Karl Appela, aka Blacko, was born in Montfermeil (Seine-Saint-Denis) on February 5, 1979. He picked up the microphone at the age of twelve, and in 1995 met Tunisiano, with whom he formed Personnalité Suspecte. The group, joined by Aketo, became Sniper in 1997 and a French rap heavyweight with the album Du Rire aux Larmes released in 2001. In 2007, Blacko left Sniper after a final album to devote himself to a personal career. A double motorbike accident changed his musical direction. Marked by physical and moral suffering, Blacko turns to a more spiritual sound with reggae. In 2010, he released the dancehall reggae album Enfant du Soleil, which he distributed free of charge in digital format following a dispute with his label. The song "Le Temps est compté" validates his new artistic direction with a chart entry in December 2014. Released the following year, his second album Dualité is marketed by the Because label with the singles "Que Dieu me pardonne" and "Équilibre".
