Youssoupha

Early life and career

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 baccalauréat 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. 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. Initially slated for 7 April, the event was postponed in observance of the International Day of Remembrance of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

In popular culture

• 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. Youssoupha responded in an interview with Le Parisien that he advocated non-violence, but was pointing out the contradictions of Zemmour. 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.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arve4ZB8jog
• His song La Foule featured in the second episode of the first season of the Amazon streaming series The Boys.

Accolades

• MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 - Best Francophone (Nominated)

Decorations

• Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters (2016)

Discography

Albums

Singles

As featured artist

Other charting songs

References

References

1. (23 April 2025). "Après la polémique, le concert caritatif "Solidarité Congo" s'est déroulé "à guichet fermé"".
2. Chanson, Romain. (23 April 2025). "Solidarité Congo à Paris: malgré la polémique, un concert sympa comme jamais".
3. (23 April 2025). "Après la polémique, le concert caritatif "Solidarité Congo" s'est déroulé "à guichet fermé"".
4. (23 April 2025). "A Paris, "une mobilisation sans précédent" lors du concert caritatif "Solidarité Congo"". [[Le Monde]].
5. (23 April 2025). "À Paris, le concert Solidarité Congo attire des milliers de spectateurs et de nombreuses stars".
6. (23 April 2025). "Après la polémique, le concert caritatif "Solidarité Congo" s'est déroulé "à guichet fermé"".
7. (25 March 2025). "Pourquoi le concert "Solidarité Congo" à Paris fait polémique auprès de la diaspora rwandaise".
8. [http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2009/04/21/eric-zemmour-porte-plainte-contre-le-rappeur-youssoupha-pour-menace_1183583_3224.html#xtor=RSS-3208 ''Le Monde'': Eric Zemmour porte plainte contre le rappeur Youssoupha pour menace] (in French)
9. [http://www.leparisien.fr/loisirs-et-spectacles/un-rappeur-s-en-prend-a-eric-zemmour-21-03-2009-449473.php ''Le Parisien'': Un rappeur s'en prend à Eric Zemmour] (in French)
10. "Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards". Sowetan LIVE.
11. "Nomination dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres janvier 2016 - Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication".
12. link. (June 16, 2013)
13. "Youssoupha – Polaroid Experience".
14. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP".