The artist Didi B is on the way to becoming an African reference in urban rap. His album "MojoTrône II: History" is still at the top of the charts in Côte d'Ivoire, more than a month after its release. Didi B is also preparing for her African tour.
2022 is definitely the year of the Ivorian rapper Didi B. Former member of the group Kiff No Beat, which he left two years ago, his solo adventure is progressing by leaps and bounds. On May 31, Didi B released the first part of her album "MojoTrône II: History" with 16 tracks. The sequel is due out later this year.
For Bassa Zéréhoué Diyilem – Didi B –, History is his “first solo album”. Indeed, he explains that MojoTrône first of his name was actually a mixtape, "so the distinction is made", hammers the artist.
And it must be said that the new album hit hard: it is the most streamed album in Côte d'Ivoire on Boomplay Music (600 streams). Its title "Tala" is by far the first track on Apple Music, and exceeds 000 streams on Spotify. He is also the 200th most listened to artist in Côte d'Ivoire according to YouTube Charts, ahead of Franco-Congolese rapper Ninho and Nigerian superstars Tekno and Kizz Daniel.
Excellent start to a solo career for the Abidjanais. As a reminder, he was, last year, the first rapper to sign with the 92i Africa label of the French-speaking rap legend, Franco-Senegalese Booba. Moreover, 92i Africa also counts the Senegalese rapper Dopeboy DMG among its foals.
It's been 1 month since our Album "HISTORY" was released
And we are still at the top of the ranking 🥇
Thank you my people you are the best 🖤Conspiracy is constancy. 🥷©️ pic.twitter.com/0x492D0Ipg
— DIDI B (@Didibofficial) July 5, 2022
Didi B wants to become an African music legend
Anyway, Didi B has established itself on streaming platforms and fills rooms in Côte d'Ivoire, Benin and Togo. His advantage: he raps in French, but especially in Nouchi slang. He is also one of the rare West African rappers to have had so much success mixing French and Nouchi. Certainly, his compatriot Billy Billy had some success in the 2000s. And Alpha Blondy, as well as the group Magic System, sing in nouchi and had worldwide successes, but in rap, this is becoming rare.
Didi B has the soul of an urban rapper. His music ranges from hardcore to egotrip, and he's heavily influenced by DJ Arafat, to which he pays homage in his album. Critics about the conversion of Didi B into a commercial rapper, he sweeps them away with the back of his hand, with full houses and phenomenal successes.
His ambition? Didi B dreams of entering the English-speaking scene. In a recent interview for RFI, he said he wanted to develop "in Nigeria or Ghana for example". “I remain open to all collaborations with artists from the continent to reach a wider audience. But I don't pressure myself. If it comes, so much the better,” he says.
In any case, for his manager Diba Diallo, the immediate objective is " to impose the Didi B brand » and to prove that the rising star is capable of becoming « an African music legend ».