In 1994, the Fonky Family, a rap and hip-hop group formed by Rat Luciano, Sat l’Artificier, Don Choa, Menzo, Pone, Fel and DJ Djel took center stage. In 1997, the group’s first album entitled “Si Dieu faut…” was released and it was Pone, whose real name was Guilhem Gallart, who produced this record, which was to be a real success. Rapper, writer and music producer, Pone will intervene on the entire discography of the Marseille group but also as an independent producer for other artists (for example on the title “Hold up” of the group 113 or “Darwah” for Rohff).
Relapsed slightly into anonymity since the group’s dissolution in 2007, Pone is now in the headlines. Since 2015, the now 50-year-old has suffered from Charcot’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a diagnosis made after a series of examinations when he was subject to significant health concerns. A concert was also organized in September 2015, to support him in his illness.
Very active in the awareness campaign on this disease, Pone presented in 2018, the site “ALS for Dummies”. A few days ago, although paralyzed, the former rap star released a book entitled “A little further” entirely “written with his eyes” at Lattès editions. “He has a computer tool, an eye navigation system that can capture the movement of his eyes. It aims at each letter, which form words and sentences” explained his wife Wahiba Gallart to describe the innovative writing process before showing his “tremendous pride”.
First support of her husband, Wahiba Gallart also explained how the disease impacts their family life: We experience it very oddly and very normally. We say to ourselves that it is exceptional, what we are experiencing. It’s a life that is very framed. We have to anticipate everything. But now for us, it’s normal life. When we see what his life course is before his illness, we say to ourselves what his life could have been after his illness and what we did with it.
ES