Calbo (rapper)
Calboni M'Bani (22 September 1972 – 4 January 2026), better known by his stage name Calbo, was a French-Congolese rapper. He was a member of the French rap duo Ärsenik with his brother Gaëlino M'Bani known as Lino in the duo. He has also his solo output independent of Ärsenik, iconic duo from the golden age of French rap.[1] Born to parents from Congo-Brazzaville, Calbony M'Bani, known as Calvo, and his brother Gaëlino M'Ban, known as Lino, lived through the 1990s in a hip-hop culture that was primarily dance-based and still perceived as deeply American.[1]
Early life
Calbo was born on 22 September 1972, in Brazzaville (Congo). From a family of Congolese-Brazzaville origin, he grew up in the Paris region, where he discovered hip-hop culture and began writing his first lyrics.[2]
Career
Ärsenik started as a band in mid 1990s. Until 1997, the group also included Tony Truand, a cousin. In 1998, now a duo, Ärsenik released their first album Quelques gouttes suffisent went double gold. In 2007 the group released a disc titled S'il en reste quelque chose which included the most popular songs from the two brothers, such as "L'enfer remonte à la surface", "Rime & chatiments" and "Sexe, pouvoir & biftons".
In the late 1990s, Calbo and his brother Lino teamed up with a group of rappers who were also second-generation Africans, on a collaborative project called Bisso Na Bisso, an expression which means "just between ourselves" in Lingala, the most commonly spoken language in the Congo region. Part of this group were Ben-J (from Les Neg'Marrons), Passi (from Ministère A.M.E.R.), twin brothers Doc and G Kill (from 2Bal), and Mystik and his female cousin M'Passi. The group embarked on a collective return to their African roots, featuring music with an innovative fusion of styles, that mixed modern hip-hop and zouk sounds with traditional Congolese rumba.[3]
In 2003, Lynnsha's song "Trop de peine" featuring Calbo on vocals.
In 2011, Calbo announced his first solo album, under the name Look at the World.[4]
In 2012, he released his solo album titled 6ème Chaudron and in June 2013, he released his solo single "C'est là-bas" on Trèfle record label accompanied by a music video. It featured another fellow Congolese artist known as VR.
Alongside his work with Ärsenik, Calbo participates in several collective projects, notably Bisso Na Bisso, which brings together French artists of African origin and aims to blend rap and sounds from African music.[5]
Committed to cultural transmission, Calbo has invested himself throughout his career in artistic mediation activities, notably through the facilitation of writing and musical creation workshops for young people, in partnership with local authorities and cultural structures.[6]
During the campaign of the Europe Ecology The Greens candidate Yannick Jadot for the 2022 French presidential election, Calbo and his duo Arsenik with Lino, supported him by performing for an opening concert of a meeting.[7]
In 2022, Calbo released a solo album, "Quelques gouttes de plus".[8]
Death
Calbo died on 4 January 2026, at the age of 52.[9]
Discography
Albums
- in duo Ärsenik
See discography of Ärsenik
- Solo
| Year | Single | Charts |
|---|---|---|
| FR [10] | ||
| 2012 | 6ème Chaudron | – |
Singles
- in duo Ärsenik
See discography of Ärsenik
- Collaborative singles
| Year | Single | Charts |
|---|---|---|
| FR [10] | ||
| 2013 | "C'est là-bas" (feat. VR) |
– |
- Collaborative singles
| Year | Single | Charts |
|---|---|---|
| FR [10] | ||
| 2003 | "Trop de peine" (Lynnsha feat. Calbo) |
64 |
References
- ^ a b "Hommage à Calbo, la mémoire vive d'un rap collectif". radiofrance.fr (in French). 18 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "Le rap français, entre rébellion et moralisation" (in French). 9 May 2002. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "RFI Musique - - Passi". Archived from the original on 12 April 2006. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ "Calbo d'Arsenik revient avec un album solo !".
- ^ "Bisso Na Bisso". RFI Musique. 24 June 2009.
- ^ "Une figure du rap français va encadrer des ateliers d'écriture". www.saintbrice95.fr.
- ^ à 16h54, Par Sylvain Merle et Éric Bureau Le 27 mars 2022 (27 March 2022). "Présidentielle : pourquoi les artistes sont de plus en plus réticents à s'engager". leparisien.fr.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Le rappeur Calbo, du groupe Ärsenik, est décédé à l'âge de 53 ans". Le Figaro. 4 January 2026.
- ^ "Disparition. Le rappeur Calbo, cofondateur du groupe Ärsenik, est décédé à l'âge de 52 ans". Le Dauphine (in French). 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ a b c LesCharts.com: Calbo discography