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In 1991, Senegal-born Paris-educated hip hopper MC Solaar (born Claude M'Barali) paired with DJ friend Jimmy Jay (Christophe Viguier) as arranger and producer on this, his first and still one of his best albums. Solaar is like all the best rappers a poet of note. He is surrounded by rich, lush ensembles that at different times on the record include percussion (live and drum machine), electric bass (used as much for beat as for note), electric piano and organ, guitar, saxophone, and multiple vocalists. There are even strings at times and once, the sound of motorcycles revving up. The album sold 400,000 copies in France and included Solaar's first singles hit, "Bouge de la", which was based on a sample from the English funk band of the early '70s, Cymande's "The Message." (And is better than Cymande's version.)
Drums dominate even on lyrical cuts like "Caroline", with sophisticated rhythm and musical riffs laid over them. "Armand est Mort" displays one of his signal rhythm devices. The drum machine, at the base of the rhythm, surges ahead in laid back tempo, playing in 4/4, like this: the drum machine plays three beats followed by a one-beat pause, then four straight, then repeats the pattern, over and over again throughout most of the song. Of the four beats, the first two are low, hard thuds. The third is lighter and higher, but still a thud. There is a one-beat delay and then a repeat, only with the fourth beat filled by drum. "Quartier Nord," the next track up, shows very well the rhythmic sophistication and ferocity the group brings to its work. Multiple layers of hard, driving rhythm played in different meters forms the base for a whirlwind of sound: the electric bass used principally for rhythm accent, keyboard riffs, guitar twangs, a lovely, almost full-solo jazzy alto sax, MC rapping, and backup singers. Solaar's albums have always come across as collaborative. He is generous in allowing space for the other singers and musicians.
His poetry is evocative, alternately lyrical and reflective and fierce and combative, He is not afraid to take on serious subjects, political or not. On this album, fashion's victims ("Victime de la Mode"); art ("L'Histoire de l'Art"); a man's death; even one on how music softens manners ("La Musique Adoucit les Moeurs"). This is prime popular music: you don't have to understand French to appreciate it -there's a percussiveness to poetized French that makes it one of rap's best languages-but if you do, you will appreciate Solaar's sly comments on the world we live in.
Top reviews from other countries
Bernardo Andrade
Excellent French Hip Hop
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2019Ralf Ganza
French hip hop at it’s best !!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2019