Panama Bende, a French hip-hop collective from Paris, was formed in 2012 by young rappers aged between 14 and 20 years old. The group originated through open mic performances at local youth centers (MJC) in Paris, with Elyo, PLK, and ASF as the core members. Their first notable project was the duo OZ, featuring Ormaz and Zeurti. Aladin135 gained attention with his solo EP Aladhyde in 2013. Panama Bende released their debut EP, Bende Mafia, in 2016, followed by DNA in 2017. PLK, a member of the collective, achieved significant success with his mixtape Mental in 2019 and the project Enna. The group's style blends old-school sonorities with modern trap and boom-bap elements, creating a unique sound that has garnered them a loyal fanbase.
