Samuël Adebiyi, better known by his stage name Féfé (formerly Féniksi), is a French singer and rapper.
Early life and career
Féfé was born in
Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine
Clichy ( , ; sometimes unofficially Clichy-la-Garenne ) is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located on the Seine, from the centre of Paris. In 2017, it had a population of 61,070.
Located in Clichy are the headqua ...
, France on 18 January 1976 to
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
parents from Nigeria. He formed the rap group OFX with KLR in 1996 where Adebiyi was known as PHNX (also read as Féniksi). The two released the maxi ''Je n'ose y croire'', after which a third member Vicelow joined in. The trio made a number of appearances on various compilations and mixtapes. KLR died in April 1999.
OFX including Fénixi became part of a bigger formation, the hip hop collective
Saïan Supa Crew
Saïan Supa Crew (, ) was a French hip hop collective that was composed of three bands: Explicit Samouraï, OFX and Simple Spirit. It formed in 1997 and separated in 2007 after the departure of one of its leaders (along with Feniksi), Leeroy ...
, that besides OFX, included two other formations Explicit Samouraï and Simple Spirit. After KLR's death, Saïan Supa Crew released an album titled ''
KLR'' in his memory in 1999. In 2002, OFX released the maxi ''OVNI 2''. It was followed by another OFX album, ''Roots'' in 2003. In its turn, Saïan Supa Crew would release ''X-Raisons'' in 2001 and ''Hold-Up'' in 2005.
OFX eventually faded and is no longer active. Its remaining member Féfé has continued his career with solo releases like ''Jeune à la retraite'' released on Polydor on 12 October 2009, and on 20 May 2013, his second solo album ''Le charme des premiers jours'' again on Polydor.
In popular culture
He co-wrote "Le malade imaginaire", a main song in the soundtrack of the 2002 film
The Truth About Charlie
''The Truth About Charlie'' is a 2002 mystery film. It is a remake of ''Charade'' (1963) and an homage to François Truffaut's ''Shoot the Piano Player'' (1960) complete with the French film star Charles Aznavour, making two appearances singing h ...
, in addition to co-writing the track "Intro".
In 2010, he sang the French version of "
Wavin' Flag
"Wavin' Flag" is a song by Somali-Canadian artist K'naan from his album ''Troubadour''. The song was originally written for Somalia and aspirations of its people for freedom. The original single was a hit in Canada and reached number two on the ...
", the
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta ...
-sponsored
2010 World Cup
, image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg
, size = 200px
, caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...
song. Féfé sang the French lyrics with songwriter, the Somalian-Canadian
K'naan
Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 1 February 1978) ( so, Keynaan Cabdi Warsame, ar, كَينَان عَبدِ وَرسَمَ ''Kaynān ʿAbdi Warsama''), better known by his stage name K'naan (), is a Somali-Canadian musician. He rose to prominence ...
performing the English lyrics. The Féfé version credit to "K'naan featuring Féfé" reached number 2 on
SNEP, the official French Singles Chart.
In 2011, he performed with
Aṣa
Bukola Elemide (born 17 September 1982["There's 'Fire O ...](_blank)
in Sydney.
Discography
Albums, maxis, mixtapes
;as part of OFX
*1999: ''Je n'ose y croire''
*2002; ''OVNI 2''
*2003: ''Roots''
;as part of collective
Saïan Supa Crew
Saïan Supa Crew (, ) was a French hip hop collective that was composed of three bands: Explicit Samouraï, OFX and Simple Spirit. It formed in 1997 and separated in 2007 after the departure of one of its leaders (along with Feniksi), Leeroy ...
*1997: ''Saïan Supa Land'' (EP)
*1998: ''Saïan Supa Crew'' (EP)
*1999: ''KLR'' (album)
*2000: ''L'Block presente'' (EP)
*2001: ''X-Raisons'' (album)
*2002: ''Da Stand Out'' (Ep)
*2005: ''Hold-Up'' (album)
*2006: ''Hold Up Tour – Live in Paris'' (live album)
;solo albums
Singles
;Featured in
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fefe
French rappers
1976 births
Living people
French people of Nigerian descent
French people of Yoruba descent
Yoruba musicians
People from Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine