Tommy Cash (rapper)

Tomas Tammemets(born 18 November 1991), known professionally asTommy Cashand also known asKanye East, is aRussian-Estonianrapper, dancer, producer and visual artist. He performs inEnglish, and is known for sexually explicit lyrical themes and provocative music videos.
Tommy Cash is set to representEstoniain theEurovision Song Contest 2025with aSpanglish-Italian languagesong "Espresso macchiato".
Tomas Tammemets was born and raised inKopli,a subdistrict ofTallinn,the capital city ofEstonia. He is an ethnicRussian,and has described himself as a "Russian boy from theKoplighetto", with a "kompotof mixedUkrainian-Kazakhstani-Russian-Estonian" ancestry,a "post-Soviet rapper"with an "Eastern European soul" and "Scandinavian CV".
In his childhood, Tammemets recalls being arrested by the police and fined for illegalgraffition multiple occasions.He has said that his drug use led him to be "ejected" from schooling.Although his family spoke only Russian at home, he also became fluent in the Estonian language early on in the local kindergarten and primary school.He never graduated fromsecondary school, despite sitting exams, and later took up painting and dancing instead of formal education.
In the dance scene, Tammemets is a freestyle dancer with a very distinct style, using elements ofpopping,krumping, andbreakdancing.
In 2012, Tommy Cash released several songs onSoundCloudincluding "Dusk", "Oldkool" and "Toxic". Tommy Cash's first live performance was at Peterson сafe in Tallinn, on 7 December 2012.In 2013, "Oldkool", has been used in ads video for Sport LX fashion collection by Liisa Orgna, for ERKI Fashion Show.On 13 July 2013, Tommy performed at the Patarei Kultuuritolm 2013 art and music festival in Tallinn.Siim Nestor onEesti Ekspressremarked, "with his nasal voice and androgynous he looked more like a cartoon hero than the serious self-assertive macho rapper we are used to see".
On 31 July 2013, Tommy Cash released "Deep Purp" on SoundCloud. His collaboration with Justicious andba., "MTWAH" and "Kongo Jungle", featuring TV Maskava, were included onBaltic Trail Compilation(2013), which was released in August 2013.On 26 September 2013, Tommy released his first music video, "Guez Whoz Bak", directed by Janar Aronija.On 9 October 2013, Tommy performed "Guez Whoz Bak" onETVmorning show.In 6 December 2013, he performed at the Żubroffka International Short Film Festival inBiałystok,Poland.
On 3 January 2014, Tommy Cash performed at the 2013 Radio 2 Awards (R2 Aastahitt 2013), where he also was awarded for "Guez Whoz Bak".On 24 March 2014, Tommy premiered "Alien Tears", and performed song, titled "No Afterparty Without You",on ETV. Next day, "Alien Tears" was released as a single from his upcoming extended play (EP). On 8 July 2014, Tommy Cash releasedC.R.E.A.M.EP(2014), which consisted of previously released tracks.
On 29 September 2014, Tommy Cash released music video, "Euroz Dollaz Yeniz", the first single from his upcoming studio album.On 1 November 2014, his first studio album,Euroz Dollaz Yeniz(2014), was released digitally for free download via his official website. In January 2015, after the loss in two categories (for Music Video of the Year and Hip Hop/Rap album of the Year for "Euroz Dollaz Yeniz") on 2015Estonian Music Awards, he wrote in hisInstagrampost: "Suck my balls Estonian Music Awards".
Cash was featured on Adi L Hasla's single "Flipperi" withAito Mäkki, from his first studio album,Habiturientti, accompanied by its music video, released on 24 January 2015.In 2015, he also released "Prorapsuperstar" and "Leave Me Alone"music videos. On 9 September 2015, Cash collaborated with RussianravebandLittle Bigon the song "Give Me Your Money", with an accompanying music video andweb series, titledAmerican Russians, consisted of six episodes released from 9 September 2015,to 14 October 2015 onYouTube. Cash appeared on the song "Volkswagen Passat" from DJ Oguretz's debut album,Power, on 5 October 2015.
In July 2016, Tommy Cash uploaded a newtrap-popsingle, titled "Winaloto", to SoundCloud. An accompanying music video was directed by Tommy Cash himself, produced byIvan Nezhentsev(a.k.a. stereoRYZE) inSaint Petersburg, Russia, and premiered two weeks later on 19 July 2016.Maximnoted, "it's a flesh-filledorgynot for the faint of heart, but if you're game to get a little weird, definitely watch it".Owen Myers ofDazedreported, "the video […] pairs intricate choreography with deliberate gross-out moments"."The VFX work is playfully done and the performances of the cast members are in places downright cool", wrote Luke Bather ofPromonews UK."Unsettlingly visceral video, it remains the gold standard for the Tommy Cash ethos", reportedHighsnobiety.
In August 2016, Tommy Cash performed as a special guest at the official residence of the then President of EstoniaToomas Hendrik Ilves.On 11 October 2016, he uploaded two new songs, "Orange Soda" and "Escalade" to SoundCloud. In October 2016,A Color Showpremiered Tommy Cash's performance of "Winaloto". As of July 2024, it has received over 16 million views on YouTube.
In January 2017, Tommy Cash represented Estonia in theEurosonic NoorderslaginGroningen, the Netherlands.On 26 January 2017, he won the Estonian Music Award for Music Video of the Year for "Winaloto".On 16 March 2017, Tommy released the music video for "Surf", produced by Anna-Lisa Himma and directed by Tommy Cash.On 8 July 2017, Tommy performed on the biggest music festival in Estonia,Õllesummer.In July 2017, he made a cameo appearance onCharli XCX's "Boys" music video.
The new single, titled "Rawr", was released on 26 September 2017. A week later, Tommy released the official remix featuringJoji.The following month, Tommy Cash collaborated with Russianelectronic musicduoIC3PEAKon their song "Cry".On 15 December, Cash featured on Charli XCX's "Delicious" from her mixtape,Pop 2(2017). He also featured on the remix of "Out of My Head" by Charli XCX, featuringA. G. Cook,Hannah Diamond,Dorian ElectraandMykki Blanco, which was released on 18 December 2017.
On 25 January 2018, at the 20th Estonian Music Awards, "Surf" won the award for Music Video of the Year.
In the beginning 2018, Tommy Cash released a single titled "Pussy Money Weed", alongside the music video.HighClouds Belgiumreported, "it will give you a hell of a shock!".Vanessa Feder ofUnrated Mediawrote, "a dance-heavy music video that truly highlights the limitlessness of humankind"."A hymn to diversity", noted Giulia Pacciardi ofCollater.Al Italy.
On 2 April, at the 2018Estonian Film and Television Awards, Tommy performed with the new song, called "Little Molly".On 30 May 2018, he released "Little Molly" as a new single, alongside the music video, directed by Anna Himma and Tommy Cash. Charlotte Gunn ofNMEwrote, "it's veryAphex Twinbut altogether more alarming"."Irreverent and ridiculous, [...] music video for 'Little Molly' is a surrealacid tripmeets cheesy photo shoot", notedPurple Sneakers Australia,andDazednamed a video "super unnerving".As of July 2024, "Pussy Money Weed", and "Little Molly" music videos have received over 15, and 17 million views on YouTube, respectively.
On 5 October 2018, Tommy collaborated with Little Big to release "Follow Me", from Little Big's fourth studio albumAntipositive, Pt. 2.It marked the second collaboration between Little Big and Tommy Cash following their 2015 single "Give Me Your Money".
In November 2018, Tommy Cash released a single titled "X-Ray", along with the music video, which was set as the lead single from his second studio album. On 30 November 2018, he released his second album,¥€$(2018), to positive reviews fromClashandPaper.The album features vocal performances fromMC Bin Laden, Charli XCX,Rick Owens, andCaroline Polachek, as well as production fromDanny L Harle, A. G. Cook,Amnesia Scanner, andBoys Noize. The concert tour, launched in support of his second studio album,¥€$, was announced in December 2018. The tour encompassed 33 shows and visited 17 countries in total. Charli XCX joined Tommy Cash to perform their songs, "Cool 3D World" and "Delicious", during his concert in Tallinn, on 29 December 2018.
DuringTomorrowland2019, Tommy Cash was joined by Bosnian-Swedish DJSalvatore Ganacciand performed "Heartbass" for the first time, then performed "X-Ray".Also in 2019, he toured as a special guest atOliver Tree's concerts on the Goodbye, Farewell Tour,alongsideNvdesin over 20 shows in the US and Canada.In December 2019, Tommy released "Sdubid" music video.
On 30 January 2020, Tommy Cash unveiled his first official tour in the United States, starting on 22 March.Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the tour was rescheduled for 2022. In July 2020, he and Hannah Diamond appeared in a remix of100 gecs's song "xXXi_wud_nvrstøp_ÜXXx".Same year, he also appeared in the music video for "S*ck My D*ck 2020" by Little Big.
On 2 April 2021, Tommy Cash released the single, titled "Zuccenberg",in collaboration withSuicideboysandDiplo, and announced that the new EP would be released in the next week. A five-songMoneysutra EP(2021) was released on 9 April 2021, with guest appearances from Suicideboys, Diplo,Riff Raff,BonesandEldzhey.On 29 April, was also released a music video for "Racked".
During the summer of 2021, Tommy Cash was featured in several singles. In July 2021, he released a song collaboration with Polish rapperQuebonafide, called "Benz-Dealer", along with a music video,with the guest appearance of an international heavyweight boxing championMariusz Wach. He was also featured onBoys Noize's track "Nude".In September 2021, Tommy collaborated with American singer Oliver Tree and Little Big on the "Turn It Up", from their collaborativeWelcome to the InternetEP, which was later released on 30 September 2021. The track was accompanied with a music video.The following month, he was the featured part inUmru's "Check1", the lead single from the Estonian-American producer's first studio album,Comfort Noise(2022), along with a music video.
In December 2021, new tour dates with additional venues in North America and Europe were scheduled and officially announced. The Biggest and Strongest World Tour (2022),began on 10 February 2022, inSan Francisco, USA, and was originally to have 19 shows in North America and 28 shows in Europe, ending on 6 May 2022, in Tallinn, Estonia. On 14 April 2022, the three Australian dates were confirmed.The show inPerthwas added later.
March 2022 saw the release of Cash's collaboration with Kazakh record producerImanbek, bass-heavy trap track "Baby Shock", which also featured Lost Capital andOhGeesy.On 30 August 2022, onFacebook, he announced the Autobahn Tour (2022), consisting of ten dates across Germany and Poland. In September 2022, he also appeared on the cover ofKing Kongmagazine, featured with South Korean-born artist and rapperMLMA.The following month, Estonian rapper attended as a special guest alongsideAnna Wintour,John Galliano,Riccardo TisciandDemnaatKanye West'sYZYSZN9show that was held inParis, France.The Amerika 2 Tour (2022), consisted ten shows in the US and Canada, was rescheduled due visa issuses.
In May 2023, Tommy Cash was part of Riff Raff's single, featured Salvatore Ganacci, titled "Ferrari". DuringKäärijä's concert of 19 August 2023, at Olympiastadion inHelsinki, Tommy joined him on stage and performed "It's Crazy It's Party" for the first time.The music video for the song was released on 15 September 2023.In fall 2023, Tommy joined to the Oliver Tree's Alone in a Crowd World Tour (2023-24).
In January 2024, Tommy Cash released his first single of 2024, "Tango", featuring Canadian rapperbbno$, along with a music video.He was featured in a new collaboration withSalvatore Ganaccititled "Ass & Titties", released on 12 July.It is the third collaboration between Tommy Cash and Salvatore Ganacci, who had worked together on "Heartbass" in 2019 and "Ferrari" in 2023. On 17 July 2024, a video for the song was released on Ganacci's YouTube channel.The story and concept of the new music video were created by Tommy Cash. On 6 November 2024, he was announced as one of the participants inEesti Laul 2025,Estonia's selection for theEurovision Song Contest 2025, with the song "Espresso macchiato".The song was released on 7 December 2024. On 20 November 2024, he released his third EP,High Fashion(2024), containing production fromA. G. Cook,IC3PEAK, and umru."Espresso macchiato" went on to winEesti Lauland thus became the Estonian entry for the Eurovision contest inBasel.
Tommy Cash hit the front rows of the fashion show duringfashion weeksinParisandMilanwith his performance art in 2022."He is a visual feast sitting front row at fashion shows", wroteEnfnts Terribles magazine.Jake Gilbert ofHighsnobiety magazinewrote, "The artist and musician is a perpetual outsider all-star, forever dominating the fashion week discourse with some of the most insane outfits you've ever seen in public".His first performance was at theRick Owens' fashion show on 23 June 2022, during Paris Fashion Week Men's 2022. That time Tommy Cash wore a nude thong attended, overgrown wig and fake toenails.Late, he exercised in the middle of an Amiri catwalk, and became a baby, complete with a person pushing his stroller at theMarine Serre's show.In Fall 2022, Tommy was seenknittingat theLoeweSpring/Summer 2023 fashion show,carried a human backpack during the Rick Owens' parade,and cosplayed apaparazziat theBalenciagarunway show in Milan.
On 22 February 2023, at theDieselFall/Winter 2023/24 show in Milan, Tammemets dressed as a cleaning lady ("babushka") with a bucket and a mop in hand.During Paris Fashion Week 2023, Tommy dressed asAnna Wintourat the special event by Isamaya Lips.On 2 March 2023, for thePaco Rabannefashion show, he filled his face withpiercings.Next day, rapper wore a prosthetic vagina and claded in tight "Sue Me" tanktop at Rick Owens' fashion show.Jake Silbert ofHighsnobiety magazinenoted, "his masterpiece is (fortunately?) too realistic to be allowed in Instagram or Tik Tok videos". On 7 March 2023, he arrived half-asleep, wearing a pristine bedspread and several pillows on his back, at the Y/Project fashion show.In slippers and blue pajamas, he took his seat front row alongside American rapperTygaand Canadian singerAvril Lavigne.
In June 2023, Tommy Cash dressed as a contemporary version of French mime artistMarcel Marceau, promoting the new collaboration "CrocsxMSCHF", during the Rick Owens' runway show in Paris.Alexandre Marain ofVogue France, described that outfit as "somewhat creepy". At Marine Serre's Spring 2024 show, Tommy appeared wearing aCousin Itt-style head-to-toe blonde hair suit.He then attended theJean Paul GaultierxJulien Dossena haute couture show in a nude muscular suit.Also he went to the Doublet show dressed as a dining table replete with sea food, glasses and candles.Later,Highsnobietymagazine wrote, "One might say that Cash came to serve".In July 2023, Steff Yotka ofSsencewrote, "But what about Tommy Cash's brazen costume play, which some regarded as Insta fodder, but to me seems like the mark of a true fashion freak in the best sense".
In Fall 2023, at Diesel's Spring/Summer 2024 show in Milan, Tommy Cash arrived to the event dressed as a homeless person.Elliot Hoste ofDazed, opined: "Cash's homeless cosplay wasn't clever, it was dumb and offensive".According to Tommy Cash himself, he did not wear the outfit to cause a stir, as he had wanted to raise awareness instead.In the front row of the Boss 2023 fashion show, Tommy Cash dressed in an ultra technological features outfit that inspired by acyborg-humanInspector Gadget.
On 25 January 2024, Tommy appeared carrying a sky-high stack of designer boxes and shopping bags at theMaison MargielaArtisanal Couture Spring 2024 show.As part of Paris Fashion Week 2024, at theVetementsWomenswear Fall/Winter 2024/25 show, he dressed in a inflatable latex outfit, created by Indian designer Harri,and cosplayed as a treasure hunter withthe metal detectoratEnfants Riches Déprimésfashion show on 3 March 2024.
Tommy Cash works in different mediums, including music, video, photo installation, sculpture, painting, ready-made and merchandise.
In 2019, Tammemets had an exhibition, titled "The Pure and the Damned", atKumuart museum in Tallinn, Estonia. Collaborating with Rick Owens, he exhibited his ownsperm, portrait with a pregnant stomach, and the first iteration of bread based slippers, designed with the blessing of the fashion house Maison Margiela, among other artefacts.In September 2020, Cash's artworks were presented at theCosmoscow international fairinMoscow, Russia.
In 2022, Tommy Cash presented a solo show with Temnikova & Kasela gallery at Paris Internationale, France. The booth was set up as a tribute to a Russian cartoon,Cheburashka, that had nuclear clouds billowing out from its ears, titled "Nukerashka".In May 2024, his project "Nukerashka" was presented at "Rayon Jouets" exhibition at Hangar Y inMeudon, France.
Early in his career, Tommy Cash made clear his interest in fashion and desire to work in the clothing design industry. Regarding this, he said, "It's amazing to do different stuff while we're also working on music. At the end of the day, when you have something physical, it's different. It's like an art piece almost…".In 2018, Cash released a clothing line that subversively imitates American styles with European elements and in-jokes.Rick Owens has teamed up with Tammemets for a limited-edition hoodie collaboration, in late 2019.
In the beginning of 2021, Tommy Cash has put out feelers for a collaboration withIKEA, presenting the bread-shaped sofa paired with a carpet designed by Canadian artistGab Bois.Called "Loafa", it's their interpretation ofMario Bellini's 1970's Camaleonda sofa with brioche buns."IKEA told me if we get 10,000 comments under this post they will release the Loafa…coming to your nearest IKEA söön", said Cash in Instagram. Later, IKEA representative confirmed that there has been no official collaboration with the rapper, and they also do not see the project as feasible.
In 2021, Tommy Cash has teamed up with sportswear brandAdidasto create the world's longest sneakers.The metre-long shoes — one white, one black — are a one-off model designed at the request of the artist. "When I said to adidas that I want to make the longest shoe in the world as our collab, they were like, Wtf, Tommy. But five months later here we are," the rapper wrote on Instagram.Brad Nash ofGQ Australia,stating: "Tommy Cash's adidas collab is the best, most ridiculous sh*t we've seen all year",Daniel Rogers ofDazedopined: "Now, if we're talking COVID restrictions, these sneakers have surely got every social distancing regulation covered. Unfortunately though, us peasants will have to continue to rub up against each other as this gargantuan pair is a one-off, made solely for Cash".Although the extra-long Superstars are a bespoke piece, the rapper's collaboration with Adidas also spawned a more wearable pair of mismatched trainers – one black, one white and both normally sized. A limited number of this pared-back version, which features Tommy's signature laser-engraved on the heel and ayin and yangprint on the insole, was made available to the public via a raffle.
In March 2021, Estonian rapper released a capsule collection in collaboration with the fashion house Maison Margiela.А co-branded merchandise line consists bread-based slippers, a parcel of vacuum-packednoodleswith the "Tommy Cash x Maison Margiela" logo stamped on it. Liana Satenstein ofVogue,described the collection as "the weirdest merch yet".There was more conventional items in the drop, like a co-branded black hoodie, a striped sweater, a t-shirt. He also released a track to accompany the drop "Mute (by Maison Margiela)", which is three minutes and 30 seconds of pure silence.
In November 2022, Tommy announced his first fashion venture with Italian sportswear brandKappa.The capsule collection, co-designed by Tommy Cash, consisted of 10 pieces across knitwear, tailoring and outerwear, along with shoes, including an oversized suit, double layered tops, branded loafers, and an especially unique leather mask.Ambrose Leung ofHypebeast,described the collection as "for kink lovers and fashionistas".
In 2018, Tommy Cash featured in the LHV Pank commercial.In 2020, Tommy was the face of Adidas for "Superstar – change is a team sport" campaign, also co-starring Russian influencers, musicians and athletes.In April 2023, Tommy Cash had become a part ofMarine Serre's campaign for its underwear collection, Borderline,also co-starringSevdaliza. Late, Tommy Cash appeared in advertisements for Diesel,was photographed by Marili Andre. Also he appeared in campaign video for American brand Brigade, promoted the Big Sock sleeping bag. The same year Estonian rapper appeared in "Join The Flip Side with Tommy Cash" campaignfor theSamsung Galaxy A52s 5G, along with a pop-up concert in Tallinn, on 13 September 2023.In 2023, Tommy appeared in thePTV GroupandDeutsche Bahn's "Mobility is a Human Ride" video campaign.
In June 2018, Tommy Cash made his runway modelling debut at the Rick Owens Menswear Spring 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week.In March 2022, he walked the runway at Marine Serre's Fall/Winter 2022/23 show at Paris Fashion Week.On 17 June 2023, he walked the runway in two looks at Jordanluca's Spring/Summer 2024 show in Milan, Italy.
Tommy Cash has been described by the media as a person who is known for his cheeky, often surreal infusion ofpost-Sovietaesthetic in his music and style.Cracknamed him an "Estonian rap sensation"."Cash is a provocateur", notedEesti Elu.NMEreported, "he knows how to do is make fucking weird music videos"andBillboardnamed him a "new king weirdo"."Defining his sound is difficult, mainly because he has veered wildly fromtraptobasstohi-NRG eurodance", notedThe Guardian.Vogue Adriawrote about Cash's sound: "Imagine if theYeezus-eraKanye,Lil B, andSalvador Dalíhad a secretjam sessionin a basement lit by neon lights and glitchy TV screens."In 2018, he debuted on theDazed100, claiming eighth place.
As of 2024, Tommy Cash appeared inVogue,GQ,Harper's Bazaar(Russia),Schön!,Paper,Crack,Glamcult,Dazed,Greatest,etc. He has landed his on the cover of several magazines such asEsquire(Czech Republic),Metal,Office Magazine,Antidote(France),andNME.
As lead artist
As featured artist
Guest appearances