User:Malihiphop

Rising hip hop artist and music producer, Viesta was born in Bamako, Mali. The younger of two sons born to Cheick, a history teacher, and Fatimata, a homemaker turned businesswoman, Viesta was a model student who diplayed a passion for history, philosophy and writing very early on. As a child, he dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming teacher; however, the gift of a radio and microphone changed him and his dream forever.

In a recent interview on Malirap, Viesta describes the experiences that led him to hip hop: “You know, I think it all started with this little yellow radio and microphone that my father bought me. When I got it, a coup d’etat had just been staged in Mali and the first Gulf War was going on. So I decided I’d be a reporter, and would go around my neighborhood reporting the news and telling stories. When I got tired of that, I used the same radio to play my older brother’s Bob Marley tapes, and used my microphone to record my own version of the songs. (laughs) I didn’t understand a word he [Bob Marley] was saying, but I could tell from the energy and passion in his voice, that he was saying something important. I knew I wanted to make other people feel the way I felt when I heard his music. Shortly after that, I heard hip hop for the first time, and something just clicked.”

Encouraged by his childhood friend, Tawati, Viesta continued to sharpen his skills throughout high school, performing at parties and local talent showcases. However, it’s in 2002, when he moved to New York, that his musical style truly blossomed. There, he became a skilled producer/engineer and developed a unique sound reflecting his diverse musical influences, including Ali Farka Toure, 2pac, Bob Marley, Alpha Blondie, John Lee Hooker and Oumou Sangare and Salif Keita to name a few. In 200?, he began recording, producing and performing his own music in venues and festivals throughout New York City. Since that time, he has developed a strong following, and is believed by some to be the future of Malian Hip hop.

Unafraid to stretch boundaries, Viesta masterfully blends elements of Zouk, R&B, Jazz, Coupé Decalé, Reggae, Rock, Blues and Traditional Malian sounds within his music. Listeners will find a little of everything on his debut album, “Fatimata,” including impressive lyrical acrobatics in English, French and in his native Bambara. The much anticipated album was released on his own label, Coup D’etat, in March 2013 dominating the hip hop platform if Mali also known as Malirap

Sources: Mali rap website that includes biographies of featuring artists