Keyti
Encyclopedia
Keyti is one of the first and most prominent hardcore hip hop artist in Senegal
. With his famous group Rap’Adio, he offered a radical approach to Hip Hop Galsen
violently recalling the initial purpose of Hip Hop
as a means to denounce society’s flaws. Still radically critical, though less hardcore, Keyti now evolves in solo. He is part of the West African hip hop collective AURA (United Artists for African Rap)
and performs in its well-known musical comedy The Extraordinary Stories of Poto-Poto Children.
In 1998, the group releases its debut album Ku Wéét Xam Sa Bopp (“Solitude teaches who we are”). This first album violently attacks all the established bands while accusing them of having distorted the initial purpose of Hip Hop that is to address society's flaws. Rap'Adio members see themselves as the 'soldiers of the street' who use rap as a mean to denounce the harsh reality of those struggling with little means. In 2001, they released their second album, Soldaaru Mbed (Street soldiers) which denounced the problems of Senegalese society while using a hardhitting moralising tone. However, Rap'Adio could not survive the strong personalities and divergent beliefs of its members and eventually split.
Keyti went on with his solo career and, in 2003, he released his first solo album: Jog ak Daanu (Highs and Lows). In this eight tracks album, Keyti takes a less stringently moralising tone while, nonetheless, continuing to criticize the difficulties that youth faces, as well as the derives of political power and money. Musically speaking, Ibou N'Dour (Youssou N'Dour
's brother) and the keyboard player from Viviane N'Dour's group contributed to the album. Keyti is currently preparing his second solo album. Since 2006, Keity has joined the West African hip hop collective AURA (United Artists for African Rap) as one of its Senegalese representatives. In AURA’s musical comedy, “The Extraordinary Stories of Poto-Poto children”, Keyti interprets Mamadi, a young boy chronically ill striving to survive in an health system ruled by money. Besides, Keyti actively participates in various media projects on Hip Hop Galsen
.
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...
. With his famous group Rap’Adio, he offered a radical approach to 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...
violently recalling the initial purpose of Hip Hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
as a means to denounce society’s flaws. Still radically critical, though less hardcore, Keyti now evolves in solo. He is part of the West African hip hop collective AURA (United Artists for African Rap)
AURA (United Artists for African Rap)
AURA is a collective of 17 hip hop artists coming from ten different countries in West Africa and who are committed to use their voices and music for Africa’s development...
and performs in its well-known musical comedy The Extraordinary Stories of Poto-Poto Children.
Biography
Born on December, 22nd 1972, Keyti, of his real name Cheikh Sène, is one of the first hardcore rapper emerging in the late mid-1990s in Senegal. He is one of founding members of the notorious hardcore trio Rap’Adio with Iba and Bibson.In 1998, the group releases its debut album Ku Wéét Xam Sa Bopp (“Solitude teaches who we are”). This first album violently attacks all the established bands while accusing them of having distorted the initial purpose of Hip Hop that is to address society's flaws. Rap'Adio members see themselves as the 'soldiers of the street' who use rap as a mean to denounce the harsh reality of those struggling with little means. In 2001, they released their second album, Soldaaru Mbed (Street soldiers) which denounced the problems of Senegalese society while using a hardhitting moralising tone. However, Rap'Adio could not survive the strong personalities and divergent beliefs of its members and eventually split.
Keyti went on with his solo career and, in 2003, he released his first solo album: Jog ak Daanu (Highs and Lows). In this eight tracks album, Keyti takes a less stringently moralising tone while, nonetheless, continuing to criticize the difficulties that youth faces, as well as the derives of political power and money. Musically speaking, Ibou N'Dour (Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer, percussionist and occasional actor. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, in Senegal and much of Africa, "perhaps the most famous singer alive." He helped develop a style of popular music in Senegal, known in the Serer language as mbalax, a type of music...
's brother) and the keyboard player from Viviane N'Dour's group contributed to the album. Keyti is currently preparing his second solo album. Since 2006, Keity has joined the West African hip hop collective AURA (United Artists for African Rap) as one of its Senegalese representatives. In AURA’s musical comedy, “The Extraordinary Stories of Poto-Poto children”, Keyti interprets Mamadi, a young boy chronically ill striving to survive in an health system ruled by money. Besides, Keyti actively participates in various media projects on 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...
.
Discography
- 1998 – Rap’Adio – Ku Wéét Xam Sa Bopp
- 2001 – Rap’Adio – Soldaaru Mbed
- 2003 – Keyti – Jok Ak Danuu