Le rappeur Calbo, du groupe Ärsenik, est décédé
Rapper Calbo, co-founder of the duo Ärsenik with his brother Lino, died Sunday at the age of 53, his family said in a statement released on Instagram.
"The Mbani family is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Calbony Mbani, known to the public as Calbo, on January 4, 2026," reads the statement posted on Ärsenik's official account. The cause of death was not specified.
"We have lost a great man of rap, and a big brother in life," commented rapper Rohff on the X network.
Other tributes from the rap world followed the announcement of the artist's death. "Every time I met him, he only gave me love," Kery James stated on his Instagram account, while Médine offered a "rest in peace" message to Calbo.
"Calbo is, and will remain, with us," wrote rapper Stomy Bugsy on the same social network.
With his brother Lino, Calbo founded the group Ärsenik in the early 1990s, which became a prominent figure in French rap as it was then taking off.
"They are one of the most important rap groups of the 90s, therefore from the great beginnings of French rap," commented journalist Olivier Cachin, a rap specialist, to AFP.
"They arrived with a first album in 98, which was a big shock, because it confirmed the incredible talent of Lino and Calbo for writing."
The track "Boxe avec les mots", from this first album entitled "Quelques gouttes suffisent", will contribute to the fame of the duo, who join the collective "Secteur Ä" alongside artists like Passi and Stomy Bugsy (from the group Ministère Amer), Doc Gyneco, or Neg' Marrons.
The collective had notably made a strong impression during two evenings bringing together all of its members in May 1998 at the Olympia to mark the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.
In 2002, Ärsenik released their second and final album, "Quelque chose a survivant".
"They had just found that very difficult balance between the quality of the text and the popular aspect as well. There were only two Ärsenik albums but they are two albums that really marked their era," summarizes Olivier Cachin.
In 2022, Calbo returned with a solo album, "Quelques gouttes de plus".
Commentaires (4)
Pour les férus du rap , Souvenir belle chanson « regardes le monde ». Je vous invite à regarder sur YouTube. Une délice avec l’instrumental.
Même instrumental de « worst come worst » de Dilated people.
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