About
Biography
Jessy Kimbangi, known by his stage name Jessy Matador, is a celebrated French coupé-décalé singer and dancer of Congolese origin, born on October 27, 1983, in Paris.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born to Congolese parents in Paris, Jessy Matador grew up in various neighborhoods, including Épinay-sur-Seine, Vanves, the Luth area in Gennevilliers, and eventually settled in Saint-Denis. His journey into the entertainment industry began in 2001 when he embarked on a career as a dancer. Jessy later joined the group Les Cœurs Brisés under Dany Engobo’s direction, which took him on tours across the United States, Congo, Great Britain, Italy, and Canada.
Formation of La Selesao
In 2005, Jessy Matador formed his own group, La Selesao, with members Dr. Love & Linho (known as Les Jumo) and Benkoff. The group gained popularity, opening for acts like Magic System. They signed with Oyas Records in late 2007 and Wagram Records in spring 2008.
Breakthrough and Eurovision
Jessy Matador’s breakthrough came in June 2008 with the release of his debut single “Décalé Gwada”, which became a summer hit, peaking at 14th on the French charts. This success was followed by the release of his album “Afrikan New Style” in November 2008, showcasing a unique blend of African, Caribbean, and urban musical influences.
In February 2010, Jessy Matador was selected to represent France at the 55th Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. He performed the song “Allez ola olé”, finishing 12th out of 25 participants. This track, featured on his second album “Electro Soukouss” released in June 2010, achieved gold status with over 220,000 singles sold. It also served as a promotional anthem for France Télévisions and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Later Career and Ventures
Jessy continued to diversify his career. He was a judge on the talent show Dance Street in 2010 and formed the all-female dance group Mata Girlz in 2011. He represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the African Night at Stade de France the same year.
In 2013, he contributed to the compilation album “Tropical Family” and released his third album “Authentik”. His single “Zumba He Zumba Ha (Remix 2012)”, a collaboration with DJ Mam’s, was featured in the film “Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait au bon Dieu?” in 2014.
Jessy also ventured into theater, debuting in La Fuite by Driss Homet in 2016. He appeared in the film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga in 2020 and was featured in a 2021 episode of the dating show Et si on se rencontrait? on M6. In February 2021 he released a new single, “DBNG”, reaching the #1 spot in the I-Tunes list. The video was released in June of the same year.
In July 2023, he managed to have 2 tracks in the club 40 charts: “Bilam bam”, featuring in a track of Clara and “Mini kawoule (Remix 2023)”, featuring Makassy.
