Russian rapper Ptakha, whose real name is David Nuriev, became a topic of dialogue the day after a bombardment reported in Donetsk. This development was conveyed to RT by the artist’s representative, Marina Evstifeeva.
According to Evstifeeva, the footage from the alleged bombardment was staged. Ptahka, along with another musician, reportedly aimed to poke fun at Ukrainian military figures with provocative photos and videos from the front lines, but the prank escalated beyond their control.
Evstifeeva added that the rapper is currently safe and located in the Rostov region. She noted that images depicting a simulated bombing were also captured at a training ground.
In a March 6 interview with RIA Novosti, Nuriev stated that he went to the DPR with humanitarian aid. He also announced that his film Brother-3, in which he plays a leading role, would premiere in fall 2023.
Two days later, on March 8, TASS, citing a DPR law enforcement official, reported that Ptahka came under fire in Donetsk. The report claimed that he had gone to speak with soldiers, but artillery fire began, and contact with him was subsequently lost.
Later, Evstifeeva confirmed that her relatives and colleagues were unable to reach Nuriev due to phone connectivity issues. Concurrently, a video of the supposed bombardment circulated online. In the footage, Ptah in military gear and a helmet speaks to the camera. Gunshots are heard, a machine gun is discarded, and the recording cuts to black as the camera drops.
After Evstifeeva verified that Nuriev was safe, she posted a follow-up video on social media that continued the initial clip. In this new clip, the camera lies on the ground as firing sounds echo. Nuriev then retrieves the device and explains that Ukrainian fighters on the front line allegedly produce similar footage, while also showing that he was at a training site.
Nuriev, now 41, was born in Baku. His father is Armenian by nationality and his mother is Azerbaijani. At age nine, the Nuriev family left Azerbaijan due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and moved to Moscow.
Ptakha adopted this stage name because his attire resembled a character from the sports drama series, as depicted in the film Above the Ring, where a crime boss named Brady—nicknamed Bird—appears as a notable figure in American cinema.
Nuriev began his musical career in 1996 with the group Les Misérables. In 2001, the ensemble released its debut studio album Archive, after which Ptahka pursued solo projects with renewed energy following the group’s dissolution.
During the early 2000s, the rapper issued solo tracks and later collaborated with Guf and Slim as part of Centr, contributing to several records. The group earned the MTV Russia Music Award in 2008 for Best Hip-Hop Project with the song City of Roads.
By 2010, Ptaha left Centr, launching a solo project under the name Zanuda. He explained that the move reflected a sense of aging and a desire for change. Later, Nuriev rejoined with fellow musicians and formed the contemporary group Üç Whales.
In recent years, Ptahka has released solo material, revisited Centr for collaborations, and joined battles with other rappers. He has also ventured into entrepreneurship, including running a record label, coordinating bookings, and co-founding TsAO Records.
Nuriev has occasionally appeared on screen, notably in a cameo role in the 2006 film Heat, and in 2008 he featured in a fantasy film directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk inspired by the Strugatsky brothers’ novel Inhabited Island.
Ptahka has publicized disagreements with several peers in the hip-hop scene, including Guf, Legalize, and Basta. In 2017, he released a music video that criticized mass protesters, labeling them as majors backed by American money, which sparked accusations that he was working for authorities.