MHD (rapper)

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MHD
MHD in 2017
MHD in 2017
Background information
Birth nameMohamed Sylla
Born (1994-09-10) 10 September 1994 (age 30)
La Roche-sur-Yon, Vendée, France
Genres
OccupationRapper
Years active
  • 2012–2018
  • 2021–present
Websitemhdmusic.com

Mohamed Sylla (French pronunciation: [sila]; born 10 September 1994), better known by his stage name MHD, is a Guinean-French rapper based in Paris, who is known for blending trap music with music of Africa; a genre he coined as "Afro Trap".[1][2][3] He was previously part of the rap collective 1.9 Réseaux.

Born in Vendée to a family of West African extraction, MHD began his career as a rapper in Paris at the age of 18. He found success in the mid-2010s through material he published on social media (notably music videos on YouTube) and in 2016 released his debut album MHD, which sold more than 200,000 copies in 6 months.[4][5][6] He later received international recognition, and toured in Guinea[citation needed], England, Senegal and Morocco.[7] His second album, titled 19, was released in September 2018, and he released his third album Mansa in July 2021.

In January 2019, MHD was arrested and charged with second-degree murder following investigation into the case of a young man who was beaten to death in the streets of Paris. He was remanded in custody for 18 months, and in 2023 was convicted of murder and sentenced to twelve years in prison.[8] Claiming his innocence, he appealed the verdict and was released from prison in February 2024. His trial in the appellate court is pending.

  1. ^ "MHD, du rap à l'afro-trap". Le Monde. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Musique : MHD, c'est la nouvelle star des ados" (in French). Le Parisien. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  3. ^ "MHD : de phénomène viral à nouveau pape de l'Afro trap ?". Ouest-France. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  4. ^ "L'Afro-trap de MHD débarque dans les bacs ce 15 avril pour son premier album". Tendance Ouest. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  5. ^ "MHD : Le premier album du prince de l'afro-trap sort aujourd'hui !". Melty. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  6. ^ "L'album du rappeur MHD sort le 15 avril 2016". Zikeo. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  7. ^ Amrani, Iman (5 June 2017). "MHD: 'So many French rappers are inspired by American hip-hop. I'm the opposite'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  8. ^ O'Donoghue, Saskia (24 September 2023). "French rapper MHD jailed for murder". Euronews. Retrieved 23 September 2023.