If you’ve ever wondered whether Russian rap has its own version of Eminem, Oxxxymiron might be one of the closest comparisons. Known for his high-level wordplay, literary references, and social commentary, Oxxxymiron (real name Miron Fyodorov) has been a defining force in the Russian rap and hip-hop scene.

From Oxford to Russian Rap

Born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in 1985, Miron Fyodorov (Мирон Янович Фьодоров) had anything but a typical Russian rapper’s background. His family emigrated to Germany when he was nine, during the turbulent (wild, violent and dangerous) post-Soviet period of the 1990s.
 Later, he moved to England to study at the University of Oxford, where he focused on medieval English literature, and graduated with honors in 2008 – the same year he released his first single, Что такое биф? (What is Beef?) with fellow rapper Schokk. This academic background reflects through lyrics with a literary edge.

While at Oxford, Oxxxymiron honed his rap skills and participated in local rap battles in London. After graduating, he stayed in the UK for several years, working various jobs while refining his distinctive style before returning to Russia, where he would rise to fame.

Rap Battle Champion

While Oxxxymiron’s studio albums are celebrated, it’s his battle rap career that cemented his reputation. The Russian battle rap scene exploded in the mid-2010s, and he was at the center of it. His 2015 battle against Johnyboy became the most-viewed rap battle in history at the time, amassing over 40 million views. His 2017 battle against Dizaster in Los Angeles showcased his linguistic dexterity, as he seamlessly switched between Russian and English. Now попробуйте that for yourself.

At the center

Горгород (2015)

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, Горгород remains a standout in Russian rap. The concept album tells a complex dystopian story, filled with social commentary and personal introspection. The album’s lead single, Город под подошвой (City Under the Sole), remains one of Oxxxymiron’s most iconic tracks. Other highlights include Где нас нет (Where We Are Not) and Полигон (Polygon). See here for lyrics.

Political Voice

In recent years, Oxxxymiron has become increasingly political. He has organized charity concerts for political prisoners and spoken out on controversial issues. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he canceled his planned Russian tour in protest and organized Russians Against War, a series of charity concerts raising funds for Ukrainian refugees. This bold move earned him widespread praise internationally, but also made him a target for Russian authorities.

Bold move

ОЙДА (2022)

While working on the overtly political ОЙДА, Oxxxymiron was already under intense scrutiny. On October 7, 2022, he was officially designated as a foreign agent by Russia’s Justice Ministry. This coincided with the release of the song. With his concerts banned and the risk of arrest looming, he left Russia – but not before secretly returning to Saint Petersburg to film the music video, in a bold act of defiance. In January 2023, he was fined for the lyrics.

Мир горит (2024)

On May 9, 2024, Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) issued a federal arrest warrant for Oxxxymiron. In response, he released Мир горит (World is Burning) on May 13, 2024. The music video shows his wanted notice from the MVD database, directly addressing his status as a political dissident. Alongside this release, Oxxxymiron announced his upcoming album Национальность: нет (Nationality: None). (Bublik, Afisha).

More Oxxxymiron songs

Confronted with conflicting information on release dates, we opted for a alphabetical organization of the songs.

Oh and by the way – neither the artist (clearly) nor the literary device (oxymoron) has anything to do with being a moron. Who would’ve thought the only oxymoron here is calling either of them one

(Update/correction: Miron is a moron after all)

More rap in the playlist Russian Rap by Music in Russian on Spotify. Songs covered here can also be found in this YouTube playlist, and in Music in Russian songs (Spotify).

© Music in Russian, 2025

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