Sly Johnson

A former member of the hip-hop collective Saïan Supa Crew under the name Sly The Mic Buddah, Sly Johnson is rooted in the Paris scene, blending rap, soul, funk, and R&B. A beatboxer, singer, and songwriter, he first drew attention in the late 1990s within the group before embarking on a solo path in which singing gradually took center stage. With the 2010 album “74,” Johnson asserted a soul aesthetic fueled by hip-hop groove, prominent bass lines, and finely crafted vocal arrangements. “Moov’ment” (2015) and “Silvère” (2019) extended this pursuit of a hybrid sound, alternating tracks in French and English, slow ballads and more up-tempo cuts. On stage, he develops a voice- and rhythm-centered approach where beatbox, layered harmonies, and improvisation coexist, whether solo, with a band, or alongside musicians from jazz and urban music. This trajectory places Sly Johnson at a constant crossroads between soul heritage, French hip-hop culture, and contemporary vocal practices.