known professionally as Potap (Потап) is a Ukrainian singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer. He has been involved as a performer and/or producer of such iconic music acts as Potap I Nastya, Vremya I Steklo, MOZGI, and many more, releasing over 300 songs, the vast majority of which became international hits.
Oleksiy Potapenko was born on 8 May 1981 in Kyiv. His father, Andriy Potapenko (born 1956), served in the military. His mother, Lyudmila Potapenko (born 1958) is a world-fin swimming race champion. Oleksii has been practicing swimming and water polo, where he received the title of Master of Sports.
He has earned two degrees. The first one is a PE instructor and water polo coach (National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport). The second one is a Master of Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Audit (Kyiv National Economic University).
Between 2000 and 2006, Potapenko was performing as a part of a rap band called "VuZV" (Vhid u Zminnomu Vzutti – Re-shoe upon Entry). The song written by Potap "Na Svoey Volne" ("On its own") became the official soundtrack to the movie "Odin za vseh" ("One for all") while his other song co-written in collaboration with bands New'Z'Cool and XS became a main theme for an iconic horror movie produced in Ukraine, "Shtolna" ("The Adit").
In 2006, the artist teamed up with NK to create the duo "Potap & Nastya" where Oleksii acted as a producer, performer, songwriter, composer, video director, and scriptwriter. The duo debuted with the song "Ne Para" ("Don't Match") which turned into an international hit. In 2008, the duo released their debut album with the same title.
The artists released their second album titled "Ne Lubi Mne Mozgii" ("Don't Love my Brain") that included songs "Na Rayone" ("Down the neighborhood"), "Novii God" ("New Year"), "Chipsi, Chicksi, Lavandos" ("Chips, Chicks and Money").
The duo kept moving towards new accomplishments, literally collecting wards one by one. A few years after its creation, the artist was already renowned with every single award in post-Soviet territories including: "Zolotoi Gramophon" ("Gold Gramophone Awards"), "Pesnya Goda" ("Song of the Year"), "RU.TV", "Premia Muz-TV" ("Muz TV Awards") and many more. Songs "Esli Vdrug tebya ne stanet" ("If you're suddenly gone") and "Mi Otmenyaem Konets Sveta" ("We Cancel the Apocalypse") played in the TV show "Dnevnik Doctora Zaytsevoy" (The Diary of Zaytseva M.D.").
In 2013, Potap & Nastya produced the third album "Vse Puchkom" ("Everything's Cool"). The song with the same title received the "Gold Gramophone" award and remained for a while on top of the most highly rated charts across countries along with another track from the album "Chumachechaya Vesna" ("Krazy Spring").
The duo created by Oleksii and NK was officially the most popular touring duo in the country. The joint activity of the artists was followed by incredible success and achievements as well as setting bars as high as no one have done it before. "Potap & Nastya" became awardees of various international music festivals owing over 50 rewards that include: "M1 Music Awards", "Song of the Year", "Gold Gramophone", "Muz TV Award", "Sharmanka" ("Music Box") and "RU.TV". In 2017, the duo was recognized for its "Contribution to the development of the National Scene".[by whom?]
In 2014, Oleksii launches the band MOZGI, where he acts as a producer, performer, songwriter, composer, director, and scriptwriter till the current day. Between 2015 and 2018, MOZGI was 5 times nominated for Yearly Ukrainian National Awards and 4 for M1 Music Awards winning twice in the latter one.
In 2014, Potap and Kamenskih were criticized in Ukraine for continuing to attend award ceremonies in Russia, while many Ukrainians believed their country was a victim of Russian aggression. On this, they responded: "It's a shame that we have to collect the journalists to tell them that we are from Ukraine and love our country!" In 2016, "Potap and Nastya" concerts were disrupted in Ukraine in protest of them continuing to tour in Russia.
In 2017, one of the most popular duos among Russian-speaking communities worldwide announced the pause of their activity to start solo projects: PTP and NK respectively. The first solo album by PTP "Spelie Slivi EP" ("Ripe Plums EP") was released on 3 November 2017. Yet, Oleksii and Nastya's collaborative work wasn't over. Potap kept on writing songs for NK. With support from his side NK presented such hits as "#etomoyanoch" ("#thatmytypeofnight"), co-written Ukrainian song "Trimay" ("Hold it"), "Dai Mne" ("Gimme"), international hit in Spanish and English "Peligroso" ("Dangerous"), LOMALA and "Popa Kak U Kim" ("Ass Like Kim's"). "Hold it" has taken over national top charts remaining on top for over the year and being recognized at YUNA Awards 2019 as a Pop Hit of the Year while Peligroso for 6 weeks remained in
Billboard top charts under Tropical Songs ranking
