Josey's stylish R&B merges sounds ranging from soul and folk to Afro-zouk and Congolese rumba music. She parlayed a second-place finish on a TV talent show to hit collaborations ("Chéri[e] Tu Me Saoules") and solo singles like 2014's "On Fait Rien avec Ça" and 2017's "Nagniouma." In 2018, she began a stint as a judge on The Voice Afrique Francophone. Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Gnakrou Josée Priscille sang in church from a young age, later joining a rap group at her high school. She went on study at L'École Nationale d'Administration de Côte d'Ivoire while performing locally and finding work as a session singer. Then going by Josée, her big break came in 2012 with a runner-up finish the TV singing competition Castel Live Opera, where she became known for her cover of Delta Groupe's "Sapiou." Later that year, as Josey, she was featured on the Tour 2 Garde single "J'veux M'en Aller." Another feature spot, this time on the Kil'Heur and Rikwane mega hit "Chéri(e) Tu Me Saoules," followed in early 2013. It made her known across the African continent. Josey released her first solo single, "On Fait Rien avec Ça," in early 2014. The music video received millions of streams. She next appeared on danceable collaborations with DJ Bonano ("Abidjan la Joie") and DJ Arafat ("Koba"). A mix of celebratory and more personal solo releases followed over the next few years, including 2017's "Nagniouma," a song about growing apart from a close friend. In 2018, Josey joined another TV singing competition, The Voice Afrique Francophone, this time as a judge. In the meantime, she continued delivering hit songs, including a featured spot on 2Boyz's "La Vérité" in 2019 and the solo release "Espoir" in 2020. ~ Marcy Donelson