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. 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

## References



## External links

* Official website
*  at IMDb