By. Bakary Ceesay
Born on December 14, 1982 in Diohine, a village located in the Fatick region, Mamadou Ngom of his real name, MC MO is a young Senegalese rapper artist very early influenced by music, particularly Rap. He grew up in Dakar in the Ouakam district where he began his musical career in 2002 with the group Tigui Vibes that they formed with Weuz and Big Joe. He is also the production manager at the MCU (Maison des Cultures Urbaines) of Dakar, director of the Festivillage festival and president of the cultural association Work Side.
Between 2009 and 2010, MC MO participated in the 3rd edition of Hip Hop Feeling (Project organized by the Senegalese rapper Fata) with his connection Extrême Acapella which brought together artists from Ouakam and Sicap Amitié 3 he also participated in the Nescafé African Revelation competition where he broadens his audience.
In 2010, with his original group MC MO continues to demonstrate his talents as punchliners with his unique flow to the Simon Hip Hop Discover project organized by Jolof 4 Life and is noticed by the Senegalese Hip Hop audience. With Tigui Vibes they almost do the tour of Senegal with Marlboro and acquire a very good stage experience, which earned them their participation in three editions of Festa2H (International Festival of Hip Hop and Urban Cultures) organized by Africulturban. MC MO advocates a positive and constructive rap by trying to be the spokesperson for the voiceless while denouncing the precarious condition of street children and women in Africa.
In 2013, he took part in the Carré d’As and Urban Nomads project (a project between Dakar and Nouakchott). In 2014 he released a single titled “Dundee” (Live) and made a video clip that runs on Senegalese television channels.
In 2015 he released a single called ‘Sama Yéné’ (My wish) featuring with Jahman from the group Xpress. Subsequently he participated in Ada Knibal’s album titled Adamaksy featuring with the latter in a sound titled ‘Lu tax goor di gawa dé’ (Why men die early).
In 2016 he released another Opus titled “Mic sama loxo ”(Microphone in hand) with which he fires and flames on concert stages. In May 2016 MC MO participated in the 12th edition of ‘’ DAK’ART ’, the contemporary art biennial.
In December 2016, he participated in the Guédiawaye by rap festival. In 2017, he presented to the public “Serigne Ndakaarou” a single which quickly became known and toured on various concert stages but which was still slow to make an official release.
In May 2017 MC MO ignites the stage of the Festivillage organized by Work Side in partnership with the MCU (House of Urban Cultures of Dakar) at the Ouakam football field. In July 2017 he participated in the 12th edition of Festa2H. On December 2017 he participated in the 5 edition of the Thiaroye 44 festival at the Jacques Chirac center.
In March 2018, he participated in the Fraternal Francophone Banlieues festival at G Hip Hop (Guédiawaye Hip Hop). In April 2018, he participated in a documentary film project Algorithms, recording a sound with the artists ILLEGAL, KRUMAH and RHAPSOD.
In July 20l8, he participated in the Afropolitan Nomad Festival at the house of urban cultures of Dakar MCU. In June 2018 he participated in the 13th edition of Festa2H at the Maison de la culture Douta Seck. MC MO who since 2016 has been working on his first solo album officially available on the market since January 19, 2019. An album entitled “NDEGERLAAY” composed of thirteen tracks featuring national and international artists. He advocates self-esteem, MC MO always remains in the direction of awakening consciousness but also reminds us from time to time that he finds himself well in his element by giving us a few ego-trips.
In August 2019, he participated in the Thiaroye 44 festival at the Jacque Chirac center in October 2019 he participated in the Urban Festival Forum concert at the MCU (Maison des Cultures Urbaines de Dakar) in ouakam.
In December 2019, the album “NDEGERLAAY” by MC MO is nominated for the Galsen Hip Hop Awards (organized by Y DEE hip hop show host and cultural promoter) category best solo album. Having a strong presence in the Senegalese media, the album continues to promote.
In 2020, despite the appearance of COVID19, MC MO participates in the virtual live concert organized by the association of deejays of Senegal “Maako Def” (I did it) in partnership with Sup Imax and Madercom on JUNE 21, 2020 during of the celebration of the music festival. In July 2020, he participated for the second time in the 16th edition # NAM (NomadeAutourDuMonde) of the Afropolitain Nomad festival (organized by Vanessa Kanga, artist and Canadian cultural entrepreneur) in a virtual concert bringing together several African artists.
In November 2020, he organized the second edition of the Festivillage with the cultural association Work Side, a festival which aims to contribute to the preparation of the new generation of artists from hip hop and urban cultures to be better known to the general public, with the participation of 100 young people in sessions of capacity-building workshops in the professions of urban cultures (photo, video, deejaying, music assisted by computer) This second edition is marked by the official release of the CONFINEMENTAL compilation which brings together a dozen Senegalese artists engaged in raising awareness of the fight against the spread of the corona virus and a Showcase of 23 artists at the MCU (House of Urban Cultures) of Dakar.
In December 2020, MC MO is one of the three Senegalese rapper artists selected by UNESCO DAKAR as part of the project “Empowering young people in Africa through media and communication” whose objective is to raise awareness among young people who are trying the adventure to Europe. In addition, he participates in a video clip produced in local languages (Sérère, Diola, Toucouleur) to celebrate International Migrants Day with the support of the Senegalese cultural association ASSOCIATION AFRICULTURBAN. At the end of December, MC MO organizes a community dialogue of two days on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 December 2020 in partnership with the German cooperation GIZ in Senegal at the MCU (Maison des Cultures Urbaines) in Dakar.
In January 2021, he released the video clip for the track (05) of his first album “NDEGERLAAY”, “Picc” (bird) as a metaphor for the plane, a song full of lessons he is addressing a desperate youth who dream European “El Dorado” and attempt illegal emigration. With that, he also denounces a bad youth employment policy in his country, makes young people aware of taking their future in hand. Currently, MC MO is working on the project of his second album, which will soon be available.
