Mbalax (or Mbalakh) is the national popular dance music of Senegal and The Gambia. Mbalax is a fusion of popular Western music and dance such as jazz, soul, Latin, and rock blended with sabar, the traditional drumming and dance music of Senegal. The genre's name derived from the heavy use of accompanying rhythms used in sabar called mbalax.

Mbalax, a type of music that trace most of its technique from the conservative Serer music tradition of Njuup (the progenitor of Mbalax), developed in Senegal in the early 1970s. Like many other francophone West African countries the Senegalese popular music scene was influenced by soul, blues, jazz, R&B, and rock from the United States, varieté from France, Congolese rumba, and Latin pop from the Caribbean and New York (e.g.,pachanga, son, charanga, salsa, and Latin jazz)^{[citation needed]}. In this mix of African diasporic sounds Senegalese fans and musicians wanted their own urban popular dance music so they began singing in Wolof (Senegal's lingua franca) instead of French, and incorporated rhythms of the indigenous sabar drum (see Mangin). Dancers began using moves associated with the sabar, and tipping the singers as if they were traditional griots.

Youssou N'Dour (French pronunciation: [jusu nˈduʁ]; born 1 October 1959) is a Senegalese singer, percussionist, songwriter, composer, occasional actor and businessman. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, "perhaps the most famous singer alive" in Senegal and much of Africa. Since April 2012, he has been Senegal's Minister of Tourism and Culture.

N'Dour helped to develop a style of popular Senegalese music known in the Serer language as mbalax, which traces from the conservative Serer music tradition of "Njuup" (the progenitor of Mbalax). He is the subject of the award-winning films Return to Goree directed by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud and Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, which were released around the world.

N'Dour was born in Dakar to a Serer father. At age 12, he began to perform and within a few years was performing regularly with the Star Band, Dakar's most popular group during the early 1970s. Several members of the Star Band joined Orchestra Baobab about that time.

DJ Prostyle (born Alexander Ricardo Santelises) is an Dominican American DJ and producer on Power 105.1 in New York City and Power 95.3 in Orlando, Florida. He also owns his own record label, All Pro Records.

Prostyle began his radio career on Power 95.3 in Orlando, Florida. He later moved back to New York City and joined 105.9 La Kalle. He then returned to Power 95.3 and later joined Power 105.1 in New York City.

Prostyle also got involved in television, making several guest appearances on BET's Rap City and later became part of 106 & Park alongside hosts Terrence J and Rocsi, where he mixes live during the show and hosting duties during "Freestyle Fridays". He also mixes during major network events like the BET Awards and Spring Bling.