Yelsha, whose real name is Ashley Caïtano, is a French-Beninese artist from Caen, Normandy. She began writing her first rap lyrics at the age of 11, inspired by the song"Hey oh" by the group Tragédie. A passionate mixologist, she fuses various musical genres such as conscious rap, afro, zouk and dancehall, creating her own style which she describes as "Rap-mélange". In 2020, she made a name for herself with her first single "Cheffe", followed by collaborations with Caen-based artists such as Barlem B and HVJ from the Coeff collective. Her first EP, Who We Are, is available on Bandcamp. In December 2022, she released her second EP, Fluide, on the Sony Music France label, which she presented at a party at Le Cargo in Caen in February 2023. The following year, she unveiled Fluide+, an album released on the La Souterraine label. Committed to the fight against inequality and discrimination, Yelsha also takes part in collective projects, notably L'Épopée Vol.1, the first 100% female French compilation featuring nine female rappers, released in March 2023. She returned in early 2025 with the singles "Backshot" and "Miel épicé".
