Yeli Fuzzo

Yeli Fuzzo is one of Mali's most successful rappers and producers, having rapped in or produced almost every major hip-hop act in Mali since the late 1990's.

In 1998, Yeli joined the group Black Authority, which became Fanga Fing (Bambara translation for Black Authority) at the advice of some friends. Fanga Fing, from the Djelibougou neighborhood of Bamako, Mali, broke from the underground into the main light with an appearance on the Malian show Flash Hip-Hop.

Their first single became the best selling rap title in 1999. Following up on this success, Fanga Follo is released with guest appearances by some of Mali's biggest non-rap stars.

By 2002, Yeli has moved on to production duties with various hip-hop acts around Bamako. He continues to work on production and writing of new songs during his studies in the U.S.A. In 2003, he releases an album solo, Je Rap Donc Je Suis ("I Rap Therefore I am"), in the studio of Mad M Cool in Bamako. His single "Mali Djaka"("Mali Is Great") is a huge success, placing the album on the top of the hip-hop charts and in third place among all albums. Yeli follows up on this with a tour throughout Mali, packing halls in every town. —Courtesy Calabash Music