Puya (rapper)

Puya
Puya in July 2009
Background information
Born
Dragoș Gărdescu

(1979-07-22) 22 July 1979
Bucharest, Romania
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1996–present
Labels
Spouse
Melinda Gărdescu
​
(m. 2011)​
[1]
Children3

Dragoș Gărdescu (Romanian pronunciation: [drˈaɡoʃ ɡərdˈesku]; born 22 July 1979) better known by his stage name Puya is a Romanian rapper, songwriter and television personality.[2] Widely regarded as one of the most prolific figures of the Romanian rap and hip-hop scene, he founded La Familia in 1997 alongside Tudor Sișu.[3]

Biography

Puya, whose real name is Dragoș Gărdescu, was born on July 22, 1979, in Bucharest.[3] He grew up with his three brothers in the Balta Albă neighborhood, Sălăjan, Bucharest, learning the "unwritten rules of the street" from an early age.[3] He met Tudor Sișu in the Balta Albă, Sălăjan neighborhood of Bucharest, where they founded the rap group La Familia.[3]

Musical career

La Familia. First tenure (1997–2011)

Main article: La Familia (rap group)

He has been active on the hip-hop scene since 1994.[4] He released his first album with La Familia in 1997, titled Băieți de Cartier (Hood Boys), and he signed his first contract with a production company at the age of 17.[4] In 2007, he founded the NGO Spartacus Agency, which deals with defending the rights of prisoners and combating drug use. The rapper has also held anti-drug campaigns in high schools across the country.[5]

In 2009, Puya won a lawsuit against the band B.U.G. Mafia for using the name "La Familia". In 2012, Puya released the single of the year "Maidanez" (Stray) with Doddy, Mahia, Posset and Alex Velea. In 2014, Puya released the song Strigă! (Shout) with Inna, the song enjoying success in Europe.[6]

He was active in the band for around 10 years, with the last album being released in 2006, with the next one being released in 2010. Puya announced the new album "La Familia", but it was never fully produced. Another attempt took place in 2017, 20 years after the band's existence, which this time was successful, and the new album was released on June 9, 2017.

Second tenure (2017–present)

Sișu and Puya reunited in 2017, releasing the first album under the name of La Familia since the name recovery called "Codul Bunelor Maniere" (The Code Of Good Manners) which contained the "Dulce Răzbunare" (Sweet Vengeance) song featuring M3thaphour, which contained lyrics against Șatra B.E.N.Z.[7][8][9][10] After six years, they released another album called "Foarte" (Very).[11]

Personal life

Puya's first solo material was an unreleased one, but it pleased the speakers of lucky fans. An atypical collaboration for the rap scene at that time was the song "Nu te grăbi" (Don't Rush) featuring Paula Seling.[12] Seven years later, Puya brings Lora, Keo, Alex Velea, Cabron and more to "Muzică de tolăneală și depravare".[12] At the same time, Puya announced his solo career on music TV channels, through the video "Viață nouă" (New Life).[12]

In September 2010, his girlfriend gave birth to their first child, a baby girl, making the singer a father.[13] The two met in 2006. Puya and his wife, Melinda, currently have three children, Melissa, Iuliana, and Natalia.[14][15]

Other media

Reality shows

In 2023, Puya participated with his wife Melinda Gărdescu, in the show America Express broadcast on Antena 1. He has always been a huge fan of rappers Snoop Dogg, Pitbull, 2Pac, The Game, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, having his only tattoo, with 2Pac on his back. These artists were the reason why rapper Puya started his musical career.[16]

Puya has been a juror in the X Factor musical contest since season 11.[17]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums
Title Album details
Până la capăt în felul meu[18]
Muzică De Tolaneală & Depravare[19]
Românisme (Part I and II)[20]
Aventurile Domnului Puy(A)[21]
Oameni Can Noi[22]

References

  1. ^ Radan, Daniela (6 February 2023). "Cine este Melinda, soția lui Puya. Află totul despre concurenta de la America Express 2023". wowbiz.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Puya Biografie". puya.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d "Puya. Poze și informații cu Puya". showbiz.ro (in Romanian). 7 August 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  4. ^ a b MediaPro Music (1 July 2011). "MediaPro Music Artists/Puya" (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 16 September 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  5. ^ Dumitru, Roxana (3 February 2008). ""Puya" a intrat în politică". evz.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  6. ^ Puya a câștigat procesul cu BUG Mafia (Video), 11 februarie 2009, Irina Dârlea, Cristina Mazilu, Mediafax, accesat la 14 ianuarie 2016
  7. ^ "La Familia, biografie" [La Familia, biography] (in Romanian). Lafamilia.ro. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Istoria trupei La Familia povestită chiar de Puya și Sișu" [The history of the band La Familia told by Puya and Sişu themselves] (in Romanian). Profm.ro. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Am ascultat toate melodiile La Familia ca să înțeleg cum s-au dat cu Coaliția pentru Familie" [I listened to all the La Familia songs to understand how they went with the Family Coalition]. vice.com (in Romanian). Vice. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Fotografii cu fanii La Familia care au sărbătorit în parc revenirea trupei" [Photos of La Familia fans who celebrated the band's return in the park]. vice.com. Vice. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
    "Codul bunelor maniere" (in Romanian). Lafamiliaofficial.ro. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
    "La Familia feat M3taphour - Dulce razbunare" (in Romanian). Infomusic.ro. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Puya și Tudor Sișu înregistrează un nou album "La Familia" în studioul producătorului Eduard Schneider de la Sebeș" [Puya and Tudor Sișu record a new album "La Familia" in the studio of producer Eduard Schneider from Sebeș] (in Romanian). Alba24.ro. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
    "Lansare noul album LA FAMILIA - "FOARTE"" [Release of the new album LA FAMILIA - "FORTE"] (in Romanian). Onevent.ro. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "Puya a făcut pușcărie". muzicabuna.ro (in Romanian). 20 June 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  13. ^ "Puya a devenit tătic". Libertatea (in Romanian). 30 September 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Puya și Melinda au un copil. Fetița se va numi Melisa". mondonews.com (in Romanian). 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  15. ^ "Alexandru Gardescu figura de doi ani in baza de date a politiei italiene! Fratele lui Puya era un toxicoman cunoscut". cancan.ro (in Romanian). CanCan. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  16. ^ "La Familia reunită la Untold după 6 ani de pauză" [La Familia reunited at Untold after a 6-year break] (in Romanian). Sapteseri.ro. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Puya, noul jurat X Factor, e băiat rău pe scenă, dar mielușel acasă! Ce a putut să-i facă nevasta de Sărbători?! „Ne-a pus să ne îmbrăcăm în pijamale roșii"". Click.ro (in Romanian). 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  18. ^ "Puya – Până La Capăt În Felul Meu". Discogs. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Puya (2) – Muzică De Tolaneală & Depravare". Discogs. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Românisme - Partea I + Partea II". Discogs. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Aventurile Domnului Puy(A)". Discogs. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  22. ^ "Oameni Can Noi". Discogs. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
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