Booba

Booba, born Élie Yaffa in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, is one of the most influential figures in French rap. He first gained recognition in the mid-1990s as part of the duo Lunatic alongside Ali, whose 2000 album Mauvais Œil became a landmark independent release, notable for going gold without radio support. After Lunatic disbanded, Booba launched a prolific solo career starting with Temps mort in 2002, often cited as a classic of French rap, featuring tracks like «Ma définition».

Over the following two decades Booba built a reputation for a dense, aggressive delivery, dark and cinematic beats, and sharp, often confrontational lyricism, releasing a long string of albums that consistently topped French charts. Tracks such as «Kalash», «DKR» and «Scarface» reflect his hard-edged street-rap style, while he has also embraced more melodic and international production, incorporating trap and electronic influences over time.

Beyond music, Booba founded his own label and clothing brand, and has remained a dominant, often polarizing figure in French hip-hop culture, known for public feuds as well as his lasting influence on generations of rappers who followed him. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers who shaped the sound and attitude of modern French rap.