Mimi Mercedez

Milena Janković (Serbian Cyrillic: Милена Јанковић, born on 23 November 1992), better known as Mimi Mercedez (Serbian Cyrillic: Мими Мерцедез) is a Serbian rapper and songwriter. She is recognized as one of the first and most prominent Serbian female rap artists.[1] Mercedez debuted in 2011 and has collectively released five studio albums.

Mimi Mercedez
Мими Мерцедез
Birth nameMilena Janković
Born (1992-11-23) 23 November 1992
Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2011–present
Labels

She has predominately worked with beatmaker Žarko Krstić Žartikal. In addition to her own work, Janković has written lyrics for other singers, such as Nikolija, Milica Pavlović and Jelena Karleuša.

Life and career

Janković was born on 23 November 1992 in Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia and grew up in the neighborhood of Konjarnik. She stated that her interest in rap music comes from her late teenage years.[2] Janković graduated from the Third Belgrade Gymnasium.

In 2011, she released her first song, titled "Napucane svinjice". It was later included to her independently-released debut mixtape, Jedino što znam, in 2013. Mercedez was also featured on the track "Mala ima kasko" from the 2012 album "Apetiti mi rastu" by Serbian rapper Juice.[3] During her beginnings, Janković used to work as a stripper to support her music career.[4]

In February 2015, Mimi Mercedez released her EP Napaljene uličarke under Bombe Devedesetih. In August, it was followed by her first album, Našminkam se i pravim haos. The album included "Kleoptara", which became her first mainstream successful song.[5] Same year, she also collaborated with singers Milan Stanković and Mile Kitić on the single "Gadure".[6] The following August, Mercedez had another mainstream popular song with singer Kaya, titled "Ne možeš da sediš sa nama".[7] In 2018, she released two album: Stara Mimi and Kuma. The following year in February, Mercedez had two duets with singer Stoja: "Svet se vrti oko nas" and "Žena sa Balkana". In October 2019, she released Mržnja, which was preceded by the title track and single "Kučke".[8]

In July 2022, she performed for the first time at the EXIT music festival in Novi Sad.[9] In October, during her concert at Tvornica Kulture in Zagreb, Mercedez announced her forthcoming fifth studio album.[10] On December 31, she and other artists also had a live show at the closing ceremony of the Novi Sad's year as the European Capital of Culture.[11] On 26 January 2023, Mercedez alongside Voyage presented the Music Awards Ceremony, held at the Štark Arena, during which she also performed "Kleopatra".[12] Her fifth album, Frka u svemiru, was released on 17 February 2023. It was preceded by the singles "Dajive komi" featuring Seksi, "Ratatata" featuring Marlon Brutal, "Tik Tok" featruing Mili in 2022, and "Simp" in 2023.[13][14]

Artistry

Janković previously had stated that her stage name comes form when she was hit by a Mercedes-Benz car as a child, but afterwards confessed that it was a joke.[15]

Besides Mimi Mercedez, she has assumed several other alter egos throughout her career, including Guda iz Huda, Sestra Drugarica and Kabasti Koblenc, which she initially incorporated in order to "increase" the presence of women in Serbian hip hop.[5] She has been known for referencing the 1990s in Serbia in her songs. Through the use of metaphors, punch lines, and word play, her lyrics often explore sociopolitical themes, such as social stratification and sex-positivity. According to art theorist Milica Ivić of Politika, Mercedez "decisively" challenges gender roles and inequality in her music, but does not embrace a "feminist identity".[16]

On the International Women's Day 2023, Ana Šumanović from Muzika.hr enlisted Mercedez among the regional female artist who "have left their trace on music".[17] Her single "Dajivé Komì" was among the finalists nominated for the 2023 Milan Mladenović Award.[18]

Discography
Studio albums
  • Našminkam se i pravim haos (2015)
  • Kuma (2018)
  • Stara Mimi (2018)
  • Mržnja (2019)
  • Frka u svemiru (2023)

References
  1. Furst, P. (19 October 2022). "Vodeća regionalna reperica Mimi Mercedez za Jutarnji: 'Planiram postati najpoznatija ekstravagantna ličnost'". Jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  2. Jovović, P. (23 January 2023). "Veče sa Ivanom Ivanovićem: Gosti Mimi Mercedez i Vojaž". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  3. Maksimović, V. (27 January 2015). "Kako je trep ušao u Srbiju". Beforeafter.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  4. Marinović, N. (27 September 2022). "Mimi Mercedez: U repu muškarci teže dobiju vidljivost, a žene poštovanje". Zoomer.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  5. Jovičić, U. (30 June 2019). "Mimi Mercedez: "Kada imaš svoje pare, možeš da imaš i svoj moral"". Nedeljnik (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  6. S. P. (2 July 2015). "Milan Stanković snimio pjesmu s Miletom Kitićem i Mimi Mercedes!". Kodex.me (in Montenegrin). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  7. "Žestoka Mimi Mercedez i Kaja objavile HITČINU koja će gruvati DO DASKE!". Telegraf.rs (in Montenegrin). 8 August 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  8. "Mimi Mercedez: Novi album "Mržnja"". Nedeljnik (in Serbian). 4 October 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  9. Petrović, B., Đorđević, V. (8 July 2022). ""Ovo je baš teško pitanje": Mimi Mercedez nam je otkrila koja pesma najbolje predstavlja njen rad". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. Furst, P. (22 October 2022). "Mimi Mercedez raspametila fanove u Tvornici: 'Od najozloglašenije publike da je Zagreb ovo postao... To Balkanci moji!'". Jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  11. A. L. (28 December 2022). "Poznata satnica izvođača za proslavu dočeka u Novom Sadu: Raspoređeni na tri bine u Novu godinu nas uvode Kosheen, Repetitor i Mimi Mercedez". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  12. Marinović, M. (27 January 2023). "Zvezde novog muzičkog talasa izdominirale drugog dana MAC-a!". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  13. "Mimi Mercedez, Mili – „Tik Tak"". Nedeljnik (in Serbian). 28 November 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  14. "Pošto je napravila takvu „Frku u svemiru" Mimi Mercedez sleće u Zappa Bazu". City Magazine (in Serbian). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  15. "Mimi Mercedez o Tei Tairović: „Gledala sam njene intervjue, mnogo je promišljena u karijeri"". Nova.rs (in Serbian). 7 December 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  16. Ilić, M. (20 June 2016). "Mimi Mercedez – bez sažaljenja". B92.net (in Serbian). Politika. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  17. Šumanović, A. (8 March 2023). "Žene koje ostavljaju trag na glazbenoj sceni". Muzika.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  18. "Poznati finalisti nagrade Milan Mladenović 2023". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 27 July 2023.
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