Degg J Force 3

News

October 2026 — A founding member becomes Ambassador of Culture. On 26 October 2026, Ablaye Mbaye, a founding member of the group, was raised to the rank of Ambassador of Culture of the Republic of Guinea by President Mamadi Doumbouya: recognition that shines on the whole Degg J Force 3 journey. Read: "From the ghettos of Boulbinet to the Republic's honours".

Biography

Degg J Force 3 — "the truth force 3" in Wolof, the three forces being what is just, what is good and what is true — is a group founded in 1997 in the Kaloum district of Conakry, Guinea, by the two brothers Moussa M'Baye and Ablaye M'Baye (alias Skandal) and by Moussa Camara (alias 2pac). Between Afro-rap, Afro-reggae and dancehall, the trio stood out from the start for its political and social commitment: it awakens consciences through the themes of its songs, drawing its inspiration from the rich culture of the African continent.

In 1999, the group won the best Guinean hip-hop song prize at the Rap'Oussins young talent contest, with "Cri du cœur": the song drew attention, and requests for concerts multiplied in the capital's schools and stages. Two years later came Mach Allah ("By the grace of God"), a first cassette recorded at Studio International Yes in Dakar, sung in Malinké, Soussou, Wolof, Pulaar, French and English — love, peace, unity, and a denunciation of young people's living conditions. Sold at more than 78,000 copies, it earned the group, in 2002, the best Guinean hip-hop album and best hip-hop sales prizes at the K7 d'Or, and best album at the Djembé d'Or. The doors of West African festivals opened: Dakar, Bamako, a residency in Accra…

The 2000s were years of fruitful collaborations: with the Guinean Afro-rap group Silatigui — the single "Des hauts et des bas", crowned best Guinean hip-hop album at the K7 d'Or — and with reggae man Takana Zion, on the Afro-reggae single "Levez le Rideau" (2006), shot in the world of the documentary Street Live in Conakry, in the heart of Boulbinet, the fishing neighbourhood the group's members come from.

In 2009, the album Reste Indépendant called on young Africans to stay free, to defend their freedom of expression and to take their destiny into their own hands to build a united and prosperous Africa — traditional African sounds married to hip-hop, and the best album prize at the K7 d'Or. For its ten years of career, the group released Débrouillard (2011), celebrated at the Palais du Peuple and Rogbané beach, and received the best group album of the year prize at the 11th K7 d'Or (2012). In 2015, the single "Gbin Gbin Soo" — with compatriots Banlieuz'Art — supported the Syli National at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the group toured Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, France, Canada (Montreal) and Guinea. A flagship group invited by many festivals — from Dakar's FESMAN to Montreal's Nuits d'Afrique, which publish its official biography —, Degg J Force 3 then saw Moussa Camara leave for other horizons: the M'Baye brothers carry the adventure on as a duo.

Musicians, the members of Degg J Force 3 are also culture entrepreneurs: in 2004, they founded the SARL Degg J Force 3 Bankhi, which includes a label, Meurs Libre Prod, a structure for organising concerts and international tours, Urban Afreeka, and sound and audiovisual production studios, Mach Allah Studios. And their commitment goes beyond the stage: they take part in AIDS awareness and, through their humanitarian association 7ème Continent, raise funds to buy and distribute medical equipment in Guinea and Benin.

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Discography

• "Mach Allah" — album (2001): the first album, recorded in Dakar — "Cri du cœur" and its remixed version with Faada Freddy (Daara J). More than 78,000 copies sold; best album and best hip-hop sales at the 2002 K7 d'Or, best album at the 2002 Djembé d'Or.
• "Reste Indépendant" — album (2009): the manifesto of a free generation — best album prize at the 2009 K7 d'Or (the song "Lève les bras").
• "Débrouillard" — album (2011): the ten-year anniversary album, with "Bal Poussière" — best group album of the year at the 2012 K7 d'Or.
• Landmark singles: "Cri du cœur" (1999) · "Levez le Rideau", with Takana Zion (2006) · "Des hauts et des bas", with Silatigui · "Gbin Gbin Soo", with Banlieuz'Art (2015).

Distinctions and landmarks

• 1999 — "Cri du cœur", best Guinean hip-hop song (Rap'Oussins contest, Kabako Promotion)
• 2002 — K7 d'Or: best Guinean hip-hop album and best Guinean hip-hop sales · Djembé d'Or: best Guinean hip-hop album
• 2009 — K7 d'Or: best album, for Reste Indépendant
• 2012 — K7 d'Or (11th edition): best group album of the year, for Débrouillard
• Stages — FESMAN (Dakar), festivals in Dakar and Bamako, residency in Accra, European and North American tour (2015, including Montreal)

Watch — official clips

On the official YouTube channels of Meurs Libre Prod and Degg J Force 3:

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