Kiff No Beat

After winning the 2010 Faya Flow hip-hop competition in their native Abidjan, Ivorian collective Kiff No Beat spent the next five years cementing their status as breakout stars with an eclectic but unified sound that encompassed rap, trap, R&B, and pop. Through projects like 2014's Pétards d'Ados and 2015's Cubisme, the quintet expanded their audience beyond Ivory Coast, eventually landing a major label deal with Universal Music Africa. After focusing on singles for several years, the group returned with 2019's full-length Bledard Is the New Fresh. Black K, Eljay, Elow'n, Didi B, and Joochar formed Kiff No Beat in 2009, combining their diverse influences into a collective style that allowed each member to shine while working together in a tight unit. After cutting their teeth for a year, they participated in Faya Flow, the country's biggest rap competition, and won top prize. With their winnings, they enlisted producer Shado Chris to help them record their first album. Released in 2011, Cadeau de Noël built on their initial success and was followed in 2012 by the 23-track Jackson Five mixtape. It was the group's 2014 release, Pétards d'Ados, and its lead single "Tu Es dans Pain," however, that helped them break out to a larger international audience throughout parts of Africa, France, and even in the U.S. Quick to capitalize on their momentum, they issued the Cubisme mixtape in 2015, while keeping up a steady stream of singles including the hit 2016 DJ Arafat collaboration "Approchez Regardez." Stepping up to the majors, they signed with Universal Music Africa in 2017 and released the single "Pourquoi Tu Dab." A brief 7-song mixtape called Made in Bled appeared in 2018 and featured a track with Malian star Sidiki Diabaté. The following year, Kiff No Beat offered up their first major-label album with Bledard Is the New Fresh. Several more singles appeared over the coming year including the hit "La Go." ~ Timothy Monger