Maes (rapper)

{{short description|French-Moroccan rapper (born 1995)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Maes | image = | caption = | birth_name = Walid Georgey | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|1|10}} | birth_place = Villepinte, Seine-Saint-Denis, France | origin = Sevran, Seine-Saint-Denis, France | instrument = | occupation = Rapper | genre = Hip hop | years_active = 2009–present | associated_acts = | label = LDS Production, Millenium, Capitol | website = }}

'''Walid Georgey''' (born 10 January 1995), better known by his stage name '''Maes''', is a French rapper of Moroccan origin from Sevran.<ref>[https://www.lesinrocks.com/2018/08/15/musique/musique/maes-rappeur-hardcore-et-melancolique/ Les Inrockubtiles: Maes, nouvelle sensation rap venue de Sevran] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> His debut album, ''Pure'' (2018), certified triple platinum.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-certifications/?categorie=Albums&interprete=Maes|title=Maes Certifications|website=SNEP}}</ref> Two years later, he released a second album, ''Les Derniers Salopards'' ''(The Last Bastards)'', certified diamond.<ref name=":0" /> Two more albums followed: ''Omerta'' (2023) and ''La vie continue'' (Life Goes On, 2024), both certified platinum.<ref name=":0" /> One of his most known singles is the diamond-certified "Madrina" with French rapper Booba.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Les certifications - SNEP|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-certifications/?interprete=Maes&titre=Madrina|work=SNEP|access-date=2025-11-29|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241227100542/https://snepmusique.com/les-certifications/?interprete=Maes&titre=Madrina|archive-date=2024-12-27|language=fr-FR}}</ref>

==Life and career== Maes grew up in Beaudottes in Sevran in the northeastern suburbs of Paris with his five brothers and two sisters. He started rapping aged 14 forming the trio MSR with his friends Radmo and SY3.<ref name="20mins" /> After high school, Maes served a sentence for 18 months in the prison of Villepinte from 2016 to 2017.<ref name="20mins">{{cite web|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/arts-stars/culture/2383763-20181130-maes-mauvais-garcon-regrette-avoir-ecoute-mere|title=Maes, le mauvais garçon qui regrette de ne pas avoir écouté sa mère|work=20 Minutes|date=30 November 2018|accessdate=2 February 2021}}</ref> During his incarceration, he released a number of songs and a mixtape ''Réelle Vie''. After release from detention, he released "#MaesEstLibérable", and debuted as a supporting act for the groupe 13 Block at the gig in La Bellevilloise in December 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.booska-p.com/new-maes-en-rs6-dans-son-nouveau-freestyle-video-n84134.html|title=Maes en « RS6 » dans son nouveau freestyle [VIDEO]|work=Booska-p|date=29 December 2017|accessdate=2 February 2021}}</ref> On 2 March 2018, he released a second mixtape ''Réelle Vie 2.0'' and upon its success was signed to the Millenium label, part of Capitol Music France.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://generations.fr/news/coulisse/45362/maes-a-annonce-sa-signature-en-maison-de-disques|title=Maes a annoncé sa signature en maison de disques !|work=Generations|date=23 July 2018|accessdate=2 February 2021}}</ref> With the single "Madrina" featuring Booba, he topped SNEP, the French Singles Chart. The music video was shot in Bogotá.<ref>[http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Maes/news-108694.html Charts in France: Clip "Madrina" : Maes et Booba jouent les dealeurs en Colombie] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> With Millenium, he had released the albums ''Pure'' in 2018<ref>[https://www.lesinrocks.com/2018/11/28/musique/musique/maes-je-veux-etre-un-artiste-total/ Les Inrockuptibles: Maes : "Je veux être un artiste total"] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> and ''Les derniers salopards'' in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mouv.fr/musique/rap-fr/maes-les-derniers-salopards-disque-de-platine-en-seulement-un-mois-358070|title=Maes : "Les derniers salopards" disque de platine en seulement un mois|work=Mouv'|date=20 February 2021|accessdate=2 February 2021}}</ref>

== Legal issues == In January 2025, Maes was arrested in Morocco, after leaving his residence in Dubai. His detention was reportedly related to a local investigation into an alleged kidnapping and unlawful confinement. He is currently remanded in Tangier 2 local prison. Although a French warrant had been issued for his arrest in October 2023, the Moroccan arrest was not connected to that case. The French warrant stemmed from Maes' failure to appear at his trial for "group assault" involving a 2018 incident outside a recording studio. ''In'' ''absentia'', he was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined €10,000. He has also been linked to several investigations concerning gang-related violence and drug trafficking in the Île-de-France region. In December 2024, he canceled a scheduled concert at Paris' Accor Arena due to the outstanding warrant.

On 25 November, 2025, Maes was sentenced to 7 years in prison at the Tangier Criminal Court of First Instance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Morocco Sentences Rapper Maes to Seven-Year Prison Term|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2025/11/269535/morocco-sentences-rapper-maes-to-seven-year-prison-term/|website=Morocco World News|date=2025-11-26|access-date=2025-11-27|language=en-US|first=Firdaous|last=Naim}}</ref> He was found guilty of "forming a criminal organisation, attempted abduction and unlawful confinement."<ref>{{Cite web|title=French rapper Maes jailed over kidnapping charges in Morocco|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20251126-french-rapper-maes-jailed-over-kidnapping-charges-in-morocco|website=RFI|date=2025-11-26|access-date=2025-11-27|language=en}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak positions ! rowspan="2"| Units |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| FRA <ref name="fra">{{cite web | url=https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Maes | title=Maes discography | website=lescharts.com |accessdate=24 January 2020}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (Fl) <ref name="bel-fl">{{cite web | url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/7dca5/Maes-Omerta | title=Maes – Omerta | website=ultratop.be |accessdate=28 July 2024}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (Wa) <ref name="bel-wa">{{cite web | url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Maes | title=Maes discography | website=ultratop.be |accessdate=4 August 2024}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWI <ref name="swi">{{cite web | url=http://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Maes | title=Maes discography | website=hitparade.ch |accessdate=23 February 2026}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Pure'' | 2018 | 5 || — || 25 || 36 | |- ! scope="row"| ''Les derniers salopards'' | 2020 | 1 || 12 || 1 || 2 | * FRA: 61,995<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aficia.info/charts/top-albums-22/186117|title=Top Albums : une seconde semaine au sommet pour Maes|last=min|first=Charts·3 février 2020 {{!}} 10 h 19|date=2020-02-03|website=aficia|language=fr-FR|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Omerta'' | 2023 | 3 || 107 || 5 || 2 | |- ! scope="row"| ''La vie continue'' | 2024 | 1<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=31?&annee=2024&categorie=Top%20Albums|title=Top Singles (Week 31, 2024)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=French|accessdate=7 August 2024}}</ref> || 164 || 1 || — | |}

===Mixtapes=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| FRA <ref name="fra"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (Fl) <ref name="bel-fl"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (Wa) <ref name="bel-wa"/> |- ! scope="row"| ''Réelle Vie'' | 2017 | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| ''Réelle vie 2.0'' | 2018 | 65 || — || 135 |- ! scope="row"| ''Réelle vie 3.0'' | 2021 | — || 58 || 4 |- ! scope="row"| ''En attendant LVC II'' | 2024 | — || — || 13 |}

===Singles=== ====As a lead artist==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album, EP or mixtape |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| FRA <ref name="fra"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (Wa) <ref name="bel-wa"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWI <ref name="swi"/> |- ! scope="row"| "Billets verts" | rowspan=3|2018 | 10 || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Billets verts" did not enter the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but peaked at number 22 on the bubbling under Ultratip charts.}} || — | rowspan=3|''Pure'' |- ! scope="row"| "Avenue Montaigne" | 33 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Madrina" (featuring Booba) | 1 || 31 || 49 |- ! scope="row"| "Rude" (with Benab) | rowspan=4|2019 | 80 || — || — | Benam mixtape ''Dracarys'' |- ! scope="row"| "NWR" | 40 || — || — | Non-album single |- ! scope="row"| "Liquide rouge" | 50 || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Liquide rouge" did not enter the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but peaked at number 31 on the bubbling under Ultratip charts.}} || — | Non-album single |- ! scope="row"| "Street" | 4 || 27 || 63 | rowspan="2"| ''Les derniers salopards'' |- ! scope="row"| "Distant" (featuring Ninho) | rowspan=2| 2020 | 3 || 11 || 24 |- ! scope="row"| "10K" (with Bolémvn) | 5 || — || 67 | Bolémvn album ''Vol 169'' |- ! scope="row"| "Platine o plomo" (with Booba) | 2021 | — || 34 || 47 | ''Réelle vie 3.0'' |- ! scope="row"| "Fetty Wap" | 2022 | 2 || 28 || 66 | rowspan="2" |''Omerta'' |- ! scope="row"| "Galactic" | 2023 | 1 || 30 || 45 |- ! scope="row"| "4Motion" | rowspan="3"| 2024 | 15<ref>{{cite web|url=http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=10&annee=2024&categorie=Top%20Singles|title=Top Singles (Week 10, 2024)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=French|accessdate=11 March 2024}}</ref> || — || — | rowspan="4" {{Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row"| "Survie" | 6 || 35 || — |- ! scope="row"| "Cordillêre" (with Werenoi) || 22<ref name="Top Singles (Week 30, 2024)">{{cite web|url=http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=30&annee=2024&categorie=Top%20Singles|title=Top Singles (Week 30, 2024)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=French|accessdate=30 July 2024}}</ref> || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "T'avais raison" {{small|(with Gims)}} | 2026 | 8<ref name="Top Singles Week 8 2026">{{cite web|url=http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=8&annee=2026&categorie=Top%20Singles|title=Top Singles (Week 8, 2026)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=French|accessdate=23 February 2026}}</ref> || — || 29 |}

====As a featured artist==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album, EP or mixtape |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| FRA <ref name="fra"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (Wa) <ref name="bel-wa"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWI <ref name="swi"/> |- ! scope="row"| "Tes rêves" (Dabs featuring Maes) | rowspan=5|2019 | 44 || — || — | scope="row" | Dabs mixtape ''Mainmise'' |- ! scope="row"| "Matin" (Koba LaD featuring Maes) | 23 || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Matin" did not enter the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but peaked at number 17 on the bubbling under Ultratip charts.}} || — | scope="row" | Koba LaD album ''L'Affranchi'' |- ! scope="row"| "L'odeur du charbon" (Dosseh featuring Maes) | 18 || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"L'odeur du charbon" did not enter the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but peaked at number 11 on the bubbling under Ultratip charts.}} || — | scope="row" | Dosseh mixtape ''Summer Crack 4'' |- ! scope="row"| "Stupéfiant" (Niro featuring Maes) | 58 || — || — | scope="row" | Niro EP ''Stupéfiant : Chapitre 2'' |- ! scope="row"| "ASB" (Vald featuring Maes) | 18 || — || — | scope="row" | Vald album ''Ce monde est cruel'' |- ! scope="row"| "Le dire" (Da Uzi featuring Maes) | rowspan=8|2020 | 28 || — || — | scope="row" | Da Uzi album ''Architecte'' |- ! scope="row"| "Ailleurs" (Timal featuring Maes) | 7 || — || — | scope="row" | Non-album release |- ! scope="row"| "Pourcent" (Naps featuring Maes) | 38 || — || — | scope="row" | Naps album ''Carré VIP'' |- ! scope="row"| "Béni" (Kaza featuring Maes) | 53 || — || — | scope="row" | Kaza album ''Heartbreak Life'' |- ! scope="row"| "Euros" (RK & Maes) | 13 || — || — | scope="row" | RK album ''Neverland'' |- ! scope="row"| "Boston George" (Lacrim featuring Maes) | 3 || — || 64 | scope="row" | Lacrim album ''R.I.P.R.O. 4'' |- ! scope="row"| "Coffre plein" (Koba LaD featuring Maes) | 2 || 7 || 19 | scope="row" | Koba LaD album ''Détail'' |- ! scope="row"| "Riina Toto" (13 Block featuring Maes) | 32 || — || — | scope="row" | 13 Block album ''BLO II'' |- ! scope="row"| "Andale" (Benab featuring Maes) | rowspan="8" | 2021 | 22 || — || — | scope="row" | Benab album ''Au clair de la rue (Part. 1)'' |- ! scope="row"| "VVV" (Booba featuring Maes) | 3 || — || 26 | scope="row" | Booba album ''Ultra'' |- ! scope="row"| "N26" (Kaza featuring Maes) | 91 || — || — | scope="row" | Kaza album ''Toxic'' |- ! scope="row"| "MPLT" (Bramsito featuring Maes) | 68 || — || — | scope="row" | Bramsito album ''Substance'' |- ! scope="row"| "Petit coeur" (RK featuring Maes) | 65 || — || — | scope="row" | RK album ''100 rancunes'' |- ! scope="row"| "Maison d'arrêt" (Hornet La Frappe featuring Maes) | 63 || — || — | scope="row" | Non-album release |- ! scope="row"| "Rhum et machette" (Ziak featuring Maes) | — || — || — |''Akimbo'' |- ! scope="row"| "Derrière nos tours" (Leto featuring Maes) | 16 || — || — | scope="row" | Leto album ''17%'' |- ! scope="row"| "Le Vie De Star" (Werenoi featuring Maes and SCH) | 2024 | 15 || — || — |}

===Other charted songs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album, EP or mixtape |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| FRA <ref name="fra"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (Wa) <ref name="bel-wa"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWI <ref name="swi"/> |- ! scope="row"| "Mama" | rowspan=13|2018 | 16 || — || — | scope="row" rowspan=13|''Pure'' |- ! scope="row"| "J'voulais" | 18 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "LDS" | 25 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Weed" (featuring Zed) | 37 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Zipette" | 41 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Fumer" | 52 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Mula" | 53 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Vue" | 54 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Panamera" | 60 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Depardieu" | 62 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Bâtiment" | 82 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Particulière" | 90 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Outro" | 94 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Blanche" (featuring Booba) | rowspan="15"| 2020 | 2 || 49 || 10 | rowspan="12"| ''Les derniers salopards'' |- ! scope="row"| "Dybala" (featuring Jul) | 3 || — || 22 |- ! scope="row"| "Dragović" | 8 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Elvira" | 9 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Mémoire" | 12 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Les gens disent" | 13 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Imparfait" | 13 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Police" | 14 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "À côté de moi" | 16 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Marco Polo" | 17 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Étoile" | 18 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Chromé" | 19 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Prioritaire" | 28 || — || — |rowspan=3 scope="row" | Non-album release |- ! scope="row"| "Menotté" | 113 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Neb nedal" | 146 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Mardi gras" (featuring Tiakola and Zed) | rowspan="2"| 2021 | — || — || 67 | rowspan="2"| ''Réelle vie 3.0'' |- ! scope="row"| "Le maire" (featuring Oboy) | — || — || 81 |- ! scope="row"| "La Pégre" | rowspan="15"| 2023 | 8 || — || — | rowspan="15"| ''Omerta'' |- ! scope="row"| "Velar" | 12 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "B22" | 25 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Malembé" | 30 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Opaque" | 34 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Le Moine" | 44 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Frank Lucas" | 52 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Criminel" | 59 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Intro" | 61 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Omerta" | 63 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Quand T’es Là" | 65 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "AraÏ" | 72 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Rif" | 77 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Haut Et Bas" | 80 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "BoÎte À Gants" | 98 || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Interpol" |2024 | 45<ref name="Top Singles (Week 30, 2024)"/> || — || — |}

==Notes== {{notelist-ua}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Discogs artist|6717171-Maes-5}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maes}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century French male rappers Category:21st-century French rappers Category:Rappers from Seine-Saint-Denis Category:French people of Moroccan descent