Gee Bayss
Encyclopedia
Gee Bayss is one of the pioneer DJ's in West Africa
. Member of the group, Pee Froiss
, he toured throughout the world with his sure-fire turntablism which had crowds jumping whenever the group was performing. Combining solo projects with international tours of the Pee Froiss, Gee Bayss is actively engaged in transmitting his deejaying art to the younger generations.
and the creation of Pee Froiss (with Xuman Gunman and Kool Kocc 6), Gee Bayss really starts a career as hip hop DJ, training himself to the art of turntablism. In 1997, Gee Bayss is then one of the first to practice and develop this technical performance of deejaying: he plays music to back up MCs while using turntables and making them scratch to create percussive sounds.
His position of pioneer and leader of turntablism in the region increased the popularity of Gee Bayss beyond the already international recognition of Pee Froiss as one of the flagship groups of Hip Hop Galsen
. Although the group has not released any album since 2003, they regularly go on touring together while keeping on developing respective individual projects. With respect, since 2002, Gee Bayss is one of the regular participants invited to the international festival Waga Hip hop
in (Ouagadougou
, Burkina Faso
) to give workshops in turntablism He also participated to the artistic residency of vocal music, "Waka Tibio", which took place during the 2008 and 2009 editions of the festival.
Besides, since 2007, with the creation of the association "Africulturban" (by Matador), Gee Bayss has been directing, in Pikine
(Dakar’s banlieue), the first school of deejaying, "African Turntablist" which welcomes young people from all over the city. He often holds training and formation on deejaying techniques and regularly accompanies various artists of the Hip Hop Galsen scene apart from Pee Froiss. In 2008, hBee Bayss released his first mixtape, “Egotrip N’ Scratchness”, recorded between Dakar
(Senegal
) and Nouakchott
(Mauritania
) inviting famous artists of Hip Hop Galsen
, such as Big D, Xuman, Duggy Tee, Nix among others.
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. Member of the group, Pee Froiss
Pee Froiss
Pee Froiss is a hip hop group formed in Dakar, Senegal in 1993. It was originally produced by another hip hop group from that city, Positive Black Soul, and since recorded with the duo. The band's music is rapped in Wolof, French, and English and features traditional Senegalese instruments such as...
, he toured throughout the world with his sure-fire turntablism which had crowds jumping whenever the group was performing. Combining solo projects with international tours of the Pee Froiss, Gee Bayss is actively engaged in transmitting his deejaying art to the younger generations.
Biography
Born on April, 23rd 1970, Gee Bayss, of his real name Georges Martin Lopez, made his first steps in music as a club DJ organising and animating special nights in clubs. Early 1990s, he also had a small boutique where he was recording and selling music. With the beginning of Hip Hop GalsenHip Hop Galsen
- Beginnings of movement : Following an historical process of appropriation of American popular music by Senegal,For e.g. Jazz as well as Latin American music such as salsa or pachanga were popular in Senegalese cities from the 1940’s and until recently. Hip Hop emerged in the Senegalese capital...
and the creation of Pee Froiss (with Xuman Gunman and Kool Kocc 6), Gee Bayss really starts a career as hip hop DJ, training himself to the art of turntablism. In 1997, Gee Bayss is then one of the first to practice and develop this technical performance of deejaying: he plays music to back up MCs while using turntables and making them scratch to create percussive sounds.
His position of pioneer and leader of turntablism in the region increased the popularity of Gee Bayss beyond the already international recognition of Pee Froiss as one of the flagship groups of Hip Hop Galsen
Hip Hop Galsen
- Beginnings of movement : Following an historical process of appropriation of American popular music by Senegal,For e.g. Jazz as well as Latin American music such as salsa or pachanga were popular in Senegalese cities from the 1940’s and until recently. Hip Hop emerged in the Senegalese capital...
. Although the group has not released any album since 2003, they regularly go on touring together while keeping on developing respective individual projects. With respect, since 2002, Gee Bayss is one of the regular participants invited to the international festival Waga Hip hop
Waga Hip Hop Festival
Waga Hip Hop is one of the major international hip hop festivals taking place in West Africa. Each year, around early and mid-October, Ouagadougou thus welcomes international artists and media to attend this festival of urban cultures....
in (Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
) to give workshops in turntablism He also participated to the artistic residency of vocal music, "Waka Tibio", which took place during the 2008 and 2009 editions of the festival.
Besides, since 2007, with the creation of the association "Africulturban" (by Matador), Gee Bayss has been directing, in Pikine
Pikine
Pikine is a city in the Pikine Department of the Dakar Region of Senegal. Lying to the east of Dakar city centre, in 2005 it had a population of 834,246. The departement includes the villages of Yeumbeul, Thiaroye, Mbao, and Keur Massar Malika...
(Dakar’s banlieue), the first school of deejaying, "African Turntablist" which welcomes young people from all over the city. He often holds training and formation on deejaying techniques and regularly accompanies various artists of the Hip Hop Galsen scene apart from Pee Froiss. In 2008, hBee Bayss released his first mixtape, “Egotrip N’ Scratchness”, recorded between Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
(Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
) and Nouakchott
Nouakchott
-Government:The town was first divided into districts in 1973. First it was divided into four. From 1986, the city has been split into nine districts.* Arafat* Dar Naim* El Mina* Ksar* Riad* Sebkha* Tevragh-Zeina* Teyarett* Toujounine...
(Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
) inviting famous artists of Hip Hop Galsen
Hip Hop Galsen
- Beginnings of movement : Following an historical process of appropriation of American popular music by Senegal,For e.g. Jazz as well as Latin American music such as salsa or pachanga were popular in Senegalese cities from the 1940’s and until recently. Hip Hop emerged in the Senegalese capital...
, such as Big D, Xuman, Duggy Tee, Nix among others.
Discography
- 1996 – Pee Froiss – Wala Wala Bok
- 1998 – Pee Froiss – Affaire Bou Graw
- 1999 – Pee Froiss – Ah Simm!
- 2001 – Pee Froiss – F.R.O.I.S.S
- 2003 – Pee Froiss – Konkérants
- 2008 – Gee Bayss - Egotrip N'Scratchness
Affiliation
- Waga Hip Hop FestivalWaga Hip Hop FestivalWaga Hip Hop is one of the major international hip hop festivals taking place in West Africa. Each year, around early and mid-October, Ouagadougou thus welcomes international artists and media to attend this festival of urban cultures....
- Pee FroissPee FroissPee Froiss is a hip hop group formed in Dakar, Senegal in 1993. It was originally produced by another hip hop group from that city, Positive Black Soul, and since recorded with the duo. The band's music is rapped in Wolof, French, and English and features traditional Senegalese instruments such as...
- Africulturban