History of French Hip Hop
French hip hop is one of the most popular forms of music in Europe and one of the most politically charged musical forms in the country. Following World War II, an economic boom occurred throughout the country, sustained by a workforce from former French colonies. These immigrants were often treated as second-class citizens, spurring much of the political angst that found its voice in French hip hop.
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Beginnings
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The history of French hip hop began in 1979, influenced heavily from the American music market. The New York City rap scene was adopted as the general basis of the genre.
Radio Success
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A number of hip hop radio stations began to appear in 1982. This occurred at the same time as a major rap tour came through Europe. These artists influenced major French stars like Rapper Dapper Snapper and DJ Dee Nasty.
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Late 1980s and Early 1990s
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The first star in French hip hop came onto the scene during this period. Called MC Solaar achieved major radio success in 1991 with "Qui seme le vent recolte le tempo."
Genres
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The rise of hip hop genres occurred during the 1990s. A more mellow form of hip hop was championed by MC Solaar and other artists. However, American gangsta rap influenced more aggressive artists such as Assassin and Supreme NTM.
Market Success
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In the beginning of the 21st century, the French hip hop market became the second-largest in the world. Nearly one quarter of the music industry in the country is based in the hip hop and rap market.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Shift6, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sf_hiphop.jpg
