B.U.G. Mafia is an iconic Romanian hip-hop group recognized as one of the pioneers of gangsta rap in Romania. Founded in 1993 in the neighborhood of Pantelimon, Bucharest, the group began under the name Black Underground and later changed it to B.U.G. Mafia, which stands for “Bucharest Underground Mafia”.
The founders of the collective were Vlad “Tataee” Irimia and Dragos “Caddy” Vlad-Neagu, who were teenagers at the time of the band's creation. They started by performing at local events and school parties, experimenting with their sound. In 1994, their first significant single “Straight Outta da Hell” was recorded.
The band gained national popularity with the release of the album *De Cartier* (“From the Neighborhood”) in 1998, which sold over 125,000 copies. This album cemented their status in the Romanian music industry and included the hit song “Lumea e a mea” (“My World”), which became the first music video in Romanian hip-hop.
The group was repeatedly at the center of scandals, including an arrest after a concert in 1997 for allegedly violating public morals due to explicit lyrics. These events attracted much media attention and increased their popularity.
Today, the band's lineup includes Tata Vlad, Caddy and Uzzi. Throughout their thirty-year career, they have released many successful albums and singles, remaining key figures in Romanian hip-hop. Their influence on the country's musical culture is undeniable and they continue to inspire a new generation of artists.