Sefyu
Encyclopedia
Youssef Soukouna better known by his stage name Sefyu (sɛfjy, his first name in verlan
), is a French
rapper of Senegalese descent. He comes from Aulnay-sous-Bois
(“Cité des Emmaüs”), a city in the French department of Seine-Saint-Denis
(Northern suburbs of Paris
). Sefyu originally aspired to become a professional soccer player, but his dream was derailed after he sustained an injury. He emerged on the hip-hop scene in the early 2000s.
A member of the crews “NCC” (Natural Court Circuit –“ Natural Short Circuit”) and “G-Huit”, he started his ascent to fame by rapping with Rohff
on his album La Fierté des nôtres, released in June 2004.
He has worked with a vast array of French rappers, including Moystaff du Bengale, Nemesis, Ritmo, La K-Bine crew, Passi
, Sniper
, Daddy Lord C. He performed publicly in 2001 at the Francofolies de la Rochelle.
In 2005, he released a « street CD » entitled « Molotov 4 », produced by Kore et Skalp.
In April 2006, Sefyu released his first album, Qui Suis-je ? (“Who Am I ?”). Sefyu’s style his characterised by a few features: a deep, husky voice, and a range of unique phrases (“Crrr!”, an onomatopoeia imitating the sound of a gun being cocked; “Crouille”, French slang for “riffraff”; “undercover”... ). Some of his songs belong to the hardcore hip-hop genre (i.e.: “La vie qui va avec”), whereas some others are inspired by R’n’B music (i.e.: “Un point c’est tout”).
His 2007 song “”Lettre du Front” (Letter from the Frontline) was released on R’n’b singer Kenza Farah’s
album.
On May 12, 2008, Sefyu released his second album, « Suis-je le gardien de mon frère? » (Am I my brother’s keeper ?). Before its release, Sefyu made a few acclaimed singles (“Mon Public”, “Molotov 4”, “Au pays du zahef”) which contributed to the album’s commercial success: according to Planète Rap Magazine, 106,453 copies of Sefyu’s second album were sold in France in 2008.
On March 1, 2009, Sefyu won the Victoire de la Musique Award, in the category “Revelation of the year” .
Sefyu seldom shows his face, and often hides it by wearing a hoody, by hiding it with his fist, a ski mask, or his fitted hat; the reason for this being doubly. The first reason for hiding his face is as an homage to the "caillera style". There is also another, more personal reason: his father did not want him to become a rapper, and not showing his face is being deferent to his father.
Albums
2005 : Molotov 4
2006 : Qui suis-je ?
2008 : Suis-je le gardien de mon frère ?'
Featurings:
2001
Sefyu - "La lutte libère" on "Sachons dire NON Vol.1"
La K-Bine Feat Sefyu - "Des hommes en kolère" on "Le Rap est mort" (By La K-Bine)
2002
Gentlemen Feat Sefyu - "Vision 200" on The Gentlemen's album, "Mortelle Saint-Valentin"
2003
Sefyu Feat Rohff, Zesau & Dry - "Baiser" on "Talents fâchés Vol.1"
La K-Bine Feat Sefyu - "Crimes impunis" on La K-Bine's album, "Rapport de force"
2004
Rohff Feat Sefyu, Alibi Montana & Kamel L'ancien - "Code 187" on Rohff's album, "La fierté des nôtres"
Sefyu - "Flow du Malawi" on "Talents fâchés Vol.2"
2005
Ol' Kainry & Dany Dan Feat Sefyu, Alibi Montana & Nubi - "Crie mon nom Remix" on the street CD of the same name
K.ommando Toxic Feat Sefyu - "Pucc fiction Remix" on K.ommando Toxic' album, "Retour vers le futur"
Seth Gueko Feat Sefyu - "Patate de forain" on Seth Gueko's street CD, "Barillet plein"
Sefyu - "Interlude explicit" on "De la poudre au Rap"
Samat Feat Sefyu, Larsen & Alibi Montana - "Ghetto guerrier" on Samat's mixtape, "Samat Feat Hip Hop de rue"
Mic Fury Feat Sefyu & Alonzo - "Street zoologie" on Mic Fury's album, "Au bout du tunnel"
Sefyu Feat Kuamen - "On vit comme on peut" on "Patrimoine du ghetto"
Gentlemen Feat NCC - "Sourire de la haine" on The Gentlemen's mixtape, "Cobra"
2006
Sefyu Feat RR & A.P. - "On va te douiller" on "Illegal radio
Alibi "
2007
Aketo Feat Sefyu, Tunisiano & Six Coups Mc - "Style certifié" on Aketo's street CD, "Cracheur 2 venin"
Rim'K Feat Sefyu - "Parloir fantôme" on Rim'K's album, "Famille nombreuse"
Kenzah Farah Feat Sefyu - "Lettre du front" on Kenza's album, "Authentik"
Alibi Montana Feat Sefyu&LIM - "Honneur aux ghettos"
2008
Participated in Urban Peace 2 , a hip-hop concert in 2008
2009
La Fouine Feat Sefyu & Soprano - "Ça fait mal Remix"
Sefyu Feat RR - "L'œil du ghetto" on "Les yeux dans la banlieue Vol.2"
2009 : Artiste ou révélation du public aux Victoires de la musique avec son album « Suis-je le gardien de mon frère ? ».
Verlan
Verlan is an argot in the French language, featuring inversion of syllables in a word, and is common in slang and youth language. It rests on a long French tradition of transposing syllables of individual words to create slang words...
), is a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
rapper of Senegalese descent. He comes from Aulnay-sous-Bois
Aulnay-sous-Bois
Aulnay-sous-Bois is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.In October and November 2005, it gained national and international attention as one of the focuses of the French suburb riots.-Name:...
(“Cité des Emmaüs”), a city in the French department of Seine-Saint-Denis
Seine-Saint-Denis
- Culture :A number of hip hop artists come from the Seine-Saint-Denis, including one of the first major hip-hop groups in France, NTM, as well as Lord Kossity, or more recent acts such as Tandem or Sefyu.- Miscellaneous topics :...
(Northern suburbs of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
). Sefyu originally aspired to become a professional soccer player, but his dream was derailed after he sustained an injury. He emerged on the hip-hop scene in the early 2000s.
Biography
Sefyu has played for a long time as a left-winger in soccer. He attended the prestigious Shenley Training Centre of Arsenal F.C.A member of the crews “NCC” (Natural Court Circuit –“ Natural Short Circuit”) and “G-Huit”, he started his ascent to fame by rapping with Rohff
Rohff
Rohff - « Rimeur Original Hardcore Flow Fluide » is a French rapper from Vitry-sur-Seine, in Val-de-Marne, south of Paris. Rohff was born in Comoros and immigrated to the Parisian suburbs in 1985.A fan of 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., NWA, Game, and others, Rohff began rapping around 1994...
on his album La Fierté des nôtres, released in June 2004.
He has worked with a vast array of French rappers, including Moystaff du Bengale, Nemesis, Ritmo, La K-Bine crew, Passi
Passi
Passi is a French hip hop artist who became famous in the mid-1990s with the group Ministère AMER, which included himself and Stomy Bugsy. He is most widely known, however, as a solo artist, as well as a participant in many other groups, such as Bisso Na Bisso and Dis l'heure 2 zouk.- Biography...
, Sniper
Sniper (group)
Sniper is a French hip hop Band from the Val-d'Oise department. The group consists of Tunisiano , Aketo , and Blacko, formerly Black Renega .- Biography :...
, Daddy Lord C. He performed publicly in 2001 at the Francofolies de la Rochelle.
In 2005, he released a « street CD » entitled « Molotov 4 », produced by Kore et Skalp.
In April 2006, Sefyu released his first album, Qui Suis-je ? (“Who Am I ?”). Sefyu’s style his characterised by a few features: a deep, husky voice, and a range of unique phrases (“Crrr!”, an onomatopoeia imitating the sound of a gun being cocked; “Crouille”, French slang for “riffraff”; “undercover”... ). Some of his songs belong to the hardcore hip-hop genre (i.e.: “La vie qui va avec”), whereas some others are inspired by R’n’B music (i.e.: “Un point c’est tout”).
His 2007 song “”Lettre du Front” (Letter from the Frontline) was released on R’n’b singer Kenza Farah’s
Kenza Farah
Kenza Farah is an Algerian R&B singer. She is considered the second internet success story in the French music industry, after Yelle...
album.
On May 12, 2008, Sefyu released his second album, « Suis-je le gardien de mon frère? » (Am I my brother’s keeper ?). Before its release, Sefyu made a few acclaimed singles (“Mon Public”, “Molotov 4”, “Au pays du zahef”) which contributed to the album’s commercial success: according to Planète Rap Magazine, 106,453 copies of Sefyu’s second album were sold in France in 2008.
On March 1, 2009, Sefyu won the Victoire de la Musique Award, in the category “Revelation of the year” .
Sefyu seldom shows his face, and often hides it by wearing a hoody, by hiding it with his fist, a ski mask, or his fitted hat; the reason for this being doubly. The first reason for hiding his face is as an homage to the "caillera style". There is also another, more personal reason: his father did not want him to become a rapper, and not showing his face is being deferent to his father.
Discography
----Albums
2005 : Molotov 4
2006 : Qui suis-je ?
2008 : Suis-je le gardien de mon frère ?'
Featurings:
2001
Sefyu - "La lutte libère" on "Sachons dire NON Vol.1"
La K-Bine Feat Sefyu - "Des hommes en kolère" on "Le Rap est mort" (By La K-Bine)
2002
Gentlemen Feat Sefyu - "Vision 200" on The Gentlemen's album, "Mortelle Saint-Valentin"
2003
Sefyu Feat Rohff, Zesau & Dry - "Baiser" on "Talents fâchés Vol.1"
La K-Bine Feat Sefyu - "Crimes impunis" on La K-Bine's album, "Rapport de force"
2004
Rohff Feat Sefyu, Alibi Montana & Kamel L'ancien - "Code 187" on Rohff's album, "La fierté des nôtres"
Sefyu - "Flow du Malawi" on "Talents fâchés Vol.2"
2005
Ol' Kainry & Dany Dan Feat Sefyu, Alibi Montana & Nubi - "Crie mon nom Remix" on the street CD of the same name
K.ommando Toxic Feat Sefyu - "Pucc fiction Remix" on K.ommando Toxic' album, "Retour vers le futur"
Seth Gueko Feat Sefyu - "Patate de forain" on Seth Gueko's street CD, "Barillet plein"
Sefyu - "Interlude explicit" on "De la poudre au Rap"
Samat Feat Sefyu, Larsen & Alibi Montana - "Ghetto guerrier" on Samat's mixtape, "Samat Feat Hip Hop de rue"
Mic Fury Feat Sefyu & Alonzo - "Street zoologie" on Mic Fury's album, "Au bout du tunnel"
Sefyu Feat Kuamen - "On vit comme on peut" on "Patrimoine du ghetto"
Gentlemen Feat NCC - "Sourire de la haine" on The Gentlemen's mixtape, "Cobra"
2006
Sefyu Feat RR & A.P. - "On va te douiller" on "Illegal radio
Alibi "
2007
Aketo Feat Sefyu, Tunisiano & Six Coups Mc - "Style certifié" on Aketo's street CD, "Cracheur 2 venin"
Rim'K Feat Sefyu - "Parloir fantôme" on Rim'K's album, "Famille nombreuse"
Kenzah Farah Feat Sefyu - "Lettre du front" on Kenza's album, "Authentik"
Alibi Montana Feat Sefyu&LIM - "Honneur aux ghettos"
2008
Participated in Urban Peace 2 , a hip-hop concert in 2008
2009
La Fouine Feat Sefyu & Soprano - "Ça fait mal Remix"
Sefyu Feat RR - "L'œil du ghetto" on "Les yeux dans la banlieue Vol.2"
Awards
----2009 : Artiste ou révélation du public aux Victoires de la musique avec son album « Suis-je le gardien de mon frère ? ».