Monza 1er was a Congolese singer and bandleader who made a big splash in the mid-1980s Soukous and Rumba scene. He first gained real popularity with Ben Nyamabo’s group Choc Stars, sharing the mic with Defao and scoring a huge hit in 1985 with "Evé". Shortly after, he struck out on his own to start Les Stars Magnats, riding the massive Kwassa Kwassa dance wave and dropping standout albums like Fleur Du Lac (1986) and The Top... (1987).