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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{short description|French singer/rapper (born 1974)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Kaysha
| image             = Kaysha. RR.jpg
| image_size        = 
| landscape         = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt               = 
| caption           = 
| background        = solo_singer
| birth_name        = Edward Mokolo Jr.
| native_name       = Edward Mokolo Jr.
| native_name_lang  = 
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = 1974
| birth_place       = [[Kinshasa]], [[Zaire]]
| origin            = 
| death_date        = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) -->
| death_place       = 
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Kizomba]]|[[zouk]]|[[afropop]]|[[afro house]]|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer|rapper|businessman|producer}}
| instrument        = 
| years_active      = 1992–present
| label             = Sushiraw
| associated_acts   = 
| website           = <!-- {{URL|kaysha.com}} -->
}}

'''Edward Mokolo Jr.''' (born 1974), better known as '''Kaysha''', is a French singer/rapper and producer from the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (former [[Zaire]]). He is the son of Congolese politician Édouard Mokolo Wa Mpombo.

==Career==
He was born in [[Kinshasa]], [[Zaire]] but emigrated to France with his parents at the age of seven. Kaysha's first single, which used a sample from French West Indian band [[Kassav]]'s ''Oulé'', was called "Bounce Baby".

Kaysha's second single was "Telephone", from his album ''I'm Ready''. The next year, he changed his entire style to record a more urban album called ''Worldwidechico'' with a duo with [[Wu-Tang Clan]]'s [[Killah Priest]]. One of his biggest single is the global African hit  "On dit quoi", from his album ''It's All Love'', released on his own label Sushiraw in 2003. Some of his biggest hits are "Love de toi", "One Love", "Question my heart", "Fiona", "Musiquarian" and many more...

Kaysha is also a music producer. He produced songs for [[Passi]], [[Solaar]], [[Jacob Desvarieux]], [[Soumia]], [[Elizio]], [[Ludo (band)|Ludo]], [[Vanda May]], [[Aycee Jordanu]] and others.

He produced huge hits for other artists like "Deeper" & "Rebound Chick" for Nelson Freitas, "I like it" for Abege, "Close your eyes" for Djodje, "Ceu" & "Love again" for C4 Pedro, and many more hits

Kaysha is one of the first African artist to have been nominated in the [[MTV Europe Music Awards|MTV Europe Awards]] in 2005 for Best African Artist

He won a [[Kora award]] for best African Artist in 2000. He won a [[Kora award]] for best African Artist of the [[Diaspora]] in 2004 and 2005.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

In 2015, he issued an [[Afro house|Afro-house]] hit single, "Mama Kosa" featuring [[Central African Republic|Central African]], DJ and music producer, Boddhi Satva.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lebrave |first=Benjamin |author-link=The Fader |date=July 20, 2015 |title=Meet Kaysha and Boddhi Satva, the collaborators behind Afro House Hit "Mama Kosa" |url=https://www.thefader.com/2015/07/20/kaysha-boddhi-satva-mama-kosa-interview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724123521/https://www.thefader.com/2015/07/20/kaysha-boddhi-satva-mama-kosa-interview |archive-date=July 24, 2015 |access-date=December 20, 2023 |website=The Fader}}</ref> 

On 17 June 2019, Kaysha collaborated with Poison Mobutu, Mj30, Tutu Calugi, Nathalie Makoma, Noah Lunsi, [[Rebo Tchulo]], Nzeté Sexy Chocolat Chaud and Oliverman on "Allez Les Leopards," a song composed for the [[2019 Africa Cup of Nations]] to honor the [[DR Congo national football team|Congolese football national team]], dubbed ''Les Leopards''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 June 2019 |title=Découvrez la chanson "Allez les léopards" pour la CAN 2019, chantée par Poison Mobutu, Mj 30, Tutu Calugi, Nathalie Makoma et pleins d'autres Congolais |trans-title=Discover the song “Allez les leopards” for CAN 2019, sung by Poison Mobutu, Mj 30, Tutu Calugi, Nathalie Makoma and many other Congolese |url=https://mbote.cd/musiques/decouvrez-la-chanson-allez-les-leopards-pour-la-can-2019-chantee-par-poison-mobutu-mj-30-tutu-calugi-nathalie-makoma-et-pleins-dautres-congolais/18326/ |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=Mbote.cd |language=fr-FR |publication-place=Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums===
*2017 : ''African Prince''
*2014: ''Alien Blood''
*2013: ''Christmas Collection''
*2013: ''Raw Like Sushi''
*2013: ''[[The Best of Love]]''
*2012: ''[[The Night EP]]''
*2011: ''[[Works of art (Kaysha album)|Works of art]]''
*2009: ''Forever Young''
*2008: ''[[Kinshasa B Boy]]''
*2006: ''[[Legendary (Kaysha album)|Legendary]]''
*2005: ''[[African Bohemian]]''
*2003: ''[[It's all Love]]''
*2000: ''[[Worldwidechico]]''
*1999: ''[[Black Sea Of Love]]''
*1998: ''[[Bounce Baby]]''

===Covers===
*Be the one – 2018
*God's plan – 2018
*Rockstar – 2018
*Shape of you – 2017
*Stay – 2017
*Passion fruit – 2017
*Sexual Healing – 2015
*Hotline bling – 2015
*Hold On, We're Going Home – 2014
*Drunk in Love – 2014
*Diamonds – 2012
*Human Nature – 2011

===Performances with others===
*''[[Dis l'heure de zouk]]'' – 2004
*''[[Kimberlite Zouk Love]]'' – 2004
*[[Jocelin Demoumeaux]]'s ''JDX'' – 2003
*[[Jean Michel Rotin]]'s ''Solo'' – 1997
*''[[X-Taz]]'' – 1996
*''[[Grand Maquis]]'' – 2005

===As producer | Writer | Composer | Executive producer===

* [[Juan Magán|Juan Magan]] : Echa Pa Aca (feat. [[Pitbull (rapper)|Pitbull]] & [[Rich the Kid]]) – 2018 (Writer)
* [[Blaya]] : Vem na vibe – 2018 (Writer)
*Breyth : Supernova – 2018 (Writer, performer)
* No Maka feat. Blaya & Mc Zuka : Paula – 2017 (Writer)
* C4 Pedro : Ceu – 2016 (Producer)
* C4 Pedro & Sauti Sol – Love again – 2015 (Producer)
* [[Nelson Freitas]] : Life is Good – 2014 (Producer)
* Ricky Boy : Nem ceu nem mar (feat. Myriiam) – 2014 (Producer)
* Djodje : I won't stop the music – 2013 (Producer)
* William : Inside of you – 2013 (Producer)
* Aycee Jordan : You can't stop a revolution – 2012 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
* Vanda May : May Day – 2012 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
* [[Nelson Freitas]] : Rebound Chick – 2012 (Producer)
* [[Nelson Freitas]] : I just want my baby back – 2012 (Producer)
* Jamice : You – 2012 (Producer)
* Dannylys – I wanna do – 2012 (Producer, writer)
* Damogueez – I want it – 2012 (Producer)
* Ricky Boy : Eternamente – 2011 (Producer)
* Djodje : Bo e tudo feat. Chelsy Shantel – 2010 (Producer)
* Djodje : Close your eyes – 2010 (Producer)
* [[Nelson Freitas]] : Deeper – 2010 (Producer, co-writer)
* [[Nelson Freitas]] : Magia – 2010 (Producer)
* [[Loony Johnson]] : Backstage – 2009 (Producer, writer, executive producer)
*[[Isah]]: ''[[Black Madonna]]'' – 2009 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*Kim : Feeling so good – 2009 (Producer, composer, writer)
*Marysa : You make me sexy – 2009 (Producer, composer, writer)
*Sandra Nanor : La seule Chose – 2009 (Producer, co-writer)
*[[Thayna]]: ''[[Nouveau Depart]]'' – 2008 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*[[Mika Mendes]]: ''[[Mika Mendes]]'' – 2008 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*Neuza : Secretly loving you – 2008 (Producer)
*[[Soumia]]: ''[[Confidences]]'' – 2008 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*[[Elizio]]: ''[[Confirmacao]]'' – 2008 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*[[Les Déesses|Les Deesses]] – Saveurs Exotiques – 2007 (Producer, composer, writer)
*[[Les Déesses|Les Deesses]] – On a changé – 2007 (Producer, composer, writer)
*[[Les Déesses|Les Deesses]] – Danse avec moi – 2007 (Producer, composer, writer)
*Princess Lover : C Comme – 2007 (Producer)
*[[Abégé]]: ''[[C nou mem Again]]'' – 2007 (Producer, writer, executive producer)
*[[Loony Johnson]] : Loony Johnson – 2006 (Producer, writer, executive producer)
*''[[Grand Maquis]]'' – 2005 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*[[Elizio]]: ''[[Carpe Diem]]'' – 2005 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*[[Soumia]]: ''[[In Love Again]]'' – 2005 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*''[[SR.Dancehall2K4]]'' – 2004 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*[[Teeyah]]: ''Métisse'' – 2004 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*''[[Hot Caribbean Miziks]]'' – 2004 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*[[Elizio]]: ''[[Original di cabo verde]]'' – 2003 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*[[Abégé]]: ''[[C nou mem]]'' – 2003 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*[[Soumia]]: ''[[Still in Love (Soumia)|Still in Love]]'' – 2002 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)
*Shydeeh : I won't give up – 2001 (Producer, co-writer)
*Shydeeh : The past (feat. [[Lynnsha]]) – 2001 (Producer, co-writer)
*''[[CaribbeanSoul]]'' – 2001 (Producer, co-writer, executive producer)

==External links==
* [http://www.srfamily.com/ Kaysha's official label site]
*[http://www.kaysha.tv Kaysha's vlog] (French & English)
* [http://www.cdbaby.com/artist/kaysha/ Kaysha's music on cdbaby] (English)
* [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kaysha/30629547 Kaysha's music on itunes] (English)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to France]]
[[Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo male singers]]
[[Category:French male rappers]]
[[Category:Black French rappers]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo producers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kinshasa]]
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:French-language singers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:English-language singers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo rappers]]