On September 30, KoHndo, the French rapper of Benin origin, posted on his YouTube account the clip of a mix “17 souls adrift” from his next album “Plus haut que la tour Eiffel”. This clip recorded thousands of views and several encouraging comments. As one user says in comment: “Background and form as usual at the top! A clip and sound to see, listen and listen again!”
“Vest on your back, around your neck, something to whistle about/ Alerting our S.O.S Mediterranean rescuers/Mayday mayday Can anyone help us? /Waves slow us down, can someone help us? // The engine is down, can someone help us? / The boat has stopped, can anyone help us? / Little by little around us comes panic/ Should my path stop at the gates of Africa?” It is on these two verses that Kohndo finishes this new video full of promises. The rapper takes us by the hand to make us relive the calvary of migrants. For three minutes – clip duration – Kohndo plunges us into the hot, suffocating universe of these men and women who risk everything they have for a dream. All against “Intramuros” (2016).
Coming from a family of former Brazilian slaves returned to resettle in Benin, Kohndo, Kohndo Assogba in civil status, spent all his childhood in Saint-Cloud in France. He was born there, returned to Benin and left at the age of 6. During his early childhood in Benin, he was raised by his grandparents in Ouidah, Benin. Although he grew up far from his native land, Kohndo is deeply committed to the culture and history of Benin. He says in an interview: “Benin is therefore the relationship to my ancestors, to my history. I feel that a man is stronger when his roots are deep in his memory and heart.” Make no mistake when, however, we ask him where he comes from, he retorts: “I am French, I am from Paris”. Zemmour might be upset!
Bottle-fed since childhood to good old music, like that of Coltrane, Miles Davis,… He will cultivate this taste until 1984. Declic. Surge of the H.I.P. H.O.P. movement With friends of the city, they get together and it will give the group Coup d’État Phonique. A few years when other people join them, the group transmute to become “La Cliqua”. Kohndo calls himself Doc Odnok. The group will invest in the rap community. But over the years, the group eventually disintegrates. Everyone starts on their own. Also KoHn began a solo career in 2003 with the album “Tout Est Écrit”.
As usual, KoHndo is equal to himself in this clip: the strength of words, aesthetic intelligence, acoustics.
