Tiakola’s life came to a turning point in 2022. A true hitmaker, the 23-year-old rapper released his first album in May. melocertified platinum and closes a busy year with a consecration that makes any artist dream: a nomination for the Victoires de la Musique.
Selected in the male revelation of the year category, along with Belgian Pierre de Maere, rapper Lujipeka and electronic artist Jacques, Tiakola is far from being a rap novice. Thrown into the world by chance from an early age, the prodigy from La Courneuve produced five albums with his group 4Keus and also stood out solo from 2019, in prestigious presentations with big names in French rap: Niska, Gazo, Dinos, Leto , MHD… A look back at his rise, from the city of 4,000 to the Victoires de la Musique stage.
From football to music
Registered with the Le Bourget football club since he was 5 years old, William Mundula, his real name, was originally destined for a sports career. But, discouraged by the competition in the professional world, he abandoned this dream at the age of 16 and dedicated himself, somewhat to his regret, to music.
It was by accompanying his friends, rap enthusiasts, in their studio recording sessions, that Tiakola discovered an innate talent for singing and rapping. Nicknamed “La Melo” for his ability to imagine melodies, he was later recruited into the group 4Keus, formed in his town of 4,000 in La Courneuve. Together they record their first hit, O’Kartier is the Hessin 2017, which allowed them to be seen and signed by Wati B, the label of Sexion d’Assaut and Black M.
Within 4Keus, Tiakola quickly stands out for her sense of melody and her ability to create catchy choruses. After four years, five projects and a gold record, the rapper decided in 2019 to try the solo adventure, without leaving his group.
eclectic inspirations
His audience demands a first solo album, but Tiakola takes his time and favors collaborations with French rap stars (Niska, Gazo, Dadju) to gain notoriety and musical maturity before launching a project. .
“It was collaborating with Niska that I understood how to build a sound. I understood how he made his best hits. He taught me a lot,” Tiakola confided during an interview for Clique TV in May 2022.
Aware of his ability to create hits but not yet ready for an album, Tiakola doggedly works on his weaknesses before releasing it. He takes singing classes to work on his voice and surrounds himself with the rapper Dinos who helps him work on his pen and develop his first album, melopresented in May 2022.
A true success, this album quickly rose to the top of the charts thanks to an original musical mix. Tiakola summons eclectic inspirations, influenced by the rap and R’n’B that his seven brothers and sisters listened to, but also his Congolese origins as well as the gospel, heard in the church where his mother took him on Sundays. .
“In rap I loved the prods and in my sisters’ R’n’B I loved the melody so I put it all together. That’s why when you hear my music the prods are dark and I add my melody. It’s the mixes that I listened to when I was little,” he told Clique TV.
“We come to win”
Successful, thanks to titles like If he knewEITHER AV mode in collaboration with Gazo and Niska or even Gasolina, the album melo it is certified gold just a month after its release, then platinum in September 2022.
At the end of 2022, Tiakola was also eighth in the ranking of the most listened to artists of the year on Spotify, between Orelsan and The Weeknd before receiving the consecration of any artist: a Victoires de la Musique nomination.
“It means a lot to me, it is a source of pride, an achievement of the work I have done during all these years. It’s like a ballon d’or for us”, he assures the BFMTV microphone.
And the rise is not likely to stop on such a good path for Tiakola. Although 2023 is just beginning, the rapper has already offered to collaborate with Aya Nakamura and Belgian artist Hamza, and will be on the Olympia stage in Paris on March 12.
The artist has also surpassed 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify and intends to add a Victoire de la Musique to his list. “Now that we are named, we come to win. We want to take the cup home with us, ”he concludes.
Source: BFM TV
