MHD
MHD in 2017
Background information
Born	Mohamed Sylla (1994-09-10)10 September 1994 (age 31) La Roche-sur-Yon,Vendée, France
Genres	French hip-hop trap Afro trap
Occupation	Rapper
Years active	2012–2018 2021–present
Website	mhdmusic.com

Mohamed Sylla (French pronunciation:[sila]; born 10 September 1994), better known by hisstage nameMHD, is a French rapper based inParis, who is known for blendingtrap music with music of Africa; a genre he coined as "Afro Trap".^[1][2][3] He was previously part of the rap collective1.9 Réseaux.

Born inVendée to a family ofWest 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 onYouTube) and in 2016 released his debut albumMHD, which sold more than 200,000 copies in 6 months.^[4][5][6] He later received international recognition, and toured inGuinea^{[citation needed]},England,Senegal andMorocco.^[7] His second album, titled19, was released in September 2018, and he released his third albumMansa in July 2021.

In January 2019, MHD was arrested and charged withsecond-degree murder following investigation into the case of a young man who was beaten to death in the streets of Paris. He wasremanded 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.

Mohamed Sylla was born inLa Roche-sur-Yon (Vendée,France) of aSenegalese mother and aGuinean father; later in life, he moved to the19th arrondissement of Paris.^[2][9] As a child, he and his family would often listen tomusic from Africa; he citesPapa Wemba,Koffi Olomide,^[2]Salif Keita andAwilo Longomba^[10] as influences. His cousinGazo is also a rapper.^{[citation needed]}

As an adult, before reaching fame, MHD wasdelivering pizza, then worked as awaiter in a luxury restaurant in the6th arrondissement; MHD has since talked about this experience, and the casualracism he was subjected to by the patrons.^[10] After getting hisBEP restauration (Frenchfoodservice qualification) he began considering a career in thecatering industry.^[10]

In 2012, aged 18, Sylla a.k.a. "MHD" (a stage name derived from his first name Mohamed)^{[citation needed]} joined1.9 Réseaux, a rap collective in the 19th arrondissement. After years of spending time and money trying to make a breakthrough, he eventually quit thegangsta rap scene.^[10]

In August 2015, while on vacation, MHD posted a video on the Internet, of himself doing afreestyle over a song byNigerian bandP-Square.^[2][10] The video, which he said he did "just for fun", was received with success onsocial media,^[10] and the positive feedback inspired him to make a comeback into music. However, he had been disappointed with the world ofFrench-language rap from his previous experience, judging there was too much influence fromAmerican trends.^[7][10] Taking from his parents'West African roots, he decided to provide diversity to the genre by adding cultural elements of this region into his music, such as musical genres, or singing verses in languages likeFula orBambara.^[10] He coined this newfound genre as "Afro Trap".^[2][10]

Back from vacation, MHD began filming a music video for his freestyle song in his housing estate of the 19th arrondissement.^[7][10] Released in September 2015, the video, titledAfro Trap Part. 1 (La Moula) and featuring local youths dancing in the streets, garnered popularity onYouTube,^[7][10] prompting him to release more songs and videos.Afro Trap Part. 3 (Champions League), a song praisingfootball clubParis Saint-Germain, is considered a breakthrough in MHD's music career, with the song and its dance moves becoming popular with supporters –and later, players– of the club.^[10] Soon, he was invited to performopening acts for French rapperBooba,^[10] was featured in the soundtrack of the filmPattaya, and was invited to theÉlysée –the French presidential palace– by then-PresidentFrançois Hollande on the occasion of a visit by Guinean PresidentAlpha Condé.^[11]

His first studio album, named after his stage name,MHD, was released on 15 April 2016.^[4] It includes six parts of hisAfro Trap series and songs featuringFally Ipupa andAngélique Kidjo. The album sold more than 200,000 copies in less than six months, earning adouble platinum certification in France.^[12]

He made successful tours in Europe and Africa, and became anambassador for clothing brandPuma.^[9]

In September 2018, while preparing the release of his second studio album19, MHD stated on social media that he had become disillusioned with themusic industry and that he might retire after the release of the album.^[9][13] His second album, titled "19" (a reference to the 19th arrondissement where he used to live) was released on 19 September 2018, including collaborations with artists such asSalif Keita,Dadju,Orelsan and Nigerian pop starWizkid; as of 2019, it sold more than 75,000 copies.^[14]

In 2018, MHD made his film debut starring inMon frère (My Brother), a Frenchdrama directed byJulien Abraham. The film follows the story of Teddy (played by MHD) a young man who gets sent to ayouth detention center after being accused of the murder of his abusive father.Mon frère was released in theaters in July 2019, while MHD was remanded in custody and charged with murder.

In May 2021, MHD releasedAfro Trap Pt. 11 (King Kong), his first song since his release from detention.^[15] On 16 July 2021, he released his third albumMansa,^[16] including songs featuring artistsTiakola,Naira Marley andAdekunle Gold.^[17]

In September 2021, MHD collaborated with Argentine producerBizarrap, and was featured in a music session.^[18]

In October 2018, MHD uploaded a video on social media in which two young men –one of which was described by MHD as his "big brother"– appeared to be victims ofpolice misconduct. The video prompted investigation from the General Inspectorate of the National Police, orIGPN, the branch of the French police responsible forinternal affairs.^[19] A spokesperson for the French police declared that the officers were responding to "threats" coming from the youths in the video.^[19]

In January 2019, his name was cited in an investigation into a murder case, dating back to July 2018, when a 23-year-old man was beaten and stabbed to death in the streets ofParis by several youths, in the context of what has been reported as a fight between rivalstreet gangs.^[11][9] Through images collected bysurveillance cameras,^[20] French police found that assailants used a car owned by MHD;^[20][21] they later named MHD as a suspect himself. MHD was put oncustody on 15 January 2019;^[9][11] two days later, he wasindicted and charged withsecond-degree murder.^[21][22]

Following his arrest, some of his scheduled concerts were postponed indefinitely,^[21] while several fellow rappers, includingNaza andBlack M, voiced their support for MHD.^[9][22]

Investigators judged that he seemed to appear in the surveillance images, as well as his car, and he was also identified by several witnesses.^[23] Speaking through his lawyer, MHD denied any involvement in the crime, and during trial he would claim he was unaware of his car being used for criminal activities.^[24] His lawyer cited his lack of a judicial record, and added that she wouldappeal MHD being put on custody.^[9][22]

In March 2020, while MHD was remanded in custody inLa Santé, his lawyer stated that he had tested positive forCOVID-19^[25] and subsequently requested for MHD to be released under supervision.^[26][27] The request was rejected.^[28]

In July 2020, after being detained on remand for 18 months, MHD was released underjudicial supervision.^[29][30] A three-week trial occurred in September 2023, which resulted in his conviction on September 23 for murder, and a sentence of 12 years in prison.^[31] Five of his eight co-defendants were also convicted and given sentences ranging from 10 to 18 years, while the other three co-defendants were acquitted.^[8]

MHD, who has claimed his innocence since his arrest,appealed the verdict, and was released in February 2024 while pending the decision of the court of appeal.^[23][32]

• Mon frère (2019) by Julien Abraham – as Teddy

• 1994 births
• Living people
• Rappers from Paris
• Black French rappers
• French people of Senegalese descent
• French people of Guinean descent
• Black French musicians
• 21st-century French male rappers

• CS1 French-language sources (fr)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles with hCards
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• Articles with unsourced statements from October 2019
• Articles with unsourced statements from February 2024
• Articles with unsourced statements from January 2019