Abderraouf Derradji (Arabic: عبد الرؤوف درّاجي; born 10 December 1989), known professionally as Soolking, is an Algerian singer and rapper. He started his career under the pseudonym MC Sool until 2013 before adopting his new stage name. He incorporates reggae, soul, hip-hop and Algerian raï in his music.

Soolking
Soolking in 2023
Soolking in 2023
Background information
Birth nameAbderraouf Derradji
Also known asMC Sool
Born (1989-12-10) 10 December 1989 (age 34)
El Hammamet, Algiers, Algeria
GenresHip hop music, raï music, soul music
Occupation(s)Singer, rapper
Years active2008–present
LabelsCapitol, Universal

Life and career edit

Derradji was born in Algeria in a northern suburb of the capital Algiers, also known as Staouali. His father was a percussionist and he started very young in a rock band that incorporated music and dance. He arrived in France in 2008 but returned to Algeria to join the Algerian rap group Africa Jungle. The band released two albums.

He started his solo career in 2016 and is signed to the label Affranchis Music launched by Sofiane. He had initial success with 'Milano' and 'Guérilla' before achieving phenomenal success with 'Dalida',[1] an homage to the singer Dalida, sampling her hit "Paroles, paroles".[2] On November 2, 2018, Soolking released his debut solo album, Fruit du démon, which was certified Gold in France. The singles "Guérilla" and "Dalida" were certified Platinum.He released his second studio album, Vintage, in 2020.[3] On 26 May 2022, he released Sans visa, his third album.[4]

2019 accident edit

On August 23, 2019, Soolking held a large concert at Stade 20 Août 1955, accompanied by L'Algérino, Fianso, Alonzo, and Dhurata Dora.[5] During the entrance to the stadium, five people died due to the stampede. Soolking said after the concert that if he had known what happened he would have cancelled the concert. One of the reasons for the accident was that more tickets were sold than the stadium's capacity could accommodate. [6]

Discography edit

Albums edit

Year Title Chart positions Certifications
FRA
[7]
BEL
(Fl)

[8]
BEL
(Wa)

[9]
NLD
[10]
SWI
[11]
2018 Fruit du démon 5 70 7 57 32
2020 Vintage 3 31 5 38 12
2022 Sans visa 2 136 9 25

Singles edit

As lead artist edit

Year Title Chart positions Certifications Album
FRA
[7]
AUT
BEL
(Wa)

[9]
BEL
(Fl)

[8]
GER
ITA
[13]
SWI
[11]
2018 "Milano" 157  –  –  –  –  –  – Fruits du démon
"Guérilla" 33  – 13*
(Ultratip)
 –  –  –  –
"Dalida" 11  – 3*
(Ultratip)
 –  –  –  –
2019 "Bébé allô" 158  –  –  –  –  –  – Non-album single
2020 "Meleğim"
(featuring Dadju)
2  – 26 40*
(Ultratip)
 –  – 52 Vintage
"Hayati"
(featuring Mero)
165 31  –  – 10  – 23
"Rockstar II" 150  –  –  –  –  –  – Vintage Gearforth
"Jennifer" (remix)
(feat. Lynda, Heuss, L'Algérino, Franglish)
 –  –  –  –  –  –  –
2021 "Fada" 127  –  –  –  –  –  – Sans visa
"Mal à la tête"
4.4.2 - Soolking X Heuss l'Enfoiré
65  –  –  –  –  –  – Non-album single
"Bye Bye"
Soolking X Tayc
50  –  –  –  –  –  – Sans visa
2022 "Suavemente"
(solo or featuring Boro Boro)
1  – 5 22  – 17 6
"Balader"
(featuring Niska)
2  – 22  –  –  – 72
2023 "Après vous madame"
(with Gims)
74  – 46  –  –  –  – Non-album singles
"Casanova"
(with Gazo)
1  – 3  –  – 40
[16]
7

As featured artist edit

Year Title Chart positions Certifications Album
FRA
[7]
BEL
(Wa)

[9]
SWI
[11]
2017 "Ajajaj"
(Mert feat. Soolking)
56
2018 "Madame courage"
(Sofiane feat. Soolking)
35
"Vai nova"
(YL feat. Soolking)
38
"Favela"
(Naps feat. Soolking)
38 Tip
"Adios"
(L'Algérino feat. Soolking)
100
"Woah"
(Sofiane feat. Vald, Mac Tyer, Soolking, Kalash Criminel, Sadek & Heuss l'Enfoiré)
7 12*
(Ultratip)
93 Empire album
93 Empire
"Savage"
(Kalash Criminel feat. Soolking)
85
"Come vai"
(Jul feat. Soolking)
33
2019 "Zemër"
(Dhurata Dora feat. Soolking)
21
[17]
6*
(Ultratip)
13
"Benda"
(Heuss l'Enfoiré feat. Soolking)
23 Heuss l'Enfoiré album
En Esprit
"Maladie"
(Lacrim feat. Soolking)
15 Lacrim album
Lacrim
"Dans mon délire"
(Black M feat. Heuss L'Enfoiré & Soolking)
138 15 Lacrim album
Lacrim
2020 "T'es allée où?"
(Leto feat. Soolking)
74 Leto album
100 visages
"Pas la peine"
(Sifax feat. Soolking)
150 Sifax album
La mentale
"Luna"
(Lynda feat. Soolking)
70 Lynda album
Papillon
"Unité"
(Dadju - Hatik - Soolking - Imen Es)
59
2021 "Aquí"
(with AriBeatz and Ozuna)
45*
(Ultratip)
"Bebeto"
(Kendji Girac with Soolking)
45 13 Kendji Girac album
Mi vida
"Nouveaux parrains"
(Sofiane with Soolking)
42 Sofiane album
La direction
"Dinero"
(Alonzo with Soolking)
118 Alonzo album
Capo dei capi - Vol. II & III
"Amiga"
(Niro with Soolking)
137
"Tagada "
(Naps feat. Le Rat Luciano & Soolking)
184 Naps album
Les mains faites pour l'or

Other charting songs edit

Year Title Chart positions Certifications Album
FRA
[7]
2018 "Rockstar" 36 Fruit du démon
"Bambina" 50
"Amsterdam" 42
"Gucci" 90
"Tata" 51
"Vroom vroom" 30
"HLM" 84
"Chica" 86
"Youv" 64
"Paradise" 122
"Cosa nostra"
(feat. Sofiane, Lacrim)
39
"Mirage"
(feat. Khaled)
74
"Fruit de la zone"
(feat. Jul)
90
2019 "Liberté" 195
"Espérance" 119
2020 "Ça fait des années"
(feat. Cheb Mami)
34 Vintage
"La Kichta"
(feat. Heuss l'Enfoiré)
47
"Chihuahua"
(feat. Gambi)
65
"CNLZ"
(feat. Jul & Kliff)
68
"Maryline"
(feat. SCH)
70
"Marbella" 123
"Vida loca 2" 142
"Corbeau" 162
"On ira"
(feat. 13 Block)
174
"Wahda" 183
"Solo" 195
"Dangereuse" 196
2022 "Askim" 70
[18]

Various releases edit

  • 2016: "Vida Loca"[19]
  • 2016: "Barbe noire"[20]
  • 2017: "Fuego" (feat. Ghost ST)[21]
  • 2017: "Dounia"[22]
  • 2017: "Yeah!"[23]
  • 2017: "Blanco Griselda"[24]
  • 2017: "T.R.W" (feat. Alonzo)[25]
  • 2017: "Bilal" (feat. 7Liwa)[26]
  • 2017: "Mi Amigo"[27]

References edit

  1. ^ "Je ne fais pas du rap, c'est un délire, c'est du Soolking". 20minutes.fr. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Dalida" de Soolking : un pastiche actualisé de la célèbre chanson "Paroles, paroles". HuffPostmaghreb.com. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Ecoutez "Vintage", le nouvel album du rappeur Soolking, pour danser entre le feu et la glace". France Culture (in French). 23 April 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  4. ^ Ola, Ambro (10 April 2022). "Soolking annonce la sortie de son nouveau projet, "Sans Visa", garni de feats". Hip Hop Corner : Actu rap français, US et culture (in French). Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Alger : une bousculade à l'entrée d'un concert de Soolking fait plusieurs morts". Leparisien.fr. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Bousculade mortelle au concert de Soolking à Alger : qui est responsable ?". Jeuneafrique.com. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d "Soolking, Diias". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Discografie Soolking". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Soolking, Diias". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Discografie Soolking – dutchcharts.nl". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "Discographie Soolking". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  12. ^ a b "French album certifications – Soolking" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 34" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "French single certifications – Soolking" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2020". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 41" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming) – SNEP (Week 23, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  18. ^ "Top Singles (Week 22, 2022)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Soolking – Vida Loca". Genius.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Soolking – Barbe Noire". Genius.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Soolking (Ft. Ghost St) – Fuego". Genius.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Soolking – Dounia". Genius.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Soolking – Yeah!". Genius.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  24. ^ "Soolking - Blanco Griselda Lyrics". Musixmatch.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Soolking (Ft. Alonzo) – T.R.W". Genius.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  26. ^ "7liwa (Ft. Soolking) – Bilal". Genius.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Soolking – Mi Amigo". Genius.com. Retrieved 5 June 2022.

External links edit