Russian rapper Basta has urged singer Vanya Dmitrienko to ignore critics who claimed it was too early for him to perform at Moscow Luzhniki Stadium.
Speaking to the National News Service, the hip hop performer praised Dmitrienko as a good person and doing great work, adding that critics were simply envious of his success.
Basta said he was happy for Dmitrienko, as well as for any musical artist who manages to gather audiences at venues of any size and dedicate themselves to making music.
The rapper also reminded critics that music promoters, journalists, and commentators exist solely because of the artists themselves, arguing that performers should therefore be protected and cherished rather than targeted.
Basta, whose real name is Vasily Vakulenko, is one of the most prominent figures in modern Russian music. Over a career spanning more than two decades, the rapper has built a reputation as a major concert act, becoming one of the first domestic hip hop artists to sell out stadium shows in Moscow. Dmitrienko is a young Russian pop singer and songwriter who rose to national fame in recent years with a series of successful chart singles.
Doubts raised over stadium venue
The defense from Basta came in response to earlier comments made by Ed Ratnikov, the general director of the TCI concert agency and producer of the Odeon Theatre.
Speaking about the ambitions of the young singer, the media manager argued that Dmitrienko had gathered the stadium crowd prematurely. Ratnikov stated that the performer did not yet possess enough industry experience or a large enough repertoire of hit songs to fill venues of that magnitude.
Luzhniki Stadium, situated in the Russian capital, is the country's largest sports and entertainment arena, with a seating capacity exceeding 70,000 spectators. Hosting a solo concert at the venue is considered one of the highest milestones for artists in the domestic entertainment industry. TCI, led by Ratnikov, is a long established Russian concert promoter responsible for organizing major arena shows and international music tours.
