Capital Bra

, years_active = 2009–present
, other_names = {{flatlist,
* Smia One
* Capital
* Capi
* Bra
* Joker Bra

, nationality = Ukrainian{{cite web , url=https://www.br.de/puls/musik/erfolgsformel-capital-bra-100.html , title=Neuer Streamingrekord: Das Erfolgskonzept von Capital Bra , trans-title=New streaming record: The success from Capital Bra , first=Lili , last=Ruge , publisher=Puls Musik , date=8 May 2018 , access-date=9 December 2018 , language=de , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925082042/https://www.br.de/puls/musik/erfolgsformel-capital-bra-100.html , archive-date=25 September 2018 , url-status=live
, children = 4
, module = {{Infobox musical artist
, embed = yes
, instrument = Vocals
, genre = {{hlist, Gangsta rap, trap, pop rap, cloud rap
, label = {{hlist, Urban, Bra Music
{{hidden, Former, content={{hlist, Baba City, Auf!Keinen!Fall!, Team Kuku, Sony, ersguterjunge

, associated_acts = {{flatlist,
* Ufo361
* AK Ausserkontrolle
* King Khalil
* Bushido
* Samra

Vladislav Balovatsky{{cite web , url=https://www.rbb24.de/kultur/beitrag/2018/04/berliner-rapper-capital-bra.html , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511191821/https://www.rbb24.de/kultur/beitrag/2018/04/berliner-rapper-capital-bra.html , url-status=dead , archive-date=11 May 2019 , title=Berliner Rapper in Spotify-Charts: Wer dieser Capital Bra ist , trans-title=Berlin rapper in the Spotify Charts: Who is Capital Bra , publisher= rbb24 , first=Tom , last=Garus , date=22 April 2018 , access-date=11 November 2018 , language=de ({{langx, uk, Владислав Баловацький; born 23 November 1994), known professionally as Capital Bra (German pronunciation: ɐpiˌtal ˈbɾa, is a German rapper.

Born in a small town in Siberia, Russia and raised in Dnipro, Ukraine, he and his mother moved to Berlin, Germany in the early 2000s.{{cite web , url=https://www.radiomonster.fm/interpret/tophits/capital-bra/ , title=Capital Bra – Steckbrief/Biografie , trans-title=Capital Bra – Characteristics/Biography , date=8 September 2018 , access-date=13 November 2018 , publisher=Radio Monster , language=de , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113031614/https://www.radiomonster.fm/interpret/tophits/capital-bra/ , archive-date=13 November 2018 , url-status=live He started rapping at the age of 11 and participated at ''Rap am Mittwoch'' in 2014, a German battle rap tournament. Intent on pursuing a solo career as a rapper, Capital Bra released his first studio album ''Kuku Bra'' in January 2016 to minor commercial success in Germany. The follow-ups ''Makarov Complex'' and ''Blyat'' were released in February and September 2017 and peaked in the top 5 of German-speaking Europe. His fourth studio album, '' Berlin lebt'' (2018), peaked at number one in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the follow-up '' Allein'' (2018), debuted at number two on the German album charts. Balovatsky is the most successful charting German act, with 22 number-one songs in Germany.

Biography

1994–2014: Early life and Rap am Mittwoch

Vladislav Balovatsky was born on 23 November 1994 in Siberia, Russia to Ukrainian parents,{{cite web , url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iKstpz6zi0 , title=Capital Bra: LX, Bonez MC, Olexesh, Ufo361, Ukraine, russischer Rap & Fame (Interview) , trans-title=Capital Bra: LX, Bonez MC, Olexesh, Ufo361, Ukraine, russian rap & fame (Interview) , date=17 January 2017 , access-date=13 November 2018 , publisher=Hiphop.de , via=YouTube , language=de , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209103242/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iKstpz6zi0 , archive-date=9 December 2018 , url-status=live who worked in the petroleum industry. At a young age Balovatsky and his parents moved to Dnipro, Ukraine. Balovatsky's mother decided to move to Germany in 2001 to find a better life for her son. They settled in Alt-Hohenschönhausen, Berlin, where Balovatsky spent his youth. His father stayed in Ukraine. He played football for Berliner FC Dynamo.{{cite web , url=https://juice.de/capital-wenn-es-mit-musik-nicht-klappt-mache-ich-eben-wieder-sachen-auf-der-strasse-bra-interview/ , title=Capital: "Wenn es mit Musik nicht klappt, mache ich eben wieder Sachen auf der Straße, Bra" // HipHope , author=Johann Voigt , date=3 June 2016 , access-date=13 April 2018 , work=Juice , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414010723/https://juice.de/capital-wenn-es-mit-musik-nicht-klappt-mache-ich-eben-wieder-sachen-auf-der-strasse-bra-interview/ , archive-date=14 April 2018 , url-status=live Under the pseudonym "Smia One", Balovatsky uploaded his first music video onto YouTube in 2009. He rose to prominence in German underground rap through ''Rap am Mittwoch'', a German battle rap tournament where he participated in a number of battles. His last competition against Master Marv was the most-watched ''Rap am Mittwoch'' battle on YouTube, with more than 7.8 million views as of January 2019. Following his win, Balovatsky announced his departure from Rap am Mittwoch.{{cite web , url=https://hiphop.de/video/von-rap-am-mittwoch-in-charts-capital-bras-karriere-in-4-phasen?nopaging=1 , title=Von Rap Am Mittwoch in die Charts: Capital Bras Karriere in 4 Phasen , publisher=HipHop.de , date=27 September 2017 , first=Clark , last=Senger , language=de , access-date=19 January 2019 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119180203/https://hiphop.de/video/von-rap-am-mittwoch-in-charts-capital-bras-karriere-in-4-phasen?nopaging=1 , archive-date=19 January 2019 , url-status=live In March, he released his first single "Bra".

2015–2017: First three albums

Balovatsky, at this time known as Capital, announced his first release '' Kuku Bra'' on 1 December 2015, through the single "Bra macht die Uzi".{{cite web , url=https://www.def-shop.com/magazin/capital-bra-macht-die-uzi/ , title=Capital – "Bra macht die Uzi" , date=1 December 2015 , first=Christine , last=Leitzke , publisher=Defshop Magazin , access-date=12 December 2018 , language=de , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215221931/https://www.def-shop.com/magazin/capital-bra-macht-die-uzi/ , archive-date=15 December 2018 , url-status=live Three more singles have been released, including "Kuku Habibi", "Fluchtwagen glänzen" and "Kreide", all three alongside German rapper King Khalil. None of them entered the charts however and the album was released on 29 January 2016 through Baba City, Chapter One and distributed through Universal. The album debuted at No. 32 on the German album chart on issue dated 19 February 2016. and No. 61 on the Austrian album charts.

His second studio album was announced less than a year later in November 2016. The first single of the album, "Ala Ba Ba" featuring Ufo361 was released in mid December 2016. The second single "Es geht ums Geschäft", released in January 2017 and became his first song to enter the German single charts, reaching number 76. The following two singles "Geld machen" and "Die Echten" did not enter the charts. ''Makarov Komplex'' was released on 3 February 2017, through Auf!Keinen!Fall!, Chapter One and Team Kuku. The album debuted within the top five in German-speaking Europe. It reached the top of the charts on the Austrian album charts and the German hip-hop album charts.

Three months later, he released his unannounced second EP ''Ibrakadabra''. It included five tracks, all produced by Saven Musiq and written by Balovatsky. Commercially, the EP charted at No. 77 in Switzerland. Balovatsky announced his third studio album '' Blyat'' on 16 June 2017, through Facebook. The album was supported by six singles, including "Nur noch Gucci" and "Olé olé", which became his first singles to be certified gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie in early 2018.{{cite web , url=https://www.musikindustrie.de/markt-bestseller/gold-/platin-und-diamond-auszeichnung/datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Nur+Noch+Gucci&strInterpret=Capital+Bra&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked , title=Gold-/Platin Datenbank (Capital Bra; "Nur noch Gucci") , trans-title=Gold and platinum database (Capital Bra; "Nur noch Gucci") , publisher=Bundesverband Musikindustrie , access-date=13 April 2018 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209103243/http://www.musikindustrie.de/nc/datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Nur+Noch+Gucci&strInterpret=Capital+Bra&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked , archive-date=9 December 2018 , url-status=live The album was released on 29 September 2017, through Team Kuku and Auf!Keinen!Fall!. The album debuted within the top five in German-speaking Europe. It spent 50 weeks on the German, 25 on the Austrian and five on the Swiss album charts. In February and March 2018, he went on a 16-date German-speaking Europe tour, alongside King Khalil.

2018: Mainstream success and split from Team Kuku

Balovatsky was featured on "Power", by German rapper Ufo361, which peaked at number seven in Germany. He announced ''Berlin lebt'', his fourth studio album on 26 March 2018 with a teaser on YouTube. The teaser features Balovatsky performing in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The first single of the album, "5 Songs in einer Nacht" was released on 6 April 2018. The single became Balovatsky's first single to top the German single charts on 13 April 2018. The three follow-up singles "Neymar", "One Night Stand" and "Berlin lebt", all topped the charts in Germany and Austria. ''Berlin lebt'' was released on 22 June 2018 and became Balovatsky's first album to top the charts in German-speaking Europe. A week prior, he split from his record label Team Kuku, citing differences in interest.

In early July, German rapper Bushido released "Für euch alle", alongside Balovatsky and fellow rapper Samra, confirming Balovatsky signing to Bushido's label ersguterjunge.{{cite web , url=https://hiphop.de/magazin/news/es-ist-offiziell-capital-bra-signt-bei-bushido-313931 , title=Es ist offiziell: Capital Bra steht bei Bushido unter Vertrag , trans-title=It is official: Capital Bra signed to Bushido , publisher=Hiphop.de , date=6 July 2018 , access-date=2 October 2018 , first=David , last=Molke , language=de , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003015341/https://hiphop.de/magazin/news/es-ist-offiziell-capital-bra-signt-bei-bushido-313931 , archive-date=3 October 2018 , url-status=live In an interview, released in March 2019, he explained his decision: "Bushido wanted to do a song with me so we talked. Signing with him had little to do with himself, but with his team." He went on explaining that Samra was a decisive reason for his signing. In the end of July, Balovatsky teased "Melodien", a song with Juju from the rap duo SXTN. It was released in early August and became his first song to top the charts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The single also broke the record for most streams in one day and one week in Germany, accumulating more than 1.9 million and 9.7 million streams respectively.

The limited boxset of Bushido's thirteenth studio album ''Mythos'' included the ''Fickt euch alle'' ''EP'' ("Fuck You All EP") by Capital Bra, which was released on 28 September 2018.{{cite web , url=https://rapindex.de/bushido-mythos-box-inhalt-rolex-gewinnspiel-capital-bra-ep/ , title=Bushido – Mythos Box-Inhalt: Rolex Gewinnspiel – Capital Bra EP , trans-title=Bushido – Mythos bosxet content: Rolex giveaway – Capital Bra EP , publisher=Rapindex , date=12 August 2018 , access-date=22 September 2018 , language=de , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922173758/https://rapindex.de/bushido-mythos-box-inhalt-rolex-gewinnspiel-capital-bra-ep/ , archive-date=22 September 2018 , url-status=dead Balovatsky announced his fifth studio album, ''Allein'', on 20 August 2018 on Instagram, which was made available for digital download and streaming on 2 November 2018, as his last release through Team Kuku. The album debuted at number two on 9 November 2018.

In early November, Balovatsky created his own YouTube channel, where he began regularly uploading freetracks. Since February 2019, the channel is also used for all of his and Samra's singles. Apple Music and Spotify ranked ''Berlin lebt'' as the most-streamed album in Germany for 2018. Five of his music videos, released in 2018, ranked in the top ten of the most-viewed videos in Germany on YouTube.

2019–present: Bra Music and collaborations with Samra

{{main, CB6 (album), Berlin lebt 2
His sixth studio album '' CB6'' was announced on 21 December 2018, through the music video of the first single "Benzema".{{cite web , url=https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07M8NGGBF/ref=sr_1_1_twi_aud_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1545333819&sr=1-1 , title=Capital Bra – CB6 (Ltd. Deluxe Box) , publisher= Amazon.com, Inc. , access-date=20 December 2018 , archive-url=https://archive.today/20181220210315/https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07M8NGGBF/ref=sr_1_1_twi_aud_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1545333819&sr=1-1 , archive-date=20 December 2018 , url-status=live The single became his eight single to reach the top of the charts in Germany. Balovatsky was signed to the Universal Music Group in January 2019 and left ersguterjunge on 22 January.{{cite magazine , url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8493226/universal-music-signs-capital-bra-germany , title=Universal Music Signs Capital Bra, Germany's Most Successful Act of the 21st Century , magazine=Billboard , date=11 January 2019 , access-date=19 January 2019 , first=Wolfgang , last=Spahr , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119200307/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8493226/universal-music-signs-capital-bra-germany , archive-date=19 January 2019 , url-status=live{{cite web , url=https://hiphop.de/magazin/news/capital-bra-verlaesst-egj-packt-ueber-bushido-aus-317881 , title=Capital Bra verlässt EGJ & packt über Bushido aus , trans-title=Capital Bra leaves EGJ and talks about Bushido , date=22 January 2019 , first=Clark , last=Senger , publisher=Hiphop.de , language=de , access-date=22 January 2019 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123071453/https://hiphop.de/magazin/news/capital-bra-verlaesst-egj-packt-ueber-bushido-aus-317881 , archive-date=23 January 2019 , url-status=live The second single of the album, "Prinzessa", partly recorded in Russian, was released on 25 January and again debuted atop the German single chart. Balovatsky founded his own label Bra Music in March and announced a collaborative studio album with Samra, scheduled for release in 2019. Following a small dispute with Dieter Bohlen, he released a cover of Modern Talking's " Cheri, Cheri Lady".

His album '' CB6'' was scheduled for release on 26 April, but was released digitally two weeks earlier on 12 April, following a leak of the record. In May, he became the most streamed artist in Germany, accumulating more than 1.4 billion streams, breaking the record previously set by Ed Sheeran. Furthermore, "Cherry Lady" accumulated the most streams in Germany across all platforms ever, with 11.5 million in its first week. All of his songs were streamed 66 million times in the week in Germany. On 1 May, Balovatsky performed in Ravensburg, Baden-Württemberg as part of his Gucciland-Tour. Shortly before the start of the concert, two teenagers were attacked with knives; no people were harmed.

His first collaborative album with Samra and follow-up to his first 2018 album, ''Berlin lebt'' was announced in May and was released on 4 October 2019. The first single of the album "Tilidin" was released in late June and became the most-streamed song in Germany within a day with three million, and the most in one week with about 15 million. In July, GfK Entertainment reported that "Benzema" and "Prinzessa" ranked in the top five of the best-performing singles of the first half of 2019.

Musical style

Capital Bra's musical style has been described as gangster rap, cloud rap and trap. According to Rap.de, one of his trademarks are East Slavic and Arabic words.{{cite web , url=https://rap.de/reviews/74347-capital-kuku-bra-review/ , title=Capital – Kuku Bra , first=Louis , last=Richter , date=15 February 2016 , access-date=17 September 2018 , publisher=Rap.de , language=de , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819011027/https://rap.de/reviews/74347-capital-kuku-bra-review/ , archive-date=19 August 2018 , url-status=live

Political and socially critical statements

Outside of music, Balovatsky criticized the German political party Alternative for Germany (AfD), compared himself with Russian president Vladimir Putin and criticized the policy of the United States in several songs. Besides that, he released a song in 2014 with the title ''Kein Krieg in der Ukraine'' (in English ''No war in Ukraine''), where he appealed for peace. He also spoke out about social injustice and did a song against bullying with two other artists.

In an interview published on YouTube, he spoke about his Tilidine dependence and warned about the drug.

Discography

{{main, Capital Bra discography, List of songs recorded by Capital Bra, Capital Bra videography
* '' Kuku Bra'' (2016)
* ''Makarov Komplex'' (2017)
* '' Blyat'' (2017)
* '' Berlin lebt'' (2018)
* '' Allein'' (2018)
* '' CB6'' (2019)
* '' Berlin lebt 2'' (2019)
* ''CB7'' (2020)
* ''8'' (2022)
* ''Vladyslav'' (2024)

Awards and nominations

Results

{, class="wikitable"
!Year
!Award
!Nomination
!Work
!Result
!Ref.
, -
, rowspan="5" , 2018
, rowspan="5" , HipHop.de Awards
, Best Album National
, ''Berlin lebt''
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, rowspan="5" ,
, -
, Best Song National
, rowspan="1" , ''Neymar'' (with Ufo361)
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, Best Line
, ''Für euch alle''
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, Best Rap-Solo-Act National
, Himself
, rowspan=1 {{won
, -
, Best Song National
, ''Chinchilla'' (with Summer Cem, KC Rebell)
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, rowspan="9" , 2019
, rowspan="2" , 1Live Krone Awards
, Best Single
, ''110'' (with Samra, LEA)
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, rowspan="2" ,
, -
, Best Hip-Hop Act
, Capital Bra & Samra
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, rowspan="5" , HipHop.de Awards
, rowspan="2" , Best Song National
, ''DNA'' (with KC Rebell, Summer Cem)
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, rowspan="5" ,
, -
, ''Wieder Lila'' (with Samra)
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, Best Video National
, ''Royal Rumble'' (with Luciano, Kalazh44, Nimo, Samra)
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, Best Group National
, Capital Bra & Samra
, rowspan=1 {{won
, -
, Best Rap-Solo Act National
, rowspan="4" , Himself
, rowspan=1 {{won
, -
, Bravo Otto Awards
, Hip-Hop National
, rowspan=1 {{won, place=Bronze
,
, -
, Hype Awards
, Male Artist
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
,
, -
, rowspan="7" , 2020
, rowspan="2" , Swiss Music Awards
, Best Solo Act International
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, rowspan="2" ,
, -
, Best Group International
, Capital Bra & Samra
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, Bravo Otto Awards
, Hip-Hop National
, rowspan="2" , Himself
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
,
, -
, 1Live Krone Awards
, Best Hip-Hop Act
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
,
, -
, rowspan="3" , HipHop.de Awards
, Best Video National
, ''Einsam an der Spitze''
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, rowspan="3" ,
, -
, Best Line
, ''Makarov Komplex II''
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, Best Rap-Solo-Act National
, Himself
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, rowspan="4" , 2021
, Swiss Music Awards
, Best Hit
, ''Nicht verdient'' (with Loredana)
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
,
, -
, Bravo Otto Awards
, Hip-Hop national
, Himself
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
,
, -
, rowspan="5" , HipHop.de Awards
, Best Song National
, ''No Comprendo'' (with Jamule)
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, rowspan="2" ,
, -
, Best Line
, ''Die Wahrheit ist kein Hit''
, rowspan=1 {{nominated
, -
, rowspan="3" , 2022
, Best Album National
, ''Deutschrap Brandneu'' (with Farid Bang)
, {{Pending
, rowspan="3" , {{Cite web , last=Senger , first=Clark , title=Das Voting - Hiphop.de Awards 2022 , url=https://hiphop.de/magazin/news/voting-hiphopde-awards-2022-405163 , access-date=2022-12-18 , website=Hiphop.de , language=de-DE
, -
, Best Group National
, Capital Bra & Farid Bang
, {{Pending
, -
, Artist of the Year National
, Himself
, {{Pending

Tours

Headliner

* 2017: ''Die echte Tour'' (with AK Ausserkontrolle)
* 2018: ''Capital Bra Tour''
* 2018: ''Berlin Lebt Tour''
* 2019: ''Gucciland Tour''
* 2022: ''Capital Bra Arena Tour''

Cancelled

* 2020: ''Berlin Lebt 2 Arena Tour'' (with Samra)
* 2021: ''Capital Bra x Samra Tour'' (with Samra)

References

{{Reflist

{{Capital Bra
{{Authority control

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bra, Capital
1994 births
German male rappers
Living people
Ukrainian emigrants to Germany
Russian emigrants to Germany
German people of Ukrainian descent
German people of Russian descent
Naturalized citizens of Germany
Musicians from Berlin