| Background: | solo_singer |
| BM | |
| Alias: | BM The Artist, BM Congolais, BM Artist |
| Birth Date: | 12 July 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Kinshasa, Zaire |
| Genre: | Ndombolo |
| Instrument: | Vocals, guitars, percussion |
| Years Active: | 2010—present |
| Past Member Of: | DRT |
Bolia Matundu (born 12 July 1992), better known by the stage names BM and Artist BM, is a Congolese-born, British singer-songwriter, dancer, director and record producer. Born in Kinshasa and raised in London, Matundu is considered one of the influential figures in 21st-century ndombolo music.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Matundu rose to prominence with his 2015 hit single "Ebebi" from his eponymous debut studio album, which gained international acclaim and amassed significant viewership on YouTube.[5] [6] [7] His subsequent hit single "Rosalina" (2018), along with its remix featuring Awilo Longomba released that same year, enjoyed continent-wide success, giving rise to the viral "Rosalina dance challenge" trend that rapidly proliferated across social media platforms and was embraced by various celebrities.[8]
Bolia Matundu was born on 12 July 1992 in Kinshasa, in what was then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), and later moved to England at the age of seven. At 14, while being an active member of his father's choir, BM developed a fervent passion for music, taking inspiration from Werrason, Koffi Olomidé, and Papa Wemba.[9] During his teenage years, he co-founded the group DRT, gaining national recognition in the UK for their electro-rap single, "Get Mad Now," released on 17 September 2010, and featured in a Specsavers advertisement. In 2012, BM earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Technology with Upper Second Class (2:1) honors.
BM later found his footing as a solo artist in the midsummer of 2012, incorporating bright Afro-pop tones in his early single "Lelo Eko Yinda" . The record, featuring Nigerian singer Sona, earned him the Best Song at the Congolese Achievement Awards in 2013.
On 24 February 2015, BM released his debut solo album, Ebebi, which consisted of 15 tracks. It included guest appearances by Dymunds, Will Son, DJ Leo, Champion, Freezah Sterling, and Yemo. The album's eponymous ndombolo-inspired lead single gained traction across Africa, Europe, and the Americas, with internet personalities actively emulating its dance routines and encouraging others to take part. Filmed in London and directed by Sam Kirk, the music video featured appearances from internationally-based dancers like Sheryl Isako, Ceecee, Gugu, Junior Drogba, renowned Detroit model SupaWoman, Valentine Artiste, Mad Dog, and Freezah. Meanwhile, "Makolongulu" played a pivotal role in expanding BM's audience and establishing his presence in the Afro-pop scene. Initially released as a standalone track, "Makolongulu" was later featured on the album.[10]
On 7 February 2018, BM premiered a remix of "Makolongulu," featuring Ugandan singer Eddy Kenzo. The music video, directed by Martin Beta and videoed on the streets of Kampala, included a guest performance by the Ugandan Hyper Dancers troupe.[11] The remix was a massive hit in Uganda and Kenya and significantly catapulted BM's visibility in East African music scene.
On 24 June, BM debuted the single "Rosalina," which signifies 'break your back'.[12] The song gained a substantial following in Europe, particularly in the UK, France, Belgium, as well as across the Americas. The hashtag #Rosalinadancechallenge disseminated virally across various social media platforms and was featured in BBC What's New. Notable personalities, such as the Congolese-British comedian Eddie Kadi, took part in the dance challenge. The dance choreography incorporated exhilarating Lingala motions, impeccably synchronized with the pulsating Congolese rhythms, encapsulating the precise articulation of the entire corporeal form, from limbs to waist.[13]
On December 13, BM guest-performed on Assi So-La's single "Gwara Nao Para", which became BM's most-streamed track on Spotify, amassing over 6,822,493 streams.[14]
On December 25, 2018, BM issued the remix of "Rosalina," with Awilo Longomba as a featured artist. Sung in a blend of Lingala, French, and English, the remix garnered broad acclaim and sparked a succession of dance challenge videos similar to the original version. The remix's success allowed BM to embark on an international tour with performances in America, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and France.
BM's audience grew significantly over the years with songs like the "Kanda," featuring Celeo Scram (2020) and "Ye Le" (2021). The latter, in particular, achieved viral acclaim a few months after its release with the trending #Yelechallenge featuring performances from all parts of the world.[15]