Timati – “Love You” & “Groove On” (Music Video Review)
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Stereotypically speaking, rappers from one specific racial and ethnic group dominate the industry. That ethnic group is not comprised of half-Jewish, half-Turkish sons of wealthy industrialists who were born in Russia.
The majority of successful rappers grew up in the rough surroundings of inner-city ghettos of the United States, and most of these rappers are indeed black. Russian-born rapper Timati wants this image to change being that he is Russian and grew up with a diamond-encrusted silver spoon in his mouth. Most rappers don’t get the opportunity to rap about high-priced cars, diamond necklaces and drinking expensive champagne until they actually hit it big. Timati got the opportunity to start his rap career with these things, and he has the bankroll to shoot video epics featuring some of the biggest U.S. names in the rap game including Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes.
Timati, real name Timur Yunusov, spent three years in Los Angeles learning about western Hip Hop before moving back to Moscow because there was too much competition in the United States. Not so in Russia, as Timati is becoming one of the most popular, and one of the only, rappers in Russia. He has done so because he has the ability to replicate the popularity of American-rappers by purchasing street-cred and endorsements from rappers who never seem to say no to an endorsement deal they can make money from.
Depending on which video you watch first will change your view of Timati. His video for “Goove On” featuring Snoop Dogg is a James Bond-themed escapade filled with luxury cars, police chases and private jets. His video for “Love You” featuring Busta Rhymes and Mariya is a “We Are the World” plea to end war. Both of them are ridiculous with very different messages, and they show two fake sides of Timati.
The video for “Groove On” starts off in a private jet hangar where Timati is playing poker with Snoop Dogg and a wealthy-looking white guy. Snoop wins the hand scooping up a fortune of chips, a watch and a Rolls Royce. Off in the distance, a woman in an SUV takes photos of the three playing poker. The scene flash forwards to one year later where Timati is a world famous poker player and is seen on the cover of GQ living the “good life.” You know he is living the good life because it is tattooed on his hands, the telltale sign of success.
Interspersed scenes of Snoop and Timati rapping in front of expensive things are shown while the story continues. The photographer from the first scene walks into Timati’s mansion and it is revealed that she is a police officer — shocker! What’s even more shocking is that she shows him the photographs of the old white guy and he learns that he was playing poker with a criminal. Well, actually two criminals since Snoop has been arrested numerous times on charges such as marijuana possession and murder.
Timati then plays another game of poker with the criminal in a police set-up. A helicopter flies by the house blowing the cover of Timati — not the best plan of attack — and the criminal flees the scene. He is then shown in a private jet drinking champagne with a model; until a barrage of police cars track down the jet moments before take off. Whew. Nice save Timati.
The video plays into Timati’s fantasy, as he sees himself as a professional poker player, an international playboy, an undercover cop and an actual rapper. Estimated production budget..$600K – $750K.
His video for “Love You” with Busta Rhymes and Mariya is a much more low-key affair as the three “stars” sing and rap on city streets about how they love children and hate war. It’s like a commercial for the “Big Brothers, Big Sisters” program, if the program was super desperate and decided to have volunteers who have released tracks entitled “I Love My Bitch” like Busta Rhymes has done.
When not focusing on the stars Timati paid to be featured in his song, the video shows scenes of children walking around the streets of a city after deciding they had enough of their parents ignoring them. The parents are too busy talking on their cell phones to notice that a giant group of kids have started to form, reminiscent of the Children of the Corn, all wearing blank stares as they pass scenes of prostitution, muggings and police brutality.
Adults finally start to notice the creepy children and they join in on the cult. At one point, two soldiers put down their semi-automatic rifles on the sidewalk and join the group of children, begging any child passing to pick the giant guns up and play with them. The video culminates with the large group meeting up with Busta, Mariya and Timati all holding signs with the words “No More War!” on them.
Whether or not the two videos ever make an impact, they do show an accurate portrayal of what Russians must think of America when it comes to entertainment and celebrities. On one hand you have the big named rappers driving $300,000 cars and flying in private jets, and on the other you have singers like Bono who use their celebrity for political reasons and to spread a message. Timati tries to do both, and winds up failing on all counts.
Timati Ft. Snoop Dogg – Groove On (Music Video)
Timati Ft. Busta Rhymes – Love You (Music Video)
Posted on 03/26/10
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Back To Blog - Tags: Busta Rhymes, Flopped, Hip-Hop, Music Video, Review, Snoop Dogg, Timati
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