| MC Solaar | |
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 MC Solaar, Solidays music festival, Paris, July 2002
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Claude M'Barali |
| Born | March 5, 1969 |
| Origin | France, Chad, Senegal |
| Genre(s) | French Rap, Jazz-rap, Pop-rap |
| Years active | 1990— |
| Website | http://www.solaarsystem.net/ |
MC Solaar is the stage name of Claude M'Barali (born March 5, 1969), a francophone hip hop and rap artist. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Chad (Tchad تشاد Tshād) officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a Landlocked country in Central Africa. Senegal (le Sénégal officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other This article is about Hip hop music from the country of France, and does not cover the hip hop scenes in other French speaking countries like Senegalese Jazz rap (also known as hip bop) is a fusion of Alternative hip hop and Jazz, developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s Pop rap (or hip-pop) is hip hop with a Pop music influence The style became popular in the early 1990s as hip hop music found commercial success Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) A stage name, also called a screen name, is a Pseudonym used by Performers and Entertainers such as Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The adjective francophone (alternately Francophone) means French -speaking typically as primary language whether referring to individuals groups or places Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Solaar is one of the most internationally popular and influential French rappers. This article is about Hip hop music from the country of France, and does not cover the hip hop scenes in other French speaking countries like Senegalese [1],[2]
As a rapper MC Solaar is known for his complexity, which relies on wordplay, lyricism, and philosophical inquiry. Word play is a Literary technique in which the nature of the words that are used become the main subject of the work The music is based on dance rhythms. In the English-speaking world, Solaar was signed by London acid jazz label Talkin' Loud and invited to record with British group Urban Species and Guru, a member of the famous and highly-acclaimed New York group Gang Starr. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Acid jazz (also known as groove jazz in USA is a Musical genre that combines elements of Jazz, Funk and Hip-hop Most Talkin' Loud is a Record label started by Gilles Peterson at Phonogram in 1990 after he left Acid Jazz. Guru (born Keith Edward Elam, July 17 1966 is an American Rapper, and the lyrical half of the hip-hop group Gang Starr, together with The City of New York Gangstar redirects here For the video game see Gangstar Crime City. He has since released seven studio records and one live album and currently lives with his wife, French actress Chloé Bensemoun, and their only son, Roman.
Contents |
Early life
Claude M'Barali was born in Dakar, Senegal to parents of Chadian origin. For the Dakar Rally see Dakar Rally. For the Israeli submarine see INS Dakar. Senegal (le Sénégal officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa. Chad (Tchad تشاد Tshād) officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a Landlocked country in Central Africa. When he was six months old his parents immigrated to France where they eventually settled in the Paris suburb of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Villeneuve-Saint-Georges is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. At age twelve he went to Egypt for nine months where he discovered the Zulu Nation and became fascinated with the rapping styles of Afrika Bambaataa. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. The Universal Zulu Nation is an "international hip hop awareness" group formed and headed by Hip hop godfather Afrika Bambaataa. Afrika Bambaataa (born Kevin Donovan on April 17, 1957) is an American DJ from the South Bronx, who was instrumental in the [3] Upon his return he began to focus more on music but still studied enough to pass the baccalauréat. The baccalauréat (bakaloʁeˈa often known in France colloquially as le bac or le bachôt, is an academic qualification which It has been said that his constant support from his mother was one of the reasons that he was able to pass the baccalauréat and still create music. The baccalauréat (bakaloʁeˈa often known in France colloquially as le bac or le bachôt, is an academic qualification which He coined the stage name "MC Solaar" in his teens from his graffiti tags "SOAR" and "SOLAAR". A stage name, also called a screen name, is a Pseudonym used by Performers and Entertainers such as Graffiti (singular graffito; the plural is used as a Mass noun) is the name for images or lettering scratched scrawled painted or marked in any manner on property [1]
Career
Claude M'Barali aka; MC Solaar went to Paris in the summer of 1990 with his friend Jimmy Jay in hopes of succeeding in the music industry. Success came quickly when his first single, Bouge de là ("Take a Hike"), based on a sample from Cymande's song The Message (1973) became a hit in early 1990. Cymande (Sah-mahn-day were an eclectic band who released several albums throughout the early seventies Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) It was all about brushing people to the side and not having time for them. This is very evident with lyrics such as the following (translated to English):
Directly I went to Lucy's
Who loves dogs, cats and TV pet's shows
She says 'Do you love beasts, you my super MC'
I said 'Yeah, lov'em, with salt and well cooked'[4]
Many rappers who came out of Africa at the time spoke a lot about slavery and other topics in order to bring the history of their people into light. [5] Nevertheless, the song went platinum in France and ascended to number five on the national charts. After the success of Bouge de là, Solaar went on to support the famous American rap group De La Soul when they performed at the Olympia in Paris in September 1991. De La Soul is a Grammy Award-winning hip hop group They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky surreal lyrics and their contributions to the evolution Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. At the close of 1991 Solaar released Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo which went on to sell over 400,000 copies in France. Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo is French rapper MC Solaar 's first album [1] With the success of his début album in France, the French rapper embarked upon extensive tours of Poland and Russia. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending In December 1992 he performed in twelve countries in West Africa, where his French rap style proved extremely popular with African music fans. The music of Africa is as vast and varied as the continent's many regions, nations and Ethnic groups Although there is no distinctly pan-African [6]
MC Solaar returned to the studio in 1994, recording Prose Combat. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Prose Combat was the second studio album released by MC Solaar. The album sold 100,000 copies in the first week of its release and became a best seller in 20 other countries. He was rewarded for his efforts when in February 1995 he received an award for Best Male Singer of the Year at the 10th edition of the French "Victoires de la Musique" awards. Solaar went back to the studio in 1997 with longtime friend and producer Jimmy Jay to record his third album, Paradisiaque. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Paradisiaque was the third studio album released by MC Solaar in 1997 The album was another success, which led to an extensive European tour starting on January 9 at the Zénith in Paris. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Le Zénith is the common name for more than a dozen similar purpose-built concert venues in France. His talents led to international interest from places such as Germany in Europe and all the way to Japan and the United States not long after. He was even included as a guest in "Gangstarr's Guru Jazzmatazz project, and one of his songs was included in the Tommy Boy rap compilation in the" States. [7]
Early on in MC Solaar's career it was important for him to share the struggles and the different hardships for Black people that migrated to France and tried to make a living. Most of his music was dedicated to enlightening the population of a specific deeper message that connected to him in his life. ". . . he addresses the conditions under which Black people have migrated to and settled in France. In the piece 'Leve-toi et rap,' he describes his chadian parents' migration from Senegal to a Parisian suburb, the main stages of his teenage years and how he finally came to discover rap. " (Africa on their Mind: Rap, Blackness, and Citizenship in France by Veronique Helenon) In an interview MC Solaar describes the feeling of making a song and the thought process while just writing any part of lyrics that go into his music. "I write quickly, because of the music, he tells me. It’s much easier if you have the music, the rhythm, but I am fast. First, I have taken in “everything. ” Do you never write before the music? Ah. I used to, he admits. But when I met the music, I changed. " [[1]]
Solaar's career continued to evolve throughout the late nineties and into the new millennium. He released Cinquième As in 2001 to critical acclaim and Mach 6 in 2003. Cinquième As was the fifth studio album by MC Solaar released in 2001 Mach 6 is the sixth studio album by MC Solaar. It was released in Europe in 2003 and in America on June 6 2006 fitting with the Number In the third track on Cinquième As entitled "Lève-Toi et Rap", Solaar describes his parents' Chadian emigration as well as his own roots growing up in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges and Cairo. Cinquième As was the fifth studio album by MC Solaar released in 2001 Villeneuve-Saint-Georges is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. Cairo () which means "the Vanquisher" or "the Triumphant" is the capital and largest city of Egypt. [8] Towards the beginning of the song he says: Puis trip en Egypte, Ecole Française du Caire/ Pour parfaire mon flow et mon vocabulaire/ Là j'ai appris l'humilité, la peur des cartouches/ Pur style de sniper camouflage paw-mouche, which, translated, roughly means he spent time at a French school in Cairo, perfecting his rapping style and learning how to survive a dangerous lifestyle. Critic Dan Gennoe attests to Solaar's "flow et vocabulaire" by noting "the flow of his words is staggering, as are the low-slung grooves that they roll to; deftly vaulting all language barriers. " [9]
The cover of "Cinquième As" depicts Solaar topless, and draws comparisons to captives about to be taken onto a slave ship. However, by looking inside of the front cover, Solaar is revealed to be in a wrestler's costume, along with the other men in the picture. [10] As Veronique Helenon discusses in her article concerning the French hip hop scene, references to Africa and "blackness" are a very important part of Solaar's music. Minorities are often excluded in French society and the number of immigrants in France has been referred to as a "problem". Solaar recognizes and pays tribute to Africa's presence in France by using boxing and wrestling references. Senegalese boxer, Battling Siki is referenced in the album's booklet. Battling Siki ( September 16, 1897 &ndash December 15, 1925) aka Louis Mbarick Fall was a Senegalese Light heavyweight boxer who Although Siki won the light heavyweight boxing championship in 1922, he still faced racism from journalists. [11] This image combined with songs concerning colonial oppression and the migration experience from Africa to France show Solaar's "blackness," something that is extremely important in France's hip hop scene. For example, in his song 'Les Colonies', Solaar discusses the similarities between the oppression of Africans by colonialists to the modern day exploitation of "third world" countries. "Cinquième As" includes lyrics in French, English, and Spanish, which represents his ideals that rap should be inclusive of all people. [12]
After the first single "Da Vinci Claude" launched in March 2007, Solaar's latest album Chapitre 7 was released on June 18, 2007. Chapitre 7 is the seventh studio album by MC Solaar. The album was released on June 18 2007 all over the world
MC Solaar gained new fans in North America in early 2004, when his 2001 song "La Belle et Le Bad Boy" was featured on the final episode of the popular television series Sex and the City. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Sex and the City was an American Cable television program The original run of the show was broadcast on HBO from 1998 until 2004 for a It has become popular again as top MTV series "The Hills" featured the song which has created another buzz for the song.
MC Solaar remains best-known outside of France for his work on Guru's Jazzmatazz project and as a guest rapper on the Missy Elliott track "All N My Grill". Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1 1971 is a five-time Grammy Award -winning American rapper, singer, Songwriter, and This collaboration with Missy Elliott opened him new doors especially in the American market. Out of Guru and Solaar's collaboration, the single "Le Bien, Le Mal" (The Good, The Bad) was a popular Hip Hop/Dance crossover hit receiving playtime on MTV. MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City.
"His fluid phrasing makes up for his lack of English, and the production on his solo work (by DJ Jimmy Jay and Boom Bass of La Funk Mob) surpasses that of most of his hip-hop contemporaries. " [2]
MC Solaar is one of the only French rappers who were capable of imposing himself in the American era of Hip Hop without even speaking English. Solaar has appeared in many Bollywood movies like Hum Tum. Bollywood (बॉलीवूड بالی وڈ is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai -based Hindi-language Film industry in India Hum Tum ( Hindi: हम तुम English: You and Me Urdu: ہم تم is a Bollywood movie released in India on
MC Solaar also released a few songs which never appeared on albums, including "John Woo" and "Inch'Allah". He has criticized illegal downloads by producing altered versions of his albums Mach 6 and Chapitre 7.
Personal life
Solaar's personal life became media fodder starting in 1996 when he began dating Ophélie Winter. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Ophélie Kleerekoper-Winter (born February 20, 1974 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France) is a French Singer and Actress The couple split up in December 2000. On December 7, 2003, MC Solaar married Chloé Bensemoun and on May 7, 2004, she gave birth to the couple's first child, Roman. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " [6]
Beginning September 2, 1997, MC Solaar started fighting record label Vivendi for commercially exploiting his first three albums. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar VIVENDI is a software package for care management and staff organisation published by the German software company CONNEXT and introduced in 1995 In 2002, French courts sided with Solaar and the case was dismissed a few days after. [6]
Discography
- Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo (1991)
- Prose Combat (1994)
- Paradisiaque (1997)
- MC Solaar (1998)
- Le Tour de la Question (1999)
- Cinquième As (2001)
- Mach 6 (2003)
- Chapitre 7 (2007)
References and footnotes
- ^ a b c Biography. Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo is French rapper MC Solaar 's first album Prose Combat was the second studio album released by MC Solaar. Paradisiaque was the third studio album released by MC Solaar in 1997 MC Solaar, the self-titled fourth album (released July 1998 by French-Senegalese rapper MC Solaar was a shorter effort than his previous releases Le Tour de la Question was the first live album released by MC Solaar in 1999 Cinquième As was the fifth studio album by MC Solaar released in 2001 Mach 6 is the sixth studio album by MC Solaar. It was released in Europe in 2003 and in America on June 6 2006 fitting with the Number Chapitre 7 is the seventh studio album by MC Solaar. The album was released on June 18 2007 all over the world Islandia. Retrieved on 2006-12-12. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian
- ^ Margo Berdeshevsky. The Age of MC SOLAAR. Rattapallax. Retrieved on 2006-12-12. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian
- ^ "Q&A", CNN International. CNN International (CNNI is an English language Television network that is commonly referred to as CNN and carries news current affairs and business programming Retrieved on 2006-12-12. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian
- ^ http://www.19.5degs.com/lyrics/Bouge%20De%20La%20(move%20out%20of%20my%20way)/197477
- ^ Helenon, Veronique. “Africa on Their Mind: Rap, Blackness, and Citizenship in France. ” In The Vinyl Ain’t Final: Hip Hop and the Globalization of Black Popular Culture, ed. by Dipannita Basu and Sidney J. Lemelle, 151-66. London; Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto Pres
- ^ a b c MC Solaar. RFI Musique. Retrieved on 2006-07-25. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler
- ^ http://www.islandia.is/helgakr/solaar/biography.htm
- ^ Helenon, Veronique. “Africa on Their Mind: Rap, Blackness, and Citizenship in France. ” In The Vinyl Ain’t Final: Hip Hop and the Globalization of Black Popular Culture, ed. by Dipannita Basu and Sidney J. Lemelle, 151-66. London; Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto Pres
- ^ Gennoe, Dan. Amazon. com. uk Review. Cinquieme As. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cinquieme-As-Mc-Solaar/dp/B00005OB0K. Website accessed 3/20/08.
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/Cinquieme-As-Fifth-MC-Solaar/dp/B000062TAK
- ^ Helenon, Veronique. “Africa on Their Mind: Rap, Blackness, and Citizenship in France. ” In The Vinyl Ain’t Final: Hip Hop and the Globalization of Black Popular Culture, ed. by Dipannita Basu and Sidney J. Lemelle, 151-66. London; Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto Pres
- ^ http://www.rattapallax.com/blog/2007/11/22/the-age-of-mc-solaar/
External links
- (French) MC Solaar's official homepage
- Unofficial blog with English translation of Caroline by MC Solaar
- Unofficial video clip of "La devise" from MC Solaar's first's album "Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo" : http://youtube.com/watch?v=tnviWduiNGs
| Preceded by Alain Souchon |
Victoires de la Musique Male artist of the year 1995 |
Succeeded by Maxime Le Forestier |
| Preceded by Gibraltar by Abd Al Malik 2007 |
Victoires de la Musique Urban music album of the year Chapitre 7 by MC Solaar 2008 |
Succeeded by Most recent |
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