Tiakola — France’s “mélo” captain: William Mundala (age 26), born 4 December 1999 in Bondy, France; of Congolese origin; the last of eight siblings; raised in the Cité des 4000 housing estate in La Courneuve; known by the aliases Tiako, Tiako La Mélo and La Mélo. A former member of the group 4Keus, he has grown into one of French rap’s biggest solo stars, carried by his debut album Mélo (2022) and his brand-new album WpointM (2026). Away from the studio, he is the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s MYSLF fragrance.
Image: J24N, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (2023 concert photo), AI-enhanced.
Tiakola Age & Early Life
Real name: William Mundala
Born: 4 December 1999, Bondy, France
Age: 26
Born William Mundala on 4 December 1999 in Bondy, Tiakola is 26 years old. Of Congolese origin, he is the last of eight siblings and grew up in the Cité des 4000 in La Courneuve. He learned to sing in church at the age of 4. Before music took over, he was a serious footballer who followed sports studies, though a professional contract never came.
Career & Albums
Tiakola started out as a member of the group 4Keus before stepping out solo in 2019 with “Sombre Mélodie”. Early collaborations with Tayc, Dadju, Franglish, Leto and Gazo built his name, and “Pousse-toi” (2021) pushed him firmly into the mainstream.
His debut album Mélo arrived on 27 May 2022 with 16 tracks (20 on the physical edition) and features from Hamza, Gazo, Niska, SDM and Rsko. It produced the hits “Meuda” and “Gasolina”, and according to archyde it finished as the most-streamed album on Spotify France in 2023. He followed it with “Meridian” and “Special” with Dave (August 2023), the BDLM Vol. 1 project, and the joint tape LA MELO EST GANGX with Gazo.
In 2026 he returned with WpointM — see our WpointM album guide — powered by “Mélo Décalé”, the summer 2026 hit (read our Mélo Décalé lyrics breakdown), and “BADMAN GANGSTA”. In a YSL/Sally interview, his career streams were put at 4 billion.
Style & Recent Work
Tiakola’s “La Mélo” sound blends French hip hop, drill and R&B into melodic, sung rap that stands apart in the French scene. He records for Wati B and Atlantic Records France, and in 2026 he became the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s MYSLF fragrance. For more French music coverage on the blog, see Peu importe lyrics by Zazie.
Watch: Tiakola – Mélo Décalé (Official Video)
Watch Tiakola – Mélo Décalé on the official TIAKOLA YouTube channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tiakola’s real name and age?
His real name is William Mundala. Born on 4 December 1999 in Bondy, France, he is 26 years old.
What is “La Mélo”?
“La Mélo” is Tiakola’s signature sound — French hip hop, drill and R&B built on smooth, melodic flows — and the nickname his fans gave him: Tiako La Mélo.
What are his biggest albums and songs?
His debut album Mélo (2022) delivered “Meuda” and “Gasolina” and, according to archyde, became the most-streamed album on Spotify France in 2023. He also released the joint project LA MELO EST GANGX with Gazo and, in 2026, the album WpointM with the summer hit “Mélo Décalé” and “BADMAN GANGSTA”.
What is the YSL connection?
Tiakola is the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s MYSLF fragrance, fronting its 2026 campaign.
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