CENTR Essentials

Formed in 2004, Moscow crew CENTR began in the underground—only 13 copies of their first record, The Gift, were distributed among close friends. By 2008, they'd established CAO Records and won an MTV Russia Music Award. The laid-back, West Coast-style “Heat 77” appeared in the movie classic Heat and was featured on the group's official debut album, Swing. Soon after that, CENTR dropped a second killer album, Ether Normal, which was packed with guests, edgy lyrics and slick, sample-based grooves. Gritty without restraint, CENTR address life and all its darkest moments, head-on.