speak Russian). Here, finally, is the true meaning of the music video of the year"
posted by I-baLL at 11:23 AM on January 17, 2016

It turns out that it is very difficult to rap, I thought it would be easier.

Very good flow for a first attempt!
posted by ignignokt at 12:15 PM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I couldn't understand a word of it but nonetheless the meaning came through I think--there were tons of visual gags that were easy to pick up and cross language boundaries.

Very talented folks, very fun, creative video direction and the rap had good flow. I think that the Yakut language is well suited to hip-hop. Would love to hear/see more from this crew!
posted by dubitable at 12:27 PM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

I came in to say what kozad said. Actually *everyone* from the parody video is better looking than the people in the original. Well done, cow herders.
posted by 1adam12 at 12:34 PM on January 17, 2016

I know about Yakutsk only from hours playing Stratego.

Was Yakutsk a Grenadier or a Spy? I'm confused.
posted by Philipschall at 12:37 PM on January 17, 2016 [6 favorites]

The words are all in the local Yakut language.
'We didn't think it would be popular across Russia. If we knew, would have done it in Russian.'

Mmh, can someone capable of Russian (or even Yakut) chip in?
Some of it sounds vaguely Russian.
Or is it possibly a mixture of Russian and Yakut?
posted by sour cream at 1:09 PM on January 17, 2016

You had me at "Everything! Smelled! By cow!"
posted by phooky at 1:16 PM on January 17, 2016 [3 favorites]

Some of it sounds vaguely Russian.
Or is it possibly a mixture of Russian and Yakut?

It's mostly (~90%) in Russian with some Yakut and English words thrown in. The girls are singing in Yakut.
posted by pravit at 4:12 PM on January 17, 2016

this is all good and correct
posted by Sticherbeast at 4:48 PM on January 17, 2016

I know about Yakutsk only from hours playing Stratego.

Was Yakutsk a Grenadier or a Spy? I'm confused.

Pretty sure you mean Risk.
posted by BrashTech at 4:49 PM on January 17, 2016

I loved the video. I'd never seen a cowshed with floor corrugations made exactly one shovel-width -- that's a smart way to do it.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:15 PM on January 17, 2016 [7 favorites]

Pretty sure you mean Risk.

I'm pretty sure you're right... or it could have been Monopoly... or chess...
posted by HuronBob at 8:12 PM on January 17, 2016

Gotta get me one of those hats.
posted by bracems at 9:04 PM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

There is a place in Oregon called Yachats On the coast, with hot tubs and all. Sounding very the same. The video is so good, so, so good. Best rap ever.
posted by Oyéah at 9:57 PM on January 17, 2016

Except that Yachats is pronounced yaHOTS.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 10:28 PM on January 17, 2016

This is great. Also, finally someone in a rap video is wearing the same boots as me. Are those cows part yak?
posted by Lou Stuells at 10:57 PM on January 17, 2016

Frobenius, I can't find the eng sub on the link you supplied.
posted by jfwlucy at 11:56 PM on January 17, 2016

This is so great. Remember the other one previously ?
posted by yoHighness at 1:21 AM on January 18, 2016

Bog yes, the flappy hat is awesome.
posted by brokkr at 3:15 AM on January 18, 2016

Jfwlucy: click on the CC icon in the controls bar in the video
posted by I-baLL at 9:39 AM on January 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

Love it! By the way, Timati (who is on the original) is not a man to trouble with irony, and that video is no exception. That was not an intentional parody as far as I can make out. This video, on the other hand, is excellent. Seconding that most of the rap is in Russian with Yakut words for flavour, and the girls are singing in Yakut. I would expect most Russian-speakers to understand what was being said from context. I should get around to the (good) Russian hip-hop post, although I'll need to update myself since I haven't been around it for most of the last two years.

Lyrics, with translation of the Yakut bits into Russian on VK here.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 10:20 AM on January 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

Thank you I-ball.
posted by jfwlucy at 5:24 PM on January 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

So, the Siberian Times link says it went viral, but searching for it in Youtube says the same version has 11K hits. Not to say it won't go viral now that it's on the blue, but I don't think it's the next Gungam Style (yet).

'The budget was tiny. We collected money for the petrol to reach the village Namtsy - and for pies.

I 100% approve of their spending approach.
posted by Metro Gnome at 10:05 PM on January 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

The video has over 2 million views, not 11k.
posted by I-baLL at 7:46 AM on January 19, 2016

Also, there seems to be at least 2 more parody videos on that channel:

Uptown Funk

and

Shake It Off
posted by I-baLL at 7:48 AM on January 19, 2016 [2 favorites]

Thanks I-baLL. These have a big budget! At the end of the Uptown Funk Northern Brothers one there is a grand piano in the middle of the tundra that goes on fire, as well as lots of sweeping landscape shots.
posted by asok at 3:31 PM on January 19, 2016

Yeah, since these were made after the farmyard rap one, I think they started to get some funding which is awesome.
posted by I-baLL at 4:05 PM on January 19, 2016