Biography
After claiming victory at the 2010 Faya Flow hip-hop competition held in their hometown of Abidjan, the Ivorian collective Kiff No Beat spent the ensuing half-decade establishing themselves as breakout artists through an eclectic yet cohesive blend of rap, trap, R&B, and pop. Releases such as the 2014 project Pétards d'Ados and the 2015 effort Cubisme helped the five-piece outfit reach listeners outside Ivory Coast, culminating in a major-label agreement with Universal Music Africa. Following a period devoted primarily to standalone tracks, the group resurfaced in 2019 with the full-length album Bledard Is the New Fresh.
Black K, Eljay, Elow'n, Didi B, and Joochar came together as Kiff No Beat in 2009, merging their varied influences into a unified approach that let each contributor stand out within a cohesive unit. Following a year of development, they entered Faya Flow, the nation's premier rap contest, and captured the top honor. The prize money allowed them to recruit producer Shado Chris for their debut album, which appeared in 2011 as Cadeau de Noël and extended their early momentum. That success preceded the 2012 release of the 23-track mixtape Jackson Five. It was the 2014 arrival of Pétards d'Ados, fronted by the single "Tu Es dans Pain," that truly broadened their reach across regions of Africa, France, and the United States. Capitalizing on this exposure, they delivered the Cubisme mixtape in 2015 and maintained a consistent flow of singles, among them the 2016 hit collaboration "Approchez Regardez" with DJ Arafat. They advanced to major-label status by signing with Universal Music Africa in 2017 and issuing the single "Pourquoi Tu Dab." A concise seven-song mixtape titled Made in Bled surfaced in 2018 and included a guest appearance from Malian star Sidiki Diabaté. The next year brought Kiff No Beat's inaugural major-label album, Bledard Is the New Fresh. Additional singles followed throughout the subsequent twelve months, highlighted by the popular track "La Go."
Black K, Eljay, Elow'n, Didi B, and Joochar came together as Kiff No Beat in 2009, merging their varied influences into a unified approach that let each contributor stand out within a cohesive unit. Following a year of development, they entered Faya Flow, the nation's premier rap contest, and captured the top honor. The prize money allowed them to recruit producer Shado Chris for their debut album, which appeared in 2011 as Cadeau de Noël and extended their early momentum. That success preceded the 2012 release of the 23-track mixtape Jackson Five. It was the 2014 arrival of Pétards d'Ados, fronted by the single "Tu Es dans Pain," that truly broadened their reach across regions of Africa, France, and the United States. Capitalizing on this exposure, they delivered the Cubisme mixtape in 2015 and maintained a consistent flow of singles, among them the 2016 hit collaboration "Approchez Regardez" with DJ Arafat. They advanced to major-label status by signing with Universal Music Africa in 2017 and issuing the single "Pourquoi Tu Dab." A concise seven-song mixtape titled Made in Bled surfaced in 2018 and included a guest appearance from Malian star Sidiki Diabaté. The next year brought Kiff No Beat's inaugural major-label album, Bledard Is the New Fresh. Additional singles followed throughout the subsequent twelve months, highlighted by the popular track "La Go."
Albums
Singles
