Christine Jean-Pierre
CSMS Magazine
Kévin Valleray, better known by his stage name Kalash, was born on June 12, 1988, in Strasbourg, France, and raised in Martinique, where his Caribbean roots strongly shaped his musical identity. Emerging in the early 2000s from the island’s underground dancehall scene, Kalash has built a career on blending genres like reggae, dancehall, hip hop, trap, and zouk, often switching between French and Martiniquan Creole in his lyrics.
His self-titled debut album, Kalash (2010), introduced him to a wider audience and featured the award-winning single Pran Pié. He followed with 2 #Classic in 2013, which solidified his reputation as an artist unafraid to fuse Caribbean sounds with French rap. His third album, Kaos (2016), became a breakthrough success, reaching number four on the French charts and earning gold certification.
Mainstream recognition came in 2017 with Mwaka Moon, a collaboration with Damso that topped the French charts and became a cultural phenomenon. Kalash expanded his sound with Diamond Rock (2019) and later Tombolo (2022), an ambitious project featuring collaborations with Booba, Damso, Gazo, Mavado, and Maureen. From this album, the single Laptop became the first Shatta track to earn platinum certification in France, highlighting his role as a trendsetter.
What makes Kalash stand out is his ability to merge trap’s intensity with Caribbean rhythms while weaving in themes of introspection, cultural pride, and social commentary. Known for electrifying live performances and versatility, he has become a central figure in both French and Caribbean music. With multiple awards to his name, including recognition as “Artist of the Year” and “Album of the Year” at the Hit Lokal Awards, Kalash continues to shape a bold, cross-cultural path in contemporary music.
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