MHD (rapper)

Mohamed Sylla (born 10 September 1994), better known by his stage name MHD, is a French rapper from Paris, who is known for blending trap music with music of West Africa; a genre he coined as "Afro Trap".[1][2][3] He was previously part of the rap collective 1.9 Réseaux.

MHD
MHD in 2017
Background information
Birth nameMohamed Sylla
Born (1994-09-10) 10 September 1994
La Roche-sur-Yon, France
Origin19th arrondissement of Paris, France
Genres
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active2015–2018
Associated acts

Born in Vendée to a family of West African extraction, MHD began his career as a rapper in Paris at the age of 18. He found success in the mid-2010s through material he published on social media (notably music videos on YouTube) and in 2016 released his debut album MHD, which sold more than 200,000 copies in 6 months.[4][5][6] He later received international recognition, and toured in Guinea, England, Senegal and Morocco.[7] His second album, titled 19, was released in September 2018.

In January 2019, MHD was arrested by French police and charged with second-degree murder following investigation into a murder case dating back to 2018. Clamining his innocence through his lawyer, he was then remanded in custody for 18 months. Released under supervision, he is currently awaiting trial.

Life and career

1994-2012: Early life

Mohamed Sylla was born in La Roche-sur-Yon (Vendée, France) of a Senegalese mother and a Guinean father; later in life, he moved to the 19th arrondissement of Paris.[2][8] As a child, he and his family would often listen to music from Africa; he cites Papa Wemba, Koffi Olomide,[2] Salif Keita and Awilo Longomba[9] as influences.

2012-2015: Debut

In 2012, aged 18, Sylla a.k.a. "MHD" (a stage name derived from his first name Mohamed) joined 1.9 Réseaux, a rap collective in the 19th arrondissement. After years of spending time and money trying to make a breakthrough, he eventually quit the gangsta rap scene.[9] He then started to make a living, first by delivering pizza, before landing a job as a waiter in a luxury restaurant in the 6th arrondissement; MHD has since talked about this experience, and the casual racism he was subjected to by the patrons.[9] After getting his BEP restauration (French foodservice qualification) he began considering a career in the catering industry.[9]

2015-2016: The rise of "Afro Trap"

In August 2015, while on vacation, MHD posted a video on the Internet, of himself doing a freestyle over a song by Nigerian band P-Square.[2][9] The video, which he said he did "just for fun", was received with success on social media,[9]and the positive feedback inspired him to make a comeback into music. However, he had been disappointed with the world of French-language rap from his previous experience, judging there was too much influence from American trends.[7][9] Taking from his parents' West African roots, he decided to provide diversity to the genre by adding cultural elements of this region into his music, such as musical genres, or singing verses in languages like Fula or Wolof.[9] He coined this newfound genre as "Afro Trap".[2][9]

Back from vacation, MHD began filming a music video for his freestyle song in his housing estate of the 19th arrondissement.[7][9] Released in September 2015, the video, titled Afro Trap Part. 1 (La Moula) and featuring local youths dancing in the streets, garnered popularity on YouTube,[7][9] prompting him to release more songs and videos. Afro Trap Part. 3 (Champions League), a song praising the Paris Saint-Germain football club, is considered a breakthrough in MHD's music career, with the song and its dance moves becoming popular with supporters –and later, players– of the club.[9] Soon, he was invited to perform opening acts for French rapper Booba,[9] was featured in the soundtrack of the film Pattaya, and was invited to the Élysée –the French presidential palace– by then-President François Hollande on the occasion of a visit by Guinean President Alpha Condé.[10]

2016-2018: Studio career

His first studio album, named after his stage name, MHD, was released on 15 April 2016.[4] It includes six parts of his Afro Trap series and songs featuring Fally Ipupa and Angélique Kidjo. The album sold more than 200,000 copies in less than six months, earning a double platinum certification in France.[11]

He made successful tours in Europe and Africa, and became an ambassador for clothing brand Puma.[8]

In September 2018, while preparing the release of his second studio album 19, MHD stated on social media that he had become disillusioned with the music industry and that he might retire after the release of the album.[8][12] His second album , titled "19" (a reference to the 19th arrondissement where he used to live) was released on 19 September 2018, including collaborations with artists such as Salif Keita, Dadju, Orelsan and Nigerian pop star Wizkid; as of 2019, it sold more than 75,000 copies.[13]

2018-Present: Film debut, detention

In 2018, MHD made his film debut starring in Mon frère (My Brother), a French drama directed by Julien Abraham. The film follows the story of Teddy (played by MHD) a young man who gets sent to a youth detention center after being accused of the murder of his abusive father.

Between the filming of Mon frère and the film's theatrical release in July 2019, MHD was arrested in January 2019, and charged with second-degree murder, following investigation by French police into the death of a man in Paris (see § Legal issues). He was released under judicial supervision in July 2020. Claiming his innocence, he is currently awaiting trial.

Criticism of police misconduct

In October 2018, MHD uploaded a video on social media in which two young men –one of which was described by MHD as his "big brother"– appeared to be victims of police misconduct. The video prompted investigation from the IGPN, the branch of the French police responsible for internal affairs.[14] A spokesperson for the French police declared that the officers were responding to "threats" coming from the youths in the video.[14]

2019 arrest and detention

In January 2019, his name was cited in an investigation into a murder case, dating back to July 2018, when a 23-year-old man was beaten to death in the streets of Paris during what has been reported as a fight between rival street gangs.[8] Through images collected by surveillance cameras,[15] French police found that assailants came to the crime scene using a car whose owner was identified as MHD;[15][16] they later named MHD as a suspect himself. MHD was put on custody on 15 January 2019;[8][10] two days later, he was indicted and charged with second-degree murder.[16][17] Speaking through his lawyer, MHD denied any involvement in the crime, while his lawyer cited his "lack of a judicial record" and affirmed he has "never been involved in fights between street gangs", adding that she would appeal MHD being put on custody.[8][17]

Following his arrest, some of his scheduled concerts were postponed indefinitely,[16] while several fellow rappers, including Naza and Black M, voiced their support for MHD.[8][17]

In March 2020, while MHD was remanded in custody in La Santé, his lawyer stated that he had tested positive for COVID-19[18] and subsequently requested for MHD to be released under supervision.[19][20] The request was rejected.[21]

In July 2020, after being detained on remand for 18 months, MHD was released under judicial supervision.[22][23] He has since awaited trial.

Discography

Studio albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
FRA
[24]		 BEL (Fl)
[25]		 BEL (Wa)
[26]		 NLD
[27]		 SWI
[28]
MHD
  • Released: 15 April 2016
  • Label: Artside, AZ, Capitol, Universal
  • Format: Digital download
 2170122025
  • SNEP: 2× Platinum[29]
19
  • Released: 19 September 2018[30]
  • Label: Artside
  • Format: Digital download
 3
[31]		4271110

Extended plays
Title EP details
Afro Trap (Mad Decent Remixes)
(with Mad Decent)
  • Released: 2 February 2018[32]
  • Label: Artside
  • Format: Digital download

Singles
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
FRA
[24]		 BEL
(Wa)
 NLD
[27]		 SWI
[28]
"Afro Trap Pt.2 (Kakala Bomaye)" 2016 181——— MHD
"Afro Trap Pt.3 (Champions League)" 1949——
"Afro Trap Pt.4 (Fais le mouv)" 108———
"Afro Trap Pt.5 (Ngatie Abedi)" 32———
"Afro Trap Pt.6 (Molo Molo)" 53———
"A kele nta" 15———
"Afro Trap Pt.7 (La Puissance)" 19—7578
"Afro Trap Pt.8 (Never)" 2017 6507442 non-album single
"Bravo" 11——82 19
"Afro Trap Pt.9 (Faut Les Wet)" 44——— non-album single
"Afro Trap Pt.10 (Moula Gang)" 2018 14—7387 19
"Bénéfice"
(with Ninho)		 84——— non-album singles
"Bodyguard" 46———
"Bella"
(feat. Wizkid)		 42
[41]		38—57 19
"Intro Mansa"[42]
(feat. Salif Keita)		 ————
"XIX" 71
[41]		———

Other charting songs
List of other charting songs, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peaks Album
FRA
[24]		 SWI
[28]
"Roger Milla" 2016 71— MHD
"Amina" 122—
"La Moula" 138—
"Maman J'ai mal" 50—
"Tout Seul" 177—
"Ma Vie" 145—
"Bébé"
(featuring Dadju)		 2018 —83 19
Year Title Peak positions Album
FRA
[24]
2016 "À l'ouest"
(Black M feat. MHD)		 — Éternel insatisfait
"Laissez-les kouma"
(Zaho feat. MHD)		 33
[43]		 —
"Oblah"
(Gradur feat. MHD, Alonzo & Nyda)		 19
2017 "Feu d'artifice"
(Alonzo feat. MHD)		 19
"Na lingui yé"
(Fally Ipupa feat. MHD)		 119
"Problèmes"
(Aya Nakamura feat. MHD)		 118 Journal intime
"Versus"
(Niska feat. MHD)		 35
2018 "Bénéfice"
(Ninho X MHD)		 84
"Appelez la police"
(Maître Gims X MHD)		 138 Ceinture noire

Music videos
List of music videos as lead artist, showing directors
Title Year Director(s)
"Afrotrap Pt.2 (Kakala Bomaye)" 2015 Kyoh Productions[44]
"Afrotrap Pt.3 (Champions League)" 420Workshop[45]
"Afrotrap Pt.4 (Fais le mouv)" 420Workshop[46]
"Afrotrap Pt.5 (Ngatie Abedi)" 2016 Kyoh Productions[47][48]
"Afrotrap Pt.6 (Molo)"
"Roger Milla" William Thomas[49][50]
"Maman j'ai mal"
"A kele nta" Ken & Ryu[51]
"Afrotrap Pt.7 (La Puissance)" Pierre-Marie Paubel[52]
"Afrotrap Pt.8 (Never)" 2017 Ju Kahlo[53]
"Bravo" Julien Kaddour[54]
"Afrotrap Pt.9 (Faut les wet)" 420 Workshop[55]
"Afrotrap Pt.10 (Moula Gang)" 2018 Frédéric de Pontcharra[56]
"Bodyguard" 420 Workshop[57]
"Bella"
(feat. WizKid)		 KLVDR[58]
"XIX" Ojoz[59]

Filmography
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References
  1. "MHD, du rap à l'afro-trap". Le Monde. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  2. "Musique : MHD, c'est la nouvelle star des ados" (in French). Le Parisien. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  3. "MHD : de phénomène viral à nouveau pape de l'Afro trap ?". Ouest-France. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  4. "L'Afro-trap de MHD débarque dans les bacs ce 15 avril pour son premier album". Tendance Ouest. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  5. "MHD : Le premier album du prince de l'afro-trap sort aujourd'hui !". Melty. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  6. "L'album du rappeur MHD sort le 15 avril 2016". Zikeo. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  7. Amrani, Iman (5 June 2017). "MHD: 'So many French rappers are inspired by American hip-hop. I'm the opposite'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  8. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben; Snapes, Laura (18 January 2019). "French rap star MHD arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  9. Boinet, Carole; Doucet, David (19 April 2016). "Qui est MHD, le prince de l'afro-trap ?". Les Inrocks (in French). Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  10. "Le rappeur MHD en garde à vue pour une rixe mortelle en juillet à Paris". Le Monde (in French). 15 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  11. Binet, Stéphanie (19 September 2018). "Afro-trap : MHD, des tubes et des doutes". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  12. Dmitriev, Nikita (22 September 2018). "MHD, l'étoile filante du rap français". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  13. Poussel, Marie (18 January 2019). "MHD, une star du rap en détention provisoire". Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  14. Chapuis, Nicolas (5 October 2018). "Ouverture d'une enquête pour violence policière après la diffusion d'une vidéo par le rappeur MHD". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  15. Fansten, Emmanuel; Le Devin, Willy (25 January 2020). "MHD, la nuit où tout a basculé". Libération (in French). Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  16. Vazquez, Coline (18 January 2019). "Le rappeur MHD mis en examen et placé en détention". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  17. "Le rappeur MHD mis en examen pour « homicide volontaire » après une rixe mortelle à Paris". Le Monde (in French). 18 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  18. "Coronavirus : le rappeur MHD, incarcéré à la Santé, testé positif au Covid-19". francetvinfo.fr (in French). 27 March 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  19. Bertrand, Mélanie; Lachasse, Jérôme (27 March 2020). "CORONAVIRUS: LE RAPPEUR MHD CONTAMINÉ EN DÉTENTION À LA PRISON DE LA SANTÉ". bfmtv.com (in French). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  20. Rampazzo, Théo (3 April 2020). "Positif au coronavirus, le rappeur MHD pourrait être libéré de prison". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  21. "Positif au coronavirus, le rappeur MHD reste en détention". Le Figaro (in French). 8 April 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  22. "Le rappeur français MHD, star de l'"afro-trap", remis en liberté sous contrôle judiciaire". francetvinfo.fr (in French). 16 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  23. "Rixe mortelle à Paris : le rappeur MHD libéré sous contrôle judiciaire". Le Point (in French). 16 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  24. "MHD discography". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  25. "MHD discography". ultratop.be/nl/. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  26. "MHD discography". ultratop.be/fr/. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  27. "MHD discography". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  28. "MHD discography". hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  29. "French album certifications – MHD" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  30. "MHD – 19". iTunes Store. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  31. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2018-10-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. "MHD – Afro Trap (Mad Decent Remixes)". Itunes Store. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  33. "French single certifications – MHD – Afro Trap Pt.2 (Kakala Bomaye)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  34. "French single certifications – MHD – Afro Trap Pt.3 (Champions League)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  35. "French single certifications – MHD – Afro Trap Pt.4 (Fais le mouv)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  36. "French single certifications – MHD – Afro Trap Pt.5 (Ngatie Abedi)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  37. "French single certifications – MHD – Afro Trap Pt.6 (Molo Molo)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  38. "French single certifications – MHD – A kele nta". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  39. "French single certifications – MHD – Afro Trap Pt.7 (La Puissance)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  40. "French single certifications – MHD – Afro Trap Pt.8 (Never)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  41. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-08-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. "MHD feat. Salif Keita – Intro Mansa – Single". iTunes Store. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  43. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 35, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  44. "MHD – Afrotrap Pt.2 (Kakala Bomaye)". Artside. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  45. "MHD – Afrotrap Pt.3 (Champions League)". Artside. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  46. "MHD – Afrotrap Pt.4 (Fais le mouv)". Artside. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  47. "MHD – Afrotrap Pt.5 (Ngatie Abedi)". Artside. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  48. "MHD – Afrotrap Pt.5 (Molo Molo)". Artside. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  49. "MHD – Rogger Milla". Artside. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  50. "MHD – Maman j'ai mal". Artside. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  51. "MHD – A kele nta". Artside. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  52. "MHD – Afrotrap Pt.7 (La Puissance)". Artside. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  53. "MHD – Afrotrap Pt.8 (Never)". Artside. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  54. "MHD – Bravo". Artside. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  55. "MHD – Afrotrap Pt.9 (Faut les wet)". Artside. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  56. "MHD – Afrotrap Pt.10 (Moula Gang)". Artside. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  57. "MHD – Bodyguard". Artside. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  58. "MHD – Bella (feat. WizKid)". Artside. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  59. "MHD – XIX". Artside. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
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