Named after the cuddly Gremlins character, French-Senegalese MC Guizmo, aka Lamine Diakite, quickly emerged as one of the breakout figures in the French hip-hop landscape. His upbringing in Villeneuve-la-Garenne was shaped by his mother’s trove of vintage Motown recordings, yet a teenage passion for rap drew him into the orbit of Alpha Wann, who brought him into the street collective L’Entourage. He first gained notice via rap battles, YouTube clips showcasing his freestyle abilities, and guest spots on cuts by Saké and Selah Sue, all of which paved the way for his 2011 street album Normal. The following year saw him contribute to the Booska Tape, Vol. 1 mixtape, part ways with L’Entourage over “creative differences,” land a hit with “Maman STP,” and deliver his first studio album, La Banquise.
