Egor Olegovich Rakitin, known as Big Baby Tape, is a Russian rapper, singer, and producer born on January 5, 2000. He is the leader of the group Benzo Gang and is also known by names like DJ Tape and Tape LaFlare. Signed with Warner Music Russia, he has become a major figure in Russian hip-hop.
In 2017, he released his first mixtape, Cookin' Anthems. Later that year, rapper Feduk highlighted his talent, helping him gain attention. Big Baby Tape began collaborating with artists by providing instrumentals. By 2018, he was working with notable names like Kizaru, Boulevard Depo, and Pharaoh. In March 2018, he teamed up with Feduk for the single “Hustle Tales.” His debut mini-album, Hoodrich Tales, came out in June 2018, featuring artists like Boulevard Depo and his alter ego Tape LaFlare. It was recognized as one of the top 50 Russian albums of the year.
In November 2018, Big Baby Tape released his debut studio album, Dragonborn. It featured artists like Husky and White Punk and quickly topped charts on platforms like Apple Music and VK, surpassing hits like Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode” and Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next.”
He followed up with Arguments & Facts in 2019 and Bandana I in 2021, where he innovated by featuring Kizaru as a hologram due to legal issues preventing his travel to Russia. The album included snippets teased online, drawing significant fan reactions.
In April 2023, Big Baby Tape previewed a track for his upcoming album VARSKVA, which sampled Yann Tiersen’s “J’y suis jamais allé” and referenced a popular Runet meme. With his unique style and creative collaborations, Big Baby Tape continues to influence Russian hip-hop and attract widespread acclaim.
