MC
Solaar
Positivity is the most important thing for
MC Solaar when it comes down to writing
his rhymes. The French rapper studiously
avoids gangsta posturing and misogynist
put-downs, and is conscious of every word
he uses down to how true they are to tradi-
tional poetic techniques. "I knew there was
some prejudice against rap," he says, "so I
wanted to make something clever so that
even teachers in school would have to say,
'Okay, it's rap, but he doesn't say I'm
French and I'm the best, and I'm gonna kick
your ass because can,' I want to make the
statement that hip hop is respectful music
and hopefully the people who used to think
that rap is violent will turn their mind."
7001
Most Americans wouldn't know all this
just from listening to his records because
they would have no idea what the fuck MC
Solaar was saying. But his beats are so
dope and he flows so smoothly that it really
doesn't matter that you can't understand a
word. His first album Oui Seme Le Vent
Recolte Le Tempo (He Who Sows The Wind
Shall Reap The Tempo) went gold in France
and sold well in America as an import, and
his second album, Prose Combat, is set for
American release, but people here became
most familiar with Solaar when he appeared
on Guru's Jazzmatazz album, rapping on
"Le Biene, Le Mal." He gives much respect
to Guru for opening that door and giving
him the opportunity to show the similarities
between French and American hip hop
while also showcasing the differences.
Although Solaar looks up to a lot of
American rappers, especially Afrika
Bambaataa, he doesn't want to be judged
on their terms. "I want to be different," he
says. "I came from Africa and grew up in
Paris. The experience is different. I try to
draw from the whole culture here, the
whole state of mind. I consider myself
more like a journalist than an actor."
-Jennifer Lehrer
66 T
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