Why Now? Why the hell are you writing about French Rap? Why is this in English?
in which I answer some of your questions
I’ve wanted to write about rap, specifically my deep interest in French rap for YEARS. I didn’t for a few reasons, chief among them the “obvious” - I don’t speak French (others included a fear of offending anyone with my interpretations and my desperate hope that someone else would take this on and do it better and who would want to listen to my bullshit anyway).
Over the years, as my interest has deepened, I’ve started to have stronger opinions. I listen to new music, critique it voraciously and apart from a friend I’ve made on Twitter (👋 Mike) it has always felt like no one could possibly be interested in any of this. I’ve nurtured this interest and waited and waited for an outlet. I’ve watched other people with similar qualifications dare, I’ve devoured these pieces by said friend [he’s joked I might have been his only audience; he also has a FIRE playlist that you should check out here], I’ve Google translated countless articles, for fuck’s sake I even FLEW to France pre-COVID to see 4Keus and Naza live, mosh with randos at Wanderlust and cry when I missed PNL’s last concert in London (which I had tickets for [that I sold] I’ll have you know).
This music has sustained me through the most turbulent time in my life and I swear it just gets better and better year on year. Every so often, I’ll meet someone stateside who attempts to match my enthusiasm and mentions Fonky Family or Suprême NTM or MC Solaar. If I’m lucky, someone might know Booba (but old Booba). If I hit the jackpot and someone dares to engage, La Haine will come up and so will Vincent Cassel and Tina Kunakey. Rap Francais, in its most modern iterations, is experimental, poetic and has some of the best damn beats in the world.
I should add in all of this, I live in California. I speak no French. I have no connections to the country.
So here goes.