Calbo (rapper)


Calboni M'Bani, 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. 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.

Early life

Calbo was born on 22 September 1973, in Villiers-le-Bel in the Val-d'Oise department. 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.

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, Passi, twin brothers Doc and G Kill, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2022, Calbo released a solo album, "Quelques gouttes de plus".

Death

Calbo died on 4 January 2026, at the age of 52.

Discography

Albums

;in duo Ärsenik
See discography of Ärsenik
;Solo

Singles

;in duo Ärsenik
See discography of Ärsenik
;Collaborative singles
;Collaborative singles