Immersed in a wide range of musical aesthetics from an early age, Beninese rapper Dibi Dobo launched his musical career in his teens with a group of young rappers founded in 2003, Def Lyrix. With this group, the Cotonou native learned to compose, with a first EP entitled Def Lyrix, and to perform, mainly in the country's underground rap scene. While the group's desire to move elsewhere led to its dissolution, Dibi Dobo remained determined to make a living from his music and embarked on a solo career. Winning rap competitions, he began collaborating with musicians such as Kaysee Edge Montejano and Duce. Gradually, his reputation began to take shape, with live performances such as the Faso Hip Hop Awards in Ouagadougou in 2008, followed by the production of his first songs. In 2009, Dibi Dobo unveiled the tracks "Gomé" and "Ezo ", then joined the Nouvelle Donne Music label. The following year, he unveiled Soyimavo (2010), a fourteen-track debut album that combines his passion for rap with more contemporary electronic styles. After a series of concerts in Africa, he collaborated with new artists including DJ Arafat, and was named Artist of the Year at the Rap & R'n'B Awards in 2011. Now a leading figure in Beninese music, he is noted for his prestigious featurings, including "Ekomole" (2015) with Angélique Kidjo, "Ghetto" (2017) with Kalash or "Sôh" (2017) with Sahbohan Danialou. With his new albums Soyimavo II: Leaning Tower of Pisa (2017) and La guerre des six jours (2023), Dibi Dobo is becoming even more a part of Benin's cultural heritage.
