Shay (rapper)

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Vanessa Lesnicki (French pronunciation: [vanɛsa leniki]; born 16 August 1990 in Brussels), known by her stage name Shay (/ʃ/, SHYE; French: [ʃaj]), is a Belgian francophone rapper.[1] After a collaboration with Booba in 2011, she has released many songs, notably a hit with "XCII" on the record label 92i.[2] Her debut album Jolie Garce was released on 2 December 2016 and was certified gold.[3] Her sophomore album Antidote was released on 10 May 2019. Her third Studio Album Pourvu qu'il pleuve was released on January 19, 2024 under her own Label Jolie Garce Records. Her style is a combination of hip-hop, trap, urban pop and R&B. Previously signed to Capitol Music, now she is signed to Because Music, under her own Label Jolie Garce Records.

Shay
Shay PVQP Logo
BornAugust 16, 1990 (age 33)
Brussels, Belgium
Other namesJolie Garce, JGG, Shay Izi
OccupationRapper
Years active2009–Present
RelativesTabu Ley Rochereau (grandfather)
Websitehttps://joliegarcerecords.com/

Early life[edit]

Shay was born in Brussels. Her father is Belgian (whose father was a Polish Jew who married a Belgian), and her mother is Congolese. On her mother's side, Shay is the granddaughter of singer Tabu Ley Rochereau.[4]

Musical career[edit]

In 2014, Shay joined the 92i label of her mentor Booba and released several singles like XCII and 1200. In early summer 2016, Shay released the first single from her album, entitled PMW, which was certified as platinum. On 7 October 2016, Shay released the music video of the song Biche from her album, which was viewed more than 7 million times. Her song Cabeza was released a few weeks late, and went on to be certified gold. On 17 February 2017, Shay released the music video of her single, Thibaut Courtois, dedicated to the goalkeeper of the Belgium national team with the same name. This song was also certified gold.

In 2018, Shay posted an extract from a track entitled Notif on social networks. She also unveiled her return to the studio with producers Heezy Lee, Junior à la Prod and Le Motif on Instagram. At the same time, Shay also collaborated with Jul on the track Pim Pom, taken from the latter's album Inspi d'ailleurs.

She made her comeback and released the track Jolie on 30 November 2018, accompanied by a video clip directed by Guillaume Doubet. On 11 January 2019, Shay released Cocorico, the second single from her new album, which she had previously announced would be released in 2019. On 22 February 2019, she released the track Notif, accompanied by a video clip that, like the video for Jolie, was directed by Guillaume Doubet. Her second album, Antidote, was released on 10 May 2019. On 1 July, she released the video for the song Liquide, a duet with French rapper Niska. The track was certified gold.

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak positions Certifications
BEL
(Wa)

[5]
FRA
[6]
SWI
[7]
Jolie Garce 48 60
Antidote
  • Released: 10 May 2019
  • Label: Capitol Music France
  • Formats: CD, streaming, digital download
5 15 43
Pourvu qu'il pleuve
  • Released: 19 January 2024
  • Label: Because Music, Virgin
  • Formats: CD, streaming, digital download
3 9

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

Title Year Peak positions Certifications Album
BEL
(Wa)

[5]
FRA
[6]
"XCII" 2015 153 Non-album song
"PMW" 2016 9
(Ultratip*)
33
  • SNEP: Platinum[8]
Jolie Garce
"Biche" 72
"Cabeza" 29
(Ultratip*)
107
"Jolie" 2018 30
(Ultratip*)
38 Antidote
"Cocorico" 2019 102
"Notif" 15
(Ultratip*)
22 * SNEP: Gold[8]
"DA" 2022 40 Non-album singles
"Jollie Go" 2023 32
"Comando" 61
[9]
"Sans cœur"
(featuring Niska)
42

*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts.

Other charted songs[edit]

Title Year Peak positions Certifications Album
BEL
(Wa)

[5]
FRA
[6]
"Thibaut Courtois" 2016 16
(Ultratip*)
39 Jolie Garce
"La go" 178
"Liquide"
(feat. Niska)
2019 21 Antidote
"Ich liebe dich" 73
"Cœur Wanted" 87
"Amour & Ses désastres" 107
"Même pas bonne" 111
"Désillusions" 114
"Pleurer" 152
"Villa" 174
"Oh oui" 192
"Prends ton time" 200

*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts.

As featured artist[edit]

Title Year Peak positions Certifications Album
FRA
[6]
"Ivre"
(Benash feat. Shay & Damso)
2017 75 CDG
"Guerrier"
(Fally Ipupa feat. Shay & Damso)
Tokoos
"Pim pom"
(Jul feat. Shay)
2018 33 Inspi d'ailleurs
"Kobe"
(Fresh feat. Shay)
2022 27 Non-album song

Filmography[edit]

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2021 Rhythm + Flow: Nouvelle École Judge Released on Netflix

References[edit]

  1. ^ Le Monde: Shay, la "bad girl" du rap francophone (in French)
  2. ^ Obs: Rap cru et ambition assumée : le féminisme selon Shay (in French)
  3. ^ 20 minutes: Après cinq ans de travail, Shay sort son premier album «Jolie Garce» (in French)
  4. ^ "Musique – Shay : "J'ai une relation d'amour avec l'Afrique et la RD Congo, mon pays" – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Shay discography". ultratop.be. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d "Shay discography". lescharts.com. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Shay discography". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Les certifications". SNEP (in French). Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Top Singles (Week 41, 2022)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 16 October 2023.