Kamini (musician)
Encyclopedia
Kamini Zantoko is a French
rapper
. In 2006, his songs and music video
s about rural French life became an Internet phenomenon.
village of Marly-Gomont
, which inspired his hit single of the same name.
After having received his Baccalaureat
, Kamini left his hometown to settle in Lille
, where he worked as a psychiatric nurse.
In 2006, working with some friends, he wrote the song "Marly-Gomont", which is a humorous recounting of the daily life in the rural French town and the difficulty of being a member of the only black family in the village. His music video, sent to numerous music industry giants on September 12, 2006, greatly amused the company employees.
The video was quickly put on air by French media, among them Fun Radio, Skyrock, and Contact FM. Kamini was also invited to appear on numerous prestigious French television programs, such as Journal de Jean-Pierre Pernaut, Le Grand Journal de Canal+
, Cauet, Laurent Ruquier
, and Direct 8. In mid-October, without having toured or even played a single gig, Kamini signed a record deal with RCA for Marly-Gomont and two albums. On December 1, 2006, Kamini appeared on the French show Star Academy
, a French version of American Idol
. He was profiled in December 2006 by Time
as part of its Person of the Year
articles on Internet-based content creators. The video has received almost 4 million hits since it was posted on the YouTube
website in September 2006.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPJ-xRaw2l8
Because of his huge success and instant attachment amongst the French for the sound of this "rural rapper", Kamini has quit his job as a psychiatric nurse.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rapper
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. In 2006, his songs and music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s about rural French life became an Internet phenomenon.
Biography
The son of a Congolese doctor, Kamini grew up in the French countryside in the small PicardPicard
Picard may refer to:* a native of, or anything originating in, Picardy* the Picard language, a Langue d'oïl and one of the languages of France* A member of the Picards, a religious sect in the fifteenth century...
village of Marly-Gomont
Marly-Gomont
Marly-Gomont is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-Personalities:*A song by the rapper Kamini depicts Marly-Gomont. The video received more than 3.3 million hits since it was posted on the YouTube website in September 2006.-References:*...
, which inspired his hit single of the same name.
After having received his Baccalaureat
Baccalauréat
The baccalauréat , often known in France colloquially as le bac, is an academic qualification which French and international students take at the end of the lycée . It was introduced by Napoleon I in 1808. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies...
, Kamini left his hometown to settle in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, where he worked as a psychiatric nurse.
In 2006, working with some friends, he wrote the song "Marly-Gomont", which is a humorous recounting of the daily life in the rural French town and the difficulty of being a member of the only black family in the village. His music video, sent to numerous music industry giants on September 12, 2006, greatly amused the company employees.
The video was quickly put on air by French media, among them Fun Radio, Skyrock, and Contact FM. Kamini was also invited to appear on numerous prestigious French television programs, such as Journal de Jean-Pierre Pernaut, Le Grand Journal de Canal+
Canal+
Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
, Cauet, Laurent Ruquier
Laurent Ruquier
Laurent Ruquier, born February 24, 1963 in Le Havre , Normandy, France is a popular French journalist, satirical comedian, and TV and radio host. He is also a columnist, lyricist, author, screenwriter, and impresario.-Biography:...
, and Direct 8. In mid-October, without having toured or even played a single gig, Kamini signed a record deal with RCA for Marly-Gomont and two albums. On December 1, 2006, Kamini appeared on the French show Star Academy
Star Academy
Star Academy is a highly successful television show format based on the Spanish format "Operación Triunfo" produced by Endemol, that has been broadcast in over 50 countries...
, a French version of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. He was profiled in December 2006 by Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
as part of its Person of the Year
Person of the Year
Person of the Year is an annual issue of the United States newsmagazine Time that features and profiles a person, couple, group, idea, place, or machine that "for better or for worse, ...has done the most to influence the events of the year."- History :The tradition of selecting a Man of the Year...
articles on Internet-based content creators. The video has received almost 4 million hits since it was posted on the YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
website in September 2006.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPJ-xRaw2l8
Because of his huge success and instant attachment amongst the French for the sound of this "rural rapper", Kamini has quit his job as a psychiatric nurse.
Singles
- 2006 - "Marly-GomontMarly-Gomont (song)"Marly-Gomont" is the first single by French "agricultural" rapper Kamini, recorded in 2006. It was produced under the RCA Group label and released on November 13, 2006....
" - 2007 - "J'suis blanc"
- 2007 - "Psychostar Show"
- 2007 - "Un p'tit coup de Motherfuck"
- 2009 - "Parce qu'on est con"