Serge Didenko

By Tine Roycroft

Serge Didenko has hip hop by the hand and is courting the movement with sexy swagger. His latest release ~ a self-produced album called Bagoflaundry to Ditch ~ is cosigned by world famous DJ Clinton Sparks ~ an incredible collaboration for this boy from Massachusetts by way of Moscow who has already opened for hot acts like Joe Budden, Sheek Louch, Donnie Klang, and Jay Electronica, to name just a few.

Sparks has put his name on the line in order to support and help promote this incredible “serge” of energy and talent ~ and as Didenko carves himself out an even bigger niche in the hip hop world (Pulse interviewed him in our March 2009 “Up and Comers” section as he was just beginning to make a name for himself ~ can we spot great talent or WHAT!), Sparks will not regret this move. Didenko, 24, has been rapping since he was six and has no doubt in that gorgeous head of his that music is what he was born to do.

BagofLaundry to Ditch is overflowing with one phenomenal song after another; when Serge DJs a show and cues it up, it demands the complete attention of the crowd at all times. And whatever the venue, Didenko keeps the adrenaline pumping all night long.

“I like all of the songs on this album,” he said, “and I like to put as much energy as I can in my shows. You start out with a positive song so people can get into it right away and then you just have the energy build up. We purposely plan our set so that it ends on the song with the highest energy. And I feel a good song to end on is ‘Bagoflaundry to Ditch.’”

Saying that this guy has a tight schedule is an understatement ~ he works, he sings, he has his own record label (Did & Co.) and he’s a full time student at Boston’s Bay State College, where he’s earning his degree in Entertainment Management. But, like any good over-achiever, he has opted for a nationwide tour of Bagoflaundry to Ditch that is set to kick off in January 2011, at the top of the spring semester. Colleges are phoning him, requesting his musical services. But even when he’s in demand, Didenko keeps himself in check.

“Two years ago, we did a show in New York City. I actually took a picture of it. I’m always going to keep it,” he said. “There was literally NO ONE there. But it happens ~ in music, you have to pay your dues. You have to work your ass off. Two weeks ago, we had a show that practically sold out.”

We’re almost positive that the NYC show was an aberration ~ it’s a pretty good bet that Serge will be playing to packed houses as long as he keeps doin’ what he’s doin’.
- Pulse Magazine

SERGE DIDENKO
It’s 6 am on a Sunday morning when Serge Didenko picks me up for a photo shoot, and he’s as bright-eyed as Homer Simpson at a pancake breakfast. At the shoot, he’s jumping over fences and bouncing around the Belmont High School football field. “I’m kind of crazy,” he says, cracking a smile. He’s not kidding.
The door-to-door Comcast salesman splits his time among attending classes at Bay State (for entertainment management), producing beats, recording, shooting videos, booking gigs, and managing his own company, Did & Co. “I’m trying to do it all on my own. It’s a lot of work, but I want more.” His new album, Bagoflaundry To Ditch, covers everything from rock to techno, with beats that blur the boundaries of hip-hop, electronica, R&B, and pop — all without samples. - Erin Baldassari Boston Phoenix

As he sat in a booth at McGreevy’s pub in the Back Bay on the night of his 24th birthday last week, there was nothing to suggest the long journey that took Belmont-based rapper/producer Serge Didenko from Moscow to Boston.

“I still have extremely vivid memories of Russia,” said Didenko, who will perform with a live band Tuesday at the Middle East. “I remember the house I lived in, my dad’s car, the snow. I remember waiting in line to get food in a line that stretched 300 feet down the block from the supermarket. We were even in line for the first McDonald’s to open in Moscow, waiting to get our hamburgers.”


The article you requested has been archived - Martin Caballero Boston Herald

BELMONT, MASS. - Serge Didenko is a study in conflicts. He is employed full time and pays rent at his parents’ house on Trowbridge Street. He was born in Russia, and lives now in Belmont, by way of Queens and Framingham. He attends college in Boston and speaks with the hardscrabble voice of a person who has seen a lot of trouble in his 22 years.
With a relatively sunny outlook and a twinkle in his blue eyes, he writes, produces and performs his own rap songs, all the while refusing to descend into the mire of the gangster rap world.
Relaxing at home in his bedroom and studio on Friday, Didenko explained that his music saved him from a troubled adolescence, and he is determined to in turn save the genre from itself.
“I’m actually not a fan of most rappers and hip hop,” he said. “It gets boring, the same beats, the same sounds. It’s all about money, clothes, crack and ‘hoes. That’s not me, that’s not who I am.”
Didenko grew up in lower income areas of Massachusetts, the child of Russian immigrants. He listened to hip hop, he said, because that’s what everyone else listened to, but he came home to the sounds of his father playing his guitar. A prominent musician in Russia in the 1980s, Didenko’s father made music a central feature in his American household.
Several years later, in 2000, the family moved to Belmont, and Didenko began ninth grade at Belmont High School.
“We had to fight to get to the beautiful Belmont,” he said. “And once we got here, that’s when I figured out I was white.”
A star basketball player, he was the captain of the freshman team. But then he and his peers began to increase their drug use, and his sports career suffered dramatically.
“I was so up on myself, I thought, I don’t need to try out. What if I don’t?” he said.
He left the rigorous world of high school sports and the structure it offered, turning to marijuana and prescription pills to fill the hours. His writing, which was a constant part of his life from the age of 6, began to deteriorate as well.
“I went through the drug scene,” he said. “I got high, I stopped doing sports. All my friends were doing it. What was I going to be, friendless in high school? No. And I’ve always been against that [expletive].”
One day, he said, he realized that his music was the last good thing in his life.
“I ditched the whole crew,” he said. “I got a good job, I started going to the gym, [and] I started reading again.”
Now clean for four years, Didenko wants to bring that message to the rap community. It isn’t about peace and love and healing the world, he said; it’s about exploring how great the music can be.
“It’s not like I’m not going to swear,” he said. “[Rap] is about expression, and that’s part of expressing myself. What I’ve been through, all the street [expletive], that’s real. But it wasn’t me, and it’s not what I support.”
Instead, he raps about “really eye-opening stories,” he said. “There’s always a message, a moral. It’s a story and I’m a storyteller.”
As he speaks, Didenko’s love of the industry is apparent. He believes that rap and hip hop began with a message, growing up out of the gritty streets of New York and Los Angeles. In recent years the stories the early rappers had to tell have been perverted with braggarts and misogynists. Rap isn’t about bragging rights, he said; it’s about working through the pain of a hard life through music.
“I’m doing this to fix the industry,” he said. “The community keeps getting worse. It is possible to go out and have a good time without getting drunk and popping pills. People need to be reminded of that.”
But it’s not all altruism and starry-eyed dreams. Didenko’s career has taken off in recent months, with live shows stretching up the coast from the Boston area to Maine, largely due to his relentless self promotion.
“A lot of people think they’re talented and that’s what will get them there,” he said. “Talent really is 10 percent of it. You’ve got to promote, you’ve got to hustle, take any and every opportunity.”
Someday, Didenko said, he hopes to reap the fruits of his labor. He is currently majoring in exercise health and sciences at the UMass/Boston, but hopes to switch his major to business management. His ultimate goal is to be involved in every aspect of the music business.
“I’ve always wanted to be in the industry,” he said. “People say to me, ‘be realistic,’ but the real world never was realistic to me. Music, that’s real. Doctors, lawyers, firefighters, that’s the weird [expletive] to me.”
For more information about Serge Didenko’s music and upcoming performances, check out his Web site at www.myspace.com/sergedidenko. - Cassie Norton/staff writer

If you passed him on the street, you might mistake Serge Didenko for a model. But it’s not his baby blues paying the rent, it’s his rhymes.The Russian born and Belmont raised Didenko is one of the area’s rising stars on the rap scene and is gaining popularity and press kudos throughout the area. The UMass Boston student’s lyrics are not for the faint of heart; Didenko’s songs are honest, gritty accounts of real life. At only 21, he has mastered the art of skillfully telling the stories of his youth in a way that manages to remain fresh and compelling.On Didenko’s MySpace page, each of the six songs offers a new beat, no two tracks sounding the same. Eminem’s influence on the young white rapper is evident, as is the fact that Didenko possesses the same kind of raw talent that attracted many to Eminem a decade ago.“I admired Serge’s dedication, perseverance and confidence right off the bat,” said Bruce Delany, Didenko’s manager of about a year.. “Being that he was independently driven from the start, Serge had developed quite a strong, local buzz in the New England hip hop spectrum but has since then branched out to the possibilities of a national tour. Musically, his undeniable talent for lyricism, creative song structure and expression of individuality has attracted attention...nationwide.”Didenko’s songs are gripping. “Karma,” which is essentially an apology and a confession, gives you a glimpse into the heart of the artist. He opens up with stories of sexual, drug, and domestic abuse in a way that makes you feel for the little boy he used to be.“Vent,” featuring Copywrite, is another standout hit. On the surface, it sounds like another angry rap, but listen more closely and you’ll be moved by the lyrics that are a way for Didenko and Copywrite to deal with thoughts of suicide and hopes of stardom.Finally, “The Happy Song” will seal the deal: it’s sexy and slow and gracefully walks the fine line between rap and R&B.Once you’re hooked, look for Didenko at a local venue. Averaging five shows a week, Didenko stays busy perfecting his trade and spreading his word.“I do this for everybody,” Didenko says of his work. “Writing lyrics and recording music is not some side gig that I do for fun, it’s who I am. And I understand the magnitude of responsibility required for putting myself out there. But hey, I am a lyricist, so I guess you can call me a man of my word.”www.myspace.com/sergedidenkophoto courtesy of Ryan Miner, www.ryanminer.com - Pulse Magazine: Alison Zawadski

In the era of cracked versions of Fruity Loops and Cool Edit, there are many “wanna-be” producers and artists that think because they have a computer they can be an artist over night. There are very few artists who can pull off being just an emcee or producer, let alone performing both roles well. In comes Serge Didenko, a Russian rapper, producer and singer from Belmont, Massachusetts. As well as being an artist, Serge is the C.E.O. of his own independent record company, Did & Co. In addition to promoting his music on the interent, Didenko has recently received radio play on Boston’s HOT97.

Serge recently dropped his debut mixtape “Bagoflaundry to Ditch” produced entirely himself. A mix of the new breed of emcee slowly taking over the game (i.e. Drake, Kid Cudi, J. Cole, B.O.B.), Serge has mastered his style and put together a mixtape of feel-good music you can see yourself riding down the street to on a hot summer day. “Get Familiar” Clinton Sparks comes through to host for the Massachusetts artist giving him that co-sign that every artist needs in today’s hip-hop world.

Starting the mix tape off with an ode to his region “New England” featuring Chief C, I could see the crowded clubs in Massachusetts going crazy representing their area. We all know New England is one of the most proud areas in the nation. Serge speeds up his flow on the energetic “Party At My House” which goes into my favorite track on the mixtape “I Don’t Know.” A catchy hook and hard bassline production could have the radio stations going crazy if this song was given the right push.

“Exhale Love” is reminiscent of a Drake “So Far Gone” track. Some people might say to be more original with the concept but when it’s done properly, how can you hate on that? The song has a great vibe with a mellow beat to compliment a smooth flow and t-painesque chorus. Serge sends you off with an up-tempo production on Do Gooder, a perfect way to end a great debut mix tape.

If you want a feel good mix tape to ride out the rest of your summer to, this is definitely it. Roll down the windows, drop the tops on the cars and let the world here Serge Didenko’s “Bagoflaundry to Ditch” and hopefully soon you’ll hear Serge on your favorite radio station.

Check out Serge Didenko’s Bagoflaundry to Ditch Mixtape here: - www.eyeonthestreets.com

Serge Didenko is a name that has been steadily rising in the New England Hip-Hop scene. The Russian born Belmont, MA based rapper/producer/singer in the past few months has performed with the likes of Joe Budden, Sheek Louch, Donnie Klang, and Jay Electronica. Just recently he dropped his Clinton Sparks hosted, self produced debut album "Bagoflaundry To Ditch" to positive reviews already. Serge has also been receiving consistent radio play on Boston's HOT97, and has been featured in several press articles and other major Hip-Hop sites such as www.hiphopdx.com and The Boston Phoenix. We caught up with him while he's on tour to talk about his current successes.



J-Biggz: What's good Serge? Thank you for doing this interview for us at www.NewEnglandHipHop.com. We know you have been on tour so we appreciate it.

Serge Didenko: No doubt man. All the support you guys have shown since day one is priceless. I support the NEHH movement to the full.



J-Biggz: We see that on the regular Serge and we appreciate that. So you just dropped your debut album "Bagoflaundry To Ditch" for free download. Tell us about the project, its title, and why you chose to make the album for free download.

Serge Didenko: Since day one, the purpose of this project was to reflect on my life experiences, vent my past/present struggles, present a positive message, and express my personality through song. "Bagoflaundry To Ditch" serves as an analogy for purging yourself of sins, crimes, problems and negativity. "Getting rid of the dirt" has helped me to better confront myself, my environment, and most importantly the people I make music for. I put it out free because it makes it that much easier for people to listen. I love making music, I will never stop making music, and if the demand is noticeable enough for this to be a lucrative venture, then profits can be interpreted as an added bonus to doing what I love.



J-Biggz: Now you also produced the entire album yourself with no samples. How long have you been producing for and why did you decide to get into the production game?

Serge Didenko: Believe it or not, I started making beats February 2009. I am just starting out, constantly learning tricks, tampering with new sounds, and getting better. I played the piano from age 3 to 8 but can only remember about a third of the "Mission Impossible" theme song. My process literally involves walking up to my keyboard, messing around with pianos, synths, violins, etc. and deciding which notes/chords to connect. I can get more extensive with my formula, but the important thing is that I started making beats out of a sense of desperation. In Feb '09 I was dealing with a tough break up, struggling as an artist, and was postponing the release of "Crackin" ft. Termanology because I disliked the beats I purchased. I decided to set up a midi keyboard in my room, somehow rehabilitated my ability to play chords, messed around with a sample and produced "Crackin". That was actually the first and only sample I've ever created thus far.



J-Biggz: You have a lot on your plate right now man. From your relentless self promotion, to production/recording, maintaining your independent label Did&Co, and frequent show performances all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA at Bay State College and holding down a full time job. How the hell do you do it?

Serge Didenko: It's funny because a few years ago my life was the opposite of what it is today. I use to be the least unproductive person and set out on a journey to prove myself that I could strive as opposite. To me the grind is like a mathematical equation: The more I accomplish, the bigger a tolerance I build up to my tasks/schedule, which forces me to work harder. Jay-Z couldn’t have said it any better, "All that made me want was all that I could get". Accomplishment is a drug all in itself, and with that said expect to see a lot more of me and from me.



J-Biggz: Your music is very uplifting in regards to its message and you do not promote violence or condone negativity. However, certain songs you have released expose a troublesome past like "Bagoflaundry To Ditch" and "Corrupted Athletes". How does your past, effect your overall message and style of music in relation to separating yourself from other artists in New England?

Serge Didenko: My overall message is: "I messed up, hit rock-bottom, dug myself out of the trap, now I am doing good, lets enjoy life". I like to look at "Bagoflaundry To Ditch" as a public invitation to the game of life. On the road to success people often slip-up but the road remains in place. I hope to inspire people to start, continue, finish their journeys, accomplish their goals, and listen to some good music while they're at it! As for New England artists, I try to separate myself by the amount of time I put in. At the end of the day, I love what I do and nothing will change that.



J-Biggz: Congratulations on getting Clinton Sparks to host your mixtape by the way. That's a big name to be associated with. How do you feel this will help your project overall?

Serge Didenko: Thanks man. I got Clinton Sparks to do the album drop because I felt it would be a crime to release the project without proper representation. As my debut album, I fell in love with the project, plotted out a massive promotional campaign, and basically all roads pointed to Clinton Sparks. It was a great move based on his marketability and name recognition. I have been featured on 15+ blogs, have some nice press features lined up, and am being played on radio stations from Boston to Toronto. It's only been about two weeks.



J-Biggz: Now earlier I had mentioned that you were currently on tour. How has it been going so far, are other states embracing a New England artist? Also tell us the purpose of the tour and what you plan to accomplish.

Serge Didenko: Yes, I am currently on a nation-wide promotional road tour for my debut mixtape "Bagoflaundry to Ditch". Me and my partners (Did&Co.) have been distributing free copies of the album at events, clubs, beaches, gas stations, etc. and getting to know our target audience. In a few days the response has been incredible with people from around the country praising the album, some walking up on the street demanding more copies, and us spotting several cars on separate occasions blasting it out their speakers in Myrtle Beach, SC.



J-Biggz: Given the purpose of this site, what are your thoughts on the Hip-Hop scene in New England? Also are there any artists that stick out to you personally?

Serge Didenko: I think if the New England hip hop scene has a goal, every waking day we are getting closer and people are starting to catch on. Aside from the artists that represent it, our network of resources from graphic designers, promoters, videographers, producers, DJ's, www.newenglandhiphop.com, etc. has steadily grown. You start to see team efforts, cross-promotion, and solid relationships being built, which means more bread for everybody. Yes we are individual artists, but if we mutually keep each other alive by means of support, collaboration, and partnership, the scene in New England will never die. As for individual artists, I respect anyone out here who can take an idea, turn it into a tangible product, and supply to those who demand it. Big-ups to all the New England artists I am personally associated with.



J-Biggz: Aside from your NEHH artist page, what other websites can the fans check for?

Serge Didenko: FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Serge-Didenko/149326909310?ref=ts

http://www.twitter.com/sergedidenko

http://www.sergedidenko.com for exclusive merchandise.



J-Biggz: Ok Serge we're going to wrap this up. Thank you again not only for your time, but also your consistent support of NEHH from wearing the t-shirts to using our logos. You're a talented and humble person, and we wish you continued success my dude. Do you have any last words or shout outs for the New England community?

Serge Didenko: Thank you Biggz. Shouts to my homie Cublunk for supporting me since day one and helping me develop as an artist in a very short time. Shouts to Clinton Sparks, and all the artists/affiliates in the scene. Big-ups to Brivia Sky (www.briviasky.com), and my partner John Igo for helping me with literally every aspect of my career. - www.newenglandhiphop.com