Mauvais Djo
Congolese-French rapper
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joel Raul Marcolino (born 20 October 1997), known professionally as Mauvais Djo, is a French rapper and songwriter. He first gained recognition as a master of ceremonies in France's nightclub scene before becoming a recording artist.[1][2][3] He is a co-founding member of the French hip-hop trio Triangle des Bermudes, alongside MC Yoshi and Kokosvoice.[4][5][6]
Mauvais Djo | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 October 1997 |
| Genres | French hip-hop |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2020–present |
| Labels |
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| Member of | Triangle des Bermudes |
As a solo artist, Mauvais Djo has released several singles and the extended play L'Undertaker Part. 1, which came out on 15 August 2025.[1] His songs "Pilé" and "Maladie" brought him international recognition, with "Pilé" charting in several European countries and earning platinum certification in France.[1][7]
Early life and career
Mauvais Djo was born Joel Raul Marcolino on 20 October 1997 in Rouen, France, into a Congolese family. He was raised in Évry-Courcouronnes, in the Essonne department of the Île-de-France region.[8][2] During his youth there, Djo became close friends with MC Yoshi and Kokosvoice. He started out in the local nightlife scene as a nightclub MC, and first entertained crowds in quarter lounges before becoming a sought-after performer in major clubs throughout France.[2][9] His popularity also earned him invitations to perform at clubs and events across Europe, Africa, and Dubai.[2][9]
Djo made his music debut in 2020 with his first single, which was well received and helped introduce him to the French rap scene. He went on to collaborate with Aymoune, Werenoi, and SAF, and followed up with early singles including "PD PD" featuring DJ Sucré in 2021 and "Ballon d'or" in 2022.[2][9]
2023–July 2025: Breakthrough and Triangle des Bermudes
On 5 May 2023, Djo joined MC Yoshi and Kokosvoice to release the YPDP-produced collaborative single "Y'a une meuf". On 30 May, Djo followed with the single "Maradona", which featured VK.[10]
After the breakout success of "Y'a une meuf", the three artists officially created the group Triangle des Bermudes (TDB) that same year, which brought together MC Yoshi's powerful flow and stage presence, Djo's deep vocals, and Kokosvoice's melodic delivery, which added harmony to the choruses.[4][8] Their debut album, Triangle des Bermudes 1.0, was released in July 2023 and featured hit songs such as "Commando" (feat. DJ PIMS), "La Calle", and "Selele" (feat. Bolémvn). On 24 April 2024, they released the single "Lunettes", which has received more than two million views on YouTube and was later included on their second studio album, Triangle des Bermudes 2.0, released on 5 July 2024.[4][8] "Lunettes" was certified platinum in France.[11] Djo also appeared on Issaka Weezy's single "Marrakech" on 10 July.[4][8]
Triangle des Bermudes released their EP Franchement! through YPDP on 14 February 2025.[9][11][6] Its lead single, "Charger", which was written and produced by Carlos Monsta, became their biggest commercial hit.[6][12] According to Julia Méreau of La Voix du Nord, the song features military-inspired lyrics that mention weapons and the repeated refrain "Chargé, chargé" ("loaded, loaded").[8] Although the lyrics evoke the idea of "bringing out the guns", the expression is meant in a party setting rather than as a call for violence, which Méreau said makes the track a favorite among young audiences.[8] Léa Lebastard of France Info also pointed out that the lyrics contain references to the popular shooting game Call of Duty, something that is reflected in the song's YouTube music video, and described the song as using the warlike vocabulary commonly heard in rap music.[3]
Despite receiving virtually no radio airplay, "Charger" became a viral success on social media, especially on TikTok.[8] Triangle des Bermudes later performed it at the Les Flammes awards ceremony in May 2025,[6] and it then gained momentum during the Fête de la Musique in Paris on 21 June, when DJs played it in the streets, especially around Châtelet, where videos of large crowds enthusiastically singing along attracted millions of views before drawing huge attention at the Yardland hip-hop festival at the Vincennes Raceourse on 5 July.[3][4][13] Videos recorded by hundreds of Yardland attendees quickly spread across social media, and according to Sarah Dupont of L'Éclaireur Fnac, "Charger" became a "sonic meme of the summer".[4] It reached No. 1 in Belgium, No. 2 in France, No. 15 in Switzerland, No. 79 in the Netherlands,[14] No. 4 in Luxembourg (Billboard),[15] No. 64 in Portugal,[16] and No. 11 on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.[17] The song was certified diamond in France by SNEP.[18]
July 2025–present: Solo breakthrough with "Pilé", 404, and Accor Arena
On 18 July 2025, Triangle des Bermudes teamed up with Kaaris for the release of the single "D sur D".[6] Less than a month later, on 15 August, Djo released his debut solo extended play, L'Undertaker Part. 1, which featured the single "Pilé" that achieved international attention after the Kano Choir YouTube channel uploaded an AI-generated gospel version that quickly went viral online.[1][2] Following the unexpected success of the alternate version, Djo released an official AI gospel version of the song featuring Kano Choir, Taliixo, and Dj Wiils.[1][2] "Pilé" became his first major solo hit, with the gospel version reaching No. 8 in France, No. 3 in the Netherlands, No. 10 in Wallonia, No. 32 in Flanders,[19] and No. 2 in Switzerland.[20] The original version, which was co-written by Djo, William Davy Fonseca, and Alexis Pereira,[21] peaked at No. 1 in France,[22] No. 20 in the Germany,[21] No. 19 in Austria, and No. 26 in Italy.[23] It was also certified platinum in France.[24]
On 20 March 2026, Djo released the self-produced single "Maladie",[25][26] which peaked at No. 3 in France,[22] No. 5 in Switzerland, No. 16 in Italy, No. 37 in the Netherlands, No. 38 in Wallonia, No. 92 in Germany, and No. 95 in Spain.[25] On 3 April, this was followed by the release of Triangle des Bermudes' third studio album, 404. The record included guest appearances from L2B on "À l'aise", Aya Nakamura on "Balek", and Franglish on "Loubard".[27] The next month, they appeared as special guests during all three of Nakamura's concerts at the Stade de France, where they performed "Balek" and "Charger".[28][29][30] On 18 June, Djo featured on fellow French rapper and singer R2's single "So Mawa".[31][32] The next day, he appeared on Keblack and Franglish's collaborative album Energy with the song "Uber".[33][32] On 4 July, Triangle des Bermudes announced their first headlining concert at the Accor Arena, scheduled for November 2026.[34] Later that month, Djo was featured on GIMS' single "Vive La Monnaie", released on 17 July,[35][32] before collaborating with Chily on the single "Biberon", which followed on 31 July.[32]
Discography
With Triangle des Bermudes
| Title | Details | Peak | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [36][37] |
BEL (Wa) [38] |
SWI [38] | ||
| Triangle des Bermudes 1.0 |
|
— | — | — |
| Triangle des Bermudes 2.0 |
|
— | — | — |
| Franchement! |
|
31 | — | — |
| 404 |
|
— | 36 | 84 |
Solo
EPs
Charted songs
| Title | Year | Peaks | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [22][19][22] |
AUT [23] |
BEL (FL) [19] |
BEL (WA) [19][25] |
GER [21][25] |
ITA [23][25] |
NLD [19][25] |
SPA [25] |
SWI [20][25] [40] |
WW [41] | ||||
| "Pilé" (original version) | 2025 | 1 | 19 | — | — | 20 | 26 | — | — | — | 44 | L'Undertaker Part. 1 | |
| "Pilé" (featuring Kano Choir, Taliixo, and DJ Wiils) |
8 | — | 32 | 10 | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Maladie" | 2026 | 3 | — | — | 38 | 92 | 16 | 37 | 90 | 5 | — | ||