A capital court found MHD, real name Mohamed Sylla, 29, guilty of complicity in the gang-related homicide of Loic K, 23.

MHD’s Mercedes knocked down the victim, who was subsequently battered and stabbed to death by a throng of roughly 12 individuals.

MHD, famed for fusing trap and West African music to create “Afro trap,” pled not guilty to the allegations.

“From the beginning, I have maintained my innocence in this case, and I will continue to maintain my innocence,” he told a packed court in Paris, according to the AFP news agency.

He denied being at the murder scene, claiming that the case against him was based on rumors.

However, a neighborhood citizen filmed the incident from his window in the summer of 2018, and the automobile was instantly identified as belonging to MHD.

According to AFP, other witnesses recognized him by his haircut and a jumper.

Five of MHD’s co-defendants were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 18 years.

Three more people were found not guilty.

It was unclear whether those sentenced to prison intended to appeal.

MHD, who has a massive social media following, used to work as a pizza delivery boy in Paris before pursuing music professionally.

He explained how he came up with the concept of “Afro trap” to BBC’s What’s New? five years ago.