Retrograd Merkuriy is the Russian phrase for Mercury retrograde, and this clip comes from Timati's track built around the line about sitting and smoking hookahs during it. Timati is a well known Russian rapper and pop artist, and the excerpt circulates online as a short soundboard clip rather than a full song. Its popularity comes from how widely Mercury retrograde is joked about as an excuse for bad luck, delays and miscommunication, giving the short hook a ready made meaning for memes, chats and edits.