Yao Billy Serge, born on April 30, 1980 in the Abobo district of Abidjan, became known as Billy Billy. While spending his childhood in Daloa, a tragic event disrupted his growth, with the death of his mother when he was 10. He soon developed a passion for theater, music and singing, and returned to Abidjan for his studies. In 2002, he won the Nescafé African Revelation music competition, and went on to record an album with the group Nasty Mafia, which remained a secret. A meeting with producer Jean-Marc Guirandou, who supported him in the composition of his first album, proved decisive in the release of his first solo album, Nouvelles Du Pays, in 2007. Working with the Coast To Coast production company, the rapper posted strong sales figures, with several hundred thousand copies sold, and made his mark on the Ivorian rap scene, marked by the contribution of traditional sounds and instruments. This success galvanized him and prompted the singer to release his second album, Réunion 2 Famille, in 2009, with sales following in the young rapper's footsteps. Billy Billy's precise song-writing proved highly appealing, as on the track "Allons À Wassakara", and the rapper followed this up with two EPs, Avant-Propos and Au Commencement Était La Parole, on which he developed his style. The track "La Lettre Au Président" makes a lasting impression on listeners, who hear Billy Billy's stance on the social situation in his country. Over the years, Billy Billy has become a leading figure on the Ivory Coast rap scene, and in 2021 he unveils his third album, Patriote, where his rap is increasingly open to electronic sounds.
