Kasta (Russian: Каста, Russian for caste) is Russian rap band from Rostov-on-Don. Group is led by MC and beatmaker Vladi. Other members include MC's Shim, Hamil and Zmei, as well as DJ Hobot. Although Kasta is notably influenced by New York rap tradition, especially Wu-Tang Clan, they have always written in Russian. Vladi, Shim and Hamil met rap music in very young age. Vladi made his first rap when he was 13 years old. In 1995 he and his friend Tidan (Тидан) made a group Psycholyric (Russian: Психолирик). One year after that Shim connected to Psycholyric. In 1997 Psycholyric and other rappers from Rostov made a group with name Kasta, which was successor of Psycholiric. After that Tidan left a group. In 1999 Hamil connected to Kasta, then Kasta created a group Объединенная Каста (Ob'iedenionnaia Kasta) what means United Kasta, because to many free MCs and groups connected to Kasta. Their first shows was in Rostov's famous rap clubs Duncan and Comanchero. Formation Vladi (Влади) — Лешкевич Владислав Валерьевич (Leshkevich Vladislav Valer'ievich). Born 17 December 1978 in Rostov-on-Don. Shim (Шым) — Епифанов Михаил Олегович (Epifanov Mikhail Olegovich. Born 25 january 1979 in Rostov-on-Don. Hamil (Хамиль) — Пасечный Андрей Леонидович (Pacechnyi Andrei Leonidovich. Born 19 October 1979 in Rostov-on-Don. Zmei (Змей) — Антон Мишенин (Anton Mishenin). Born 21 january 1982 in Rostov-on-Don. In 2005, he left group "Grani" after release volume "Kipesh" and connected to Kasta. There are more than 20 people in Объединенная Каста (United Kasta) Website: http://www.kasta.ru/