Named after the cuddly Gremlins character, French-Senegalese MC Guizmo, aka Lamine Diakite, rapidly became one of the Gallic hip-hop scene's breakout stars. Raised in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, he grew up listening to his mother's collection of classic Motown records, but after developing a love of rap as a teenager, was taken under the wing of Alpha Wann, who invited him to join the band's street collective, L'Entourage. After making a name for himself through various rap battles, YouTube videos of his freestyle skills, and guest appearances on tracks by Saké and Selah Sue, he released his own street album, Normal, in 2011. A year later, he appeared on the Booska Tape, Vol. 1 mixtape, left L'Entourage due to "creative differences," and scored a hit with "Maman STP" before issuing his debut studio effort, La Banquise. ~ Jon O'Brien