Africa’s First Deaf Rapper, MC Baba, Goes Viral For His Unique Sound

Congo Has Produced Africa’s First Mute Rapper, MC Baba

’Impossible is nothing,’ they say, and it appears that’s the case of a buzzing rapper from the Democratic Republic of Congo, MC Baba, who is now going viral across social media for being Africa’s first mute rapper.

People often say when you really want something, nothing stands in your way. I guess motivational speakers are overly right about this.

It’s uncommon to see people with disabilities go after their dreams, especially in the music industry. Being mute is enough to kill anyone’s musical ambition, but that’s not the case of this emcee from Congo. The young man has left people in awe with his emergence as the first mute rapper out of Africa.

MC Baba is making headlines for his distinctive style after a music video in which he uses a unique rap sound surfaced online.

The internet sensation was featured on a song called “Oko Lela Epa Ya Nani” (Who will you cry for) by Paterne Maestro which was produced by Farel X Makarezi Studios. The song was released last month and has propelled Baba to a worldwide popularity.

After the success of the song and the attention that came with it, several of Baba’s videos began circulating, showing him making sounds to beautiful beats, including a live performance with his collaborator Paterne Maestro.

🔥🚨DEVELOPING: Congo has Africa going viral for the success of their rapper “MC Baba” who is the first MUTE rapper in the world. pic.twitter.com/9P0T5g9D9x

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) June 5, 2024

Despite many not understanding his lyrics, the Congolese’s style of making sounds to beats has started to endear him to wide audience.

Fans are now comparing him to other established indigenous artists like Ghana’s Shatta Wale and Puerto Rican Bad Bunny. “Baba does it like nobody else,” someone commented. The rapper’s song ‘Biso Love,’ is also making waves, garnering thousands of views and likes.

As a genre in its developing stage, Deaf rapping is already gaining recognition and other talented mute people are now being motivated to launch a music career.

While MC Baba is the first mute rapper out of Africa, he’s not the first in the world. There are other notable deaf artists like Warren Snipes aka ‘Wawa,’ a popular mute rapper who performs “Dip Hop,” a hip-hop genre carved by deaf artists, Sean Forbes and Marko Vuoriheimo.