bigboyz – the ukrainian creator turning YouTube streams into charting music success

Born on July 2, 2005, in Kyiv, Maksim Tkach, known under the moniker bigboyz, represents a new generation of creators combining music production with digital content. Before entering the professional scene, he participated in online communities influenced by artists such as A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, and Playboi Carti, as well as creators like PewDiePie and MrBeast. As a result, this background shaped his visual identity and social media approach, where performance and audience interaction play equally important roles.

In 2023, at the age of eighteen, Maksim launched the bigboyz YouTube channel. Initially focused on reactions and commentary, the channel gradually shifted toward music analysis and production. However, the turning point arrived in December 2023 with a detailed live breakdown of 9mice’s ‘ORPHEUS’ album. Soon after, excerpts from the stream spread across TikTok and VK, bringing more than 30,000 new subscribers within a few weeks. Around the same period, he released his debut single ‘Двуличность’, which circulated widely on Shorts and TikTok, eventually reaching #71 on Apple Music while accumulating over 10 million streams.

The following year further confirmed his growing presence on streaming platforms. In 2024, bigboyz released ‘Яхта Монтана’ and the electronic-inspired ‘Бесценность’, both of which helped shape his recognizable sound. By spring, his YouTube channel surpassed 70,000 subscribers. In April, the track ‘Берсерк’, originally performed during an earlier livestream, entered the Top 15 on VK Music and Top 10 on Yandex Music. Consequently, according to Yandex Music charts, the release significantly expanded his reach across Russian-language streaming platforms, ultimately earning him the YouTube Silver Play Button later that month. Meanwhile, the track also gained momentum on TikTok, generating over 10,000 videos using the official sound.

Following these results, bigboyz began appearing on collaborative livestreams with other musicians, where he commented on recent releases while also guiding younger producers through FL Studio techniques. During the summer of 2024, he released ‘Капитал’, which received favorable listener feedback and strengthened his reputation among online audiences. Shortly afterward, his first live performance took place at Urban Club in Moscow, drawing nearly 1,000 attendees and more than 10,000 simultaneous online viewers. In addition, he maintains direct communication with fans through his Telegram channel, where he regularly shares previews, live session announcements, and production insights.

By 2025, the artist shifted focus toward developing his full-length project ‘Голод’. He collaborated with producers, designers, and guest performers to craft a concept album centered around ambition and personal growth. During one livestream session, he and Koresh recorded the lead single ‘Голод’, which reached #3 on Yandex Music and #20 on VK charts. The track introduced the album’s central theme — the “hunger” of emerging artists striving for recognition while remaining true to their individuality.

Scheduled for release in early 2026, ‘Голод’ features contributions from Koresh, elyaplugg!, and other regional performers. Consequently, within just two years, bigboyz has built a recognizable profile as an independent musician whose work regularly appears across streaming charts and online discussions throughout the CIS music scene.