Youssoupha
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Youssoupha | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Youssoupha Mabiki |
| Born | August 29, 1979 Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Bomayé Musik |
| Members | solo |
Youssoupha Mabiki (French pronunciation: [jusufa mabiki]; born August 29, 1979), better known by his nickname Youssoupha is a French rapper of Congolese descent.
Early life and career
[edit]He was born to a Congolese father, the musician and Congo-Kinshasa political figure Tabu Ley Rochereau and a Senegalese mother. After spending his childhood in Congo-Kinshasa, at the age of 10, he moved to France to live with relatives in Beziers, then Osny, Cergy and Sartrouville. He finished his French baccaleureat at Académie de Versailles with high grades and continued with Cultural Mediation, Communication at Roanne and La Guillotière. After obtaining his master's degree, he dedicated himself to music.
His first album Frères Lumières was a trio with two other friends. They released a maxi single. He was also involved in many musical projects including the album Tendance by the band Bana Kin (with Sinistre Kozi Philo and Mic genie).
His own street DVD was released at end of 2005 as Eternel Recommencement followed in 2006 and was signed to Hostile record label. After working with a number of renowned rappers, he released his debut studio album in March 2007 titled À chaque frère ("To Every Brother") containing collaborations from Diam's, Kool Shen, S'Pi and Mike Génie.
His second album came out in October 2009 called Sur les chemins du retour ("On the Ways of Return"), alongside an international tour. In preparation of his third album, he also released a downloadable Digi-tape En noir et blanc - En attendant Noir Désir ("Black & White, Waiting for Black Desire") where he included some remixes of the album. In January 2012, he released his third studio album Noir désir ("Black Desire") featuring Taipan, Corneille, S-Pi, Sam's, Indila, LFDV and his own father Tabu Ley Rochereau"
On 22 April 2025, Youssoupha—alongside co-headliners Fally Ipupa and Gims—curated and led a sold-out benefit concert, Solidarité Congo, at the Accor Arena.[1][2] The philanthropic event, which assembled 30 prominent artists from the French rap scene as well as internationally acclaimed and Congolese artists, sought to mobilize resources for children impacted by the Rwandan-backed M23 insurgency in eastern DRC. The entirety of the proceeds was designated for Dadju's Give Back Charity.[3][4][5] Initially slated for 7 April, the event was postponed in observance of the International Day of Remembrance of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.[6][7]
In popular culture
[edit]- He took part as songwriting teacher at the French reality television program Popstars.
- In 2009, French journalist Éric Zemmour opened a lawsuit against him accusing him of public threats for diabolizing the banlieues.[8] Youssoupha responded in an interview with Le Parisien that he advocated non-violence, but was pointing out the contradictions of Zemmour.[9] He also responded with his single Menace de mort (meaning Death threat in English) with clips from various television programs quoting anti-immigrant sentiments expressed by media figures.[1]
- His song La Foule featured in the second episode of the first season of the Amazon streaming series The Boys.
Accolades
[edit]- MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 - Best Francophone (Nominated)[10]
Decorations
[edit]Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Year | Album | Charts | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR [12] |
BEL (Fl) |
BEL (Wa) |
SWI | |||
| 2007 | À chaque frère | 32 | — | — | — | |
| 2009 | Sur les chemins du retour | 21 | — | — | — | |
| 2011 | En noir et blanc - En attendant Noir Désir (Digitape) | 117 | — | — | — | |
| 2012 | Noir Désir | 3 | — | 7 | — | Also known as Noir D**** |
| 2013 | On se connaît | 138 | — | — | — | |
| 2015 | NGRTD | 4 | 82 | 6 | 12 | Also known as Négritude |
| 2018 | Polaroïd Experience | 12 | — | 18 [13] |
32 [13] |
|
| 2021 | Neptune Terminus | 9 | — | 9 | 25 | |
Singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Charts | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR [12] |
BEL (Wa) |
SWI [12] | |||
| 2011 | "Menace de mort" | 43 | – | – | Noir desir |
| 2012 | "Histoires vraies" (feat. Corneille) |
75 | – | – | |
| "Dreamin'" (feat. Indila & Skalpovich) |
14 | – | 65 | ||
| "On se connait" (feat. Ayna) |
9 | 7 | 61 | Non-album release | |
| 2014 | "Boma Yé" | 138 | – | – | |
| 2015 | "Smile" | 54 | – | – | NGRTD |
As featured artist
[edit]| Year | Single | Charts | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR [12] |
BEL (Wa) | |||
| 2012 | "I Know" (Remix Street version)" (Irma feat. Youssoupha) |
138 | – | Letter to the Lord |
| 2013 | "Paname Boss" (La Fouine feat. Sniper, Niro, Youssoupha, Canardo, Fababy, Sultan 7) |
54 | 42 | Drôle de parcours |
| "Il se passe quelque chose" (La Fouine feat. Youssoupha) |
101 | – | ||
| "Coeur de Guerrier" (Big Ali feat. Corneille, Youssoupha and Acid) |
– | – | Urban Electro | |
| "Kitoko" (Fally Ipupa feat. Youssoupha) |
– | – | Power World | |
| "Fire" (Ayọ feat. Youssoupha) |
– | – | Ticket to the World | |
| 2016 | "Bada Bing" (Cris Cab feat. Youssoupha) |
104 [14] |
33 | |
| "Musique nègre" (Kery James feat. Lino & Youssoupha) |
112 | – | ||
| 2017 | "Grand Paris" (Médine feat. Lartiste, Lino, Sofiane, Alivor, Seth Gueko, Ninho & Youssoupha) |
65 | – | |
| "Pourquoi chérie" (BMYE feat. Naza, KeBlack, Youssoupha, Hiro, Jaymax & DJ Myst) |
24 | 43 | ||
| "La danse du matin" (BMYE feat. Hiro, Naza, Jaymax, Youssoupha, KeBlack & DJ Myst) |
177 | – | ||
| 2018 | "PLMV" (Médine feat. Kery James & Youssoupha) |
194 | – | |
| 2022 | "W.A.G" | |||
Other charting songs
[edit]| Year | Single | Charts | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR [12] | |||
| 2012 | "Les disques de mon père" (feat. Tabu Ley Rochereau) |
137 | |
| 2015 | "Entourage" | 77 | NGRTD |
| "Public Enemy" | 158 | ||
| "Love Musik" | 168 | ||
| 2018 | "Polaroïd Experience" | 131 | Polaroïd Experience |
| 2021 | "Kash" (feat. Dinos & Lefa) |
96 | |
| "Mon roi" | 198 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Après la polémique, le concert caritatif "Solidarité Congo" s'est déroulé "à guichet fermé"" [After the controversy, the charity concert "Solidarité Congo" was "sold out"]. Radio France Internationale (in French). Paris, France. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ Chanson, Romain (23 April 2025). "Solidarité Congo à Paris: malgré la polémique, un concert sympa comme jamais" [Solidarité Congo in Paris: Despite the controversy, a concert as nice as ever]. Jeune Afrique (in French). Paris, France. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "Après la polémique, le concert caritatif "Solidarité Congo" s'est déroulé "à guichet fermé"" [After the controversy, the charity concert "Solidarité Congo" was "sold out"]. Radio France Internationale (in French). Paris, France. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "A Paris, "une mobilisation sans précédent" lors du concert caritatif "Solidarité Congo"" [In Paris, "an unprecedented mobilization" during the "Solidarité Congo" charity concert]. Le Monde (in French). Paris, France. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "À Paris, le concert Solidarité Congo attire des milliers de spectateurs et de nombreuses stars" [In Paris, the Solidarité Congo concert attracts thousands of spectators and numerous stars]. France 24 (in French). Paris, France. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "Après la polémique, le concert caritatif "Solidarité Congo" s'est déroulé "à guichet fermé"" [After the controversy, the charity concert "Solidarité Congo" was "sold out"]. Radio France Internationale (in French). Paris, France. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "Pourquoi le concert "Solidarité Congo" à Paris fait polémique auprès de la diaspora rwandaise" [Why the "Solidarité Congo" concert in Paris is causing controversy among the Rwandan diaspora]. BFM TV (in French). Paris, France. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ Le Monde: Eric Zemmour porte plainte contre le rappeur Youssoupha pour menace (in French)
- ^ Le Parisien: Un rappeur s'en prend à Eric Zemmour (in French)
- ^ "Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards". Sowetan LIVE. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
- ^ "Nomination dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres janvier 2016 - Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication". Archived from the original on 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
- ^ a b c d e LesCharts.com: Youssoupha page Archived June 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Youssoupha – Polaroid Experience". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP". Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Youssoupha discography at Discogs
- Youssoupha at IMDb
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