Baloji (rapper)

Baloji (born 12 September 1978) be a Belgian rapper, singer den film director of Congolese origin. Dem know am as MC Balo insyd de hip hop group Starflam, he continue as solo artist dey start 2006. De name Baloji insyd Swahili dey translate to "man of science". Na dem select ein film Omen as de Belgian entry for Best International Feature Film for de 96th Academy Awards.
 Career 
Dem born am out of wedlock to a Belgian poppie den a Congolese mommie, he move go Belgium for an early age plus ein poppie make dem live insyd Ostende, wey he lose all contact plus ein mommie. Dey feel estrange insyd ein new environment den after disputes plus ein poppie den petty crimes den problems plus police, he quit home wey he live insyd a youth delinquent house wey he work for ein passion for rap den dance. Alongsyd ein paddies, he start de hip hop band Starflam for age 15. Na de band ein self-titled debut album insyd 1998 be Starflam den de follow-up album Survivant dem release for Capitol / EMI insyd 2001 go platinum wey na dem rerelease plus a Survivant – Édition Spéciale insyd EMI de year wey dey follow. Insyd 2003, de band yet get anoda studio album Donne moi de l'amour. Buh after differences plus de oda members of de band, Baloji quit music insyd 2004.

After Baloji discover a letter from ein mommie wey he no see since 1981, den after he win a poetry competition insyd Paris, France, he decide make he return to music insyd 2006 as a solo artist. Na ein debut solo album insyd 2008 he entitle Hotel Impala na ebe an autobiographical album about ein life, wey dey include a hearty response to his mommie ein letter. "I made my first solo album for my mother, to explain what happened in my life during the 25 years after I left. I went back to give her the album and she did not really understand it. Let’s say it didn’t go very well", Baloji say. Na de album be certified gold, wey de album win two "Octaves de la musique" awards as well as Rapsat-Lelièvre Award den Brassens Awards for Lyricists.DISCS, CRAMMED. "CRAMMED DISCS: Baloji". www.crammed.be. Retrieved 30 December 2024. He follow am up plus albums Kinshasa Succursale insyd 2011 den 64 Bits and Malachite insyd 2015.

Na ein film "Omen" debut for de 2023 Cannes Film Festival, wer e win de Un Certain Regard New Voice Prize. De film get 13 nominations for de Africa Movie Academy Awards. Na dem release de film ein soundtrack as a five-track EP plus MCA Records.

 Discography 

 Albums 

 As part of Starflam

 1998: Starflam [Discipline Records / Rough Trade]
 2000: Live & Direct [Warner Music Benelux]
 2001: Survivant [Capitol/EMI]
 2002: Survivant – Édition Spéciale (EMI)
 2003: Donne moi de l'amour [Hostile/EMI]
 2004: Donne moi de l'amour – Édition Deluxe (EMI)

 Solo

 2008: Hotel Impala
 2011: Kinshasa Succursale
 2015: 64 Bits and Malachite
 2018: 137 Avenue Kaniama

 Maxis den singles 

 As part of Starflam

 1997: "Corde raide" [12", Discipline Records]
 1998: Ce plat pays II [12" & CD, Discipline Records]
 2000: Bled runner [12" & CD, Warner Music Benelux]
 2001: "De cause à effet" / "Ca tape dur" [12", Capitol / EMI]
 2001: La Sonora [12 & CD, Capitol / EMI]
 2001: Amnésie Internationale [12" & CD, Capitol / EMI]
 2002: Sous pression [12" & CD, Capitol / EMI]
 2003: "Marseille – Liège" / "Mr Orange" [12", Hostile / EMI]
 2003: "Ils ne savent pas" [12", Hostile / EMI]

 He feature insyd

 2015: "La vie est belle / Life is Beautiful" (Petite Noir feat. Baloji)

 Filmography 
YearTitleRoleNotes2011BullheadPatrick2017How Camels Become LionsBaloji2019ZombiesDirector2019BintiJovialDem nominate–Magritte Award for Most Promising Actor2023OmenDirector, screenwriter

 References 
Category:Living people

 External links 

 Official website
 Baloji at IMDb

Category:1978 births
Category:Human
Category:21st-century Belgian male musicians
Category:21st-century Belgian male actors
Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo male singers
Category:French-language singers of de Democratic Republic of the Congo
Category:French-language singers of Belgium
Category:Belgian film directors
Category:Belgian male singer-songwriters
Category:Belgian producers
Category:Belgian male rappers
Category:Belgian screenwriters
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo male actors
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to Belgium
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo film directors
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo musicians
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo producers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo rappers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo screenwriters
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo singer-songwriters
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo people
Category:People wey komot Lubumbashi
Category:Magritte Award winners
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo actors