Kery James
Encyclopedia
Alix Mathurin better known as Kery James, is a French rapper, singer, songwriter
, dancer and record producer
, who was born in West Indies from Haitian
parents. His mother raised him in Orly
, a suburb of Paris
. Nowadays with his three solo albums, he is one of the most respected French rappers. The media labelled him "the rapper repented through Islam". Kery James is aware of it, he really assumes this image. " I prefer to be the one who hold this role rather than somebody else. Numerous young Muslims are tempted to be intolerant or extremist. If I can open their eyes it is a good thing for them."
noticed him when he was only 10 years old in a cité
(suburban housing estate) of Paris. He described the setting as "A place where the Islamic faith was omnipresent. All my friends in , and the symbols of the religion.
At around thirteen years old, he became a member of the group Idéal Junior (later abbreviated to Idéal J). They garnered a few singles with explicit titles like Hardcore, Pour une poignée de dollars and a first album titled Original MC’s sur une mission. In 1992, their single La vie est dure was released showing great promise though one of the talented artists, Alter, promptly left the group. In subsequent years while colleague Mehdi progressed as a prominent producer, Kery worked extensively on writing new material, his texts reflecting a life that involved altercations with the police, street rivalries and an omnipresent fear of death.
In 1996 the band's first album under the moniker Ideal J led the group to became renowned and respected as amongst the top French rappers with well-know singles like Ghetto français, Show business and, Je veux du cash. Ideal J multiplied their appearances on Maxis and as featured acts, reaching a surprising maturity with the single J'désole mes parents present on the compilation Nouvelle donne. However, Kery's career was put temporarily on hold in 1999 when his close childhood friend Las Montana was shot and killed. Kery took refuge in religious faith and took the name Ali as a symbol of his full conversion to Islam.
In 2004, Kery James' second album, Ma vérité continued to underline social and political militant messages taking positions on such subjects as the war in Iraq and on reality TV. However, at the same time, duets with very popular stars such as Diam's
Mélanie Giorgadès and Amel Bent
, started to distance him from his underground image.
In March 2008 this metamorphosis to mainstream popularity was underlined by a new album À l'ombre du show business whose title track was a collaboration with legendary French chanson
star Charles Aznavour
. Other tracks included Le combat continue part III, Banlieusards and Vrai Peura. On its first week of release the album reached third place on the French charts with 24,459 albums sold. For the music videos of this album, he worked with Luc Besson
, Matthieu Kassovitz, J.G Biggs and Chris Macari
.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, dancer and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, who was born in West Indies from Haitian
Haitian
Haitian may refer to:* A person or thing of, from, or related to the country of Haiti* Haitian Creole language * Haitian cuisine* Haitian , minor character in the 2006 television series Heroes...
parents. His mother raised him in Orly
Orly
Orly is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.The name of Orly came from Latin Aureliacum, "the villa of Aurelius"....
, a suburb of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Nowadays with his three solo albums, he is one of the most respected French rappers. The media labelled him "the rapper repented through Islam". Kery James is aware of it, he really assumes this image. " I prefer to be the one who hold this role rather than somebody else. Numerous young Muslims are tempted to be intolerant or extremist. If I can open their eyes it is a good thing for them."
Early life
Kery James arrived in continental France at the age of seven. He started at a young age to rap, dance, and write his own texts. The famous MC SolaarMC Solaar
MC Solaar is a francophone hip hop and rap artist. He is one of the most internationally popular and influential French rappers....
noticed him when he was only 10 years old in a cité
Cité
Cité is a French language word whose dictionary definition is city.In common parlance the term tends to have a negative nuance implying a high-rise 20th century inner-city HLM like the US term projects or the British term housing estate.* Cité-jardin is a gardened kind of planned satellite town*...
(suburban housing estate) of Paris. He described the setting as "A place where the Islamic faith was omnipresent. All my friends in , and the symbols of the religion.
At around thirteen years old, he became a member of the group Idéal Junior (later abbreviated to Idéal J). They garnered a few singles with explicit titles like Hardcore, Pour une poignée de dollars and a first album titled Original MC’s sur une mission. In 1992, their single La vie est dure was released showing great promise though one of the talented artists, Alter, promptly left the group. In subsequent years while colleague Mehdi progressed as a prominent producer, Kery worked extensively on writing new material, his texts reflecting a life that involved altercations with the police, street rivalries and an omnipresent fear of death.
In 1996 the band's first album under the moniker Ideal J led the group to became renowned and respected as amongst the top French rappers with well-know singles like Ghetto français, Show business and, Je veux du cash. Ideal J multiplied their appearances on Maxis and as featured acts, reaching a surprising maturity with the single J'désole mes parents present on the compilation Nouvelle donne. However, Kery's career was put temporarily on hold in 1999 when his close childhood friend Las Montana was shot and killed. Kery took refuge in religious faith and took the name Ali as a symbol of his full conversion to Islam.
Solo career
In October 2001 his solo album "Si c'était à refaire" with, among others, the tracks "28 décembre 1977", "Si c'était à refaire", "Soledad", "Y'a pas d'couleur". Released in 2001, this album is very personal and benefits from numerous collaborations: Nubians, Salif Keita... The rap is influenced by African, Arabic, Cuban musical influences, without forgetting the use of percussions and original instruments for this music style as the xylophone. He sings his African roots but also the problems of society like money, violence, and moral values. This album reflects the surprising maturity of Kery.In 2004, Kery James' second album, Ma vérité continued to underline social and political militant messages taking positions on such subjects as the war in Iraq and on reality TV. However, at the same time, duets with very popular stars such as Diam's
Diam's
Diam's is a French-language rap artist of French and Greek Cypriot origin. Her family moved to Essonne in 1984....
Mélanie Giorgadès and Amel Bent
Amel Bent
Amel Bent is a French singer.- Biography :Amel Bent grew up in the French commune of La Courneuve with her Algerian father and a Moroccan mother. She has a brother and a sister...
, started to distance him from his underground image.
In March 2008 this metamorphosis to mainstream popularity was underlined by a new album À l'ombre du show business whose title track was a collaboration with legendary French chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
star Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...
. Other tracks included Le combat continue part III, Banlieusards and Vrai Peura. On its first week of release the album reached third place on the French charts with 24,459 albums sold. For the music videos of this album, he worked with Luc Besson
Luc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
, Matthieu Kassovitz, J.G Biggs and Chris Macari
Chris Macari
Christian Gabriel Ledru Macari is a French music video director and producer from the French West Indies. Through his company, Tchimbé Raid Production, he has released more than 50 videos of Hip Hop, RnB, Reggae-Dancehall and Zouk since 2006. He was honoured in 2008 at the Paris Olympia for his...
.
Solo albums
- 2002 : Si c'était à refaire
- 2004 : Savoir et vivre ensemble
- 2005 : Ma vérité
- 2008 : À l'ombre du show business
- 2009 : RéelReelA reel is an object around which lengths of another material are wound for storage. Generally a reel has a cylindrical core and walls on the sides to retain the material wound around the core...
with Ideal J
- 1992 : La vie est brutale (Maxi-single, as Ideal Junior)
- 1996 : O'riginal MC's sur une mission
- 1998 : Le Combat ContinueLe Combat ContinueLe Combat Continue is the 3rd album by French Hip Hop group, Idéal J. The album is considered a classic in French Hip-Hop music. The lead single "Hardcore" caused huge controversy in France."Hardcore, est la grimpée en flèche du FN...
with Mafia K'1 fry
- 1997 : Les liens sacrés
- 1999 : Légendaire
- 2003 : La cerise sur le ghetto
- 2007 : Jusqu'à la mort (+ reissue)
Collaborations
- 1991
- MC SolaarMC SolaarMC Solaar is a francophone hip hop and rap artist. He is one of the most internationally popular and influential French rappers....
feat. RaggasonicRaggasonicRaggasonic are a French reggae group composed of Big Red , Daddy Mory and Frenchie ....
& Kery James - "Raggajam" on MC Solaar's album, Qui sème le vent récolte le tempoQui sème le vent récolte le tempoQui sème le vent récolte le tempo is French rapper MC Solaar's first album. The title is a pun on the French version of the Biblical proverb "qui sème le vent récolte la tempête" . The song samples Lou Donaldson's One Cylinder...
- 1995
- Ideal J - Mauvais garçon on the soundtrack of Raï (1995)
- Ideal J - Ce soir, on est down on the soundtrack of Raï (1995)
- Ideal J - Orly City Bronx on the mixtapeMixtapeA Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
Orly City Bronx
- 1996
- Ideal J - Attaque/Contre attaque on the mixtape Invasion
- 1997
- Kery James feat. 113 & RohffRohffRohff - « Rimeur Original Hardcore Flow Fluide » is a French rapper from Vitry-sur-Seine, in Val-de-Marne, south of Paris. Rohff was born in Comoros and immigrated to the Parisian suburbs in 1985.A fan of 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., NWA, Game, and others, Rohff began rapping around 1994...
- "Dans Ta Race" on the compilation Mysta D. presents L'invincible armada - Different Teep feat. Kery James - "Ras" on Different Teep's album, La rime urbaine
- Ideal J - "Cash Remix" on the compilation L 432
- 1998
- 113 Feat Kery James - Association sur le EP du 113, Ni Barreaux, Ni Barrières, Ni Frontières
- Manu Key Feat Lil Jahson & Kery James - "Triste point en commun" sur l'album éponyme de Manu Key
- Ideal J Feat 113 & Intouchable - "La voie que j'ai donnée à ma vie" sur la compile Nouvelle Donne
- 1999
- Alibi Montana Feat Kery James - "Le monde a cracké" sur l'album d'Alibi, T'as ma parole
- Prodige Namor Feat Kery James - "L'année de tous les dangers" sur l'album de Prodige Namor, L'heure de vérité
- Daomen Feat Kery James - "J'émerge" sur l'album de Daomen, Underground Classic
- Kery James Feat Rocca, Shurik'NShurik'nShurik'n Chang-Ti is a French hip hop artist from Marseille, born in 1966. He is one of the members of the highly successful group IAM, as well as a major solo artist. With his brother Faf Larage , he also is a member of the group La Garde.Mussard was born in Marseille on 11 March 1966, with...
& Hamed Daye - "Animalement votre" sur la mixtape Première classe vol. 1 - 113 Feat 113 Clan - Main Dans La Main sur l'album du 113, Les Princes de la ville
- 2000
- Kery James - "J'émerge (remix)" sur la compile Nouvelle Donne Collector Vol.1
- Kery James - "Les frères ne savent pas" sur la compile Time Bomb Session Vol.1
- Kertra Feat Kery James - "Face à face" sur l'album de Kertra, Le labyrinthe
- 2003
- Mafia K'1 Fry Feat Kery James - "Nuage de fumée Part II" sur l'album de la Mafia, La Cerise Sur Le Ghetto
- 2004
- Rim'KRim'KAbdelkrim Brahmi-Benalla a.k.a. Rim'K is a French rapper of Algerian descent. Rim'K was born and raised in the Parisian suburb of Vitry-sur-Seine...
Feat Kery James - "Intact" sur l'album de Rim'K , L'enfant du pays - Kery James Feat BoobaBoobaElie Yaffa better known under his stage name Booba, is a French rapper from Paris. He is half Senegalese from his father's side and half French of Moroccan origin from his mother's side...
- "Chacun Sa Manière" sur la compile Street Lourd Hall Stars - RohffRohffRohff - « Rimeur Original Hardcore Flow Fluide » is a French rapper from Vitry-sur-Seine, in Val-de-Marne, south of Paris. Rohff was born in Comoros and immigrated to the Parisian suburbs in 1985.A fan of 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., NWA, Game, and others, Rohff began rapping around 1994...
Feat Kery James - "Mal aimé" sur l'album de RohffRohffRohff - « Rimeur Original Hardcore Flow Fluide » is a French rapper from Vitry-sur-Seine, in Val-de-Marne, south of Paris. Rohff was born in Comoros and immigrated to the Parisian suburbs in 1985.A fan of 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., NWA, Game, and others, Rohff began rapping around 1994...
, La Fierté Des NôtresLa Fierté Des NôtresLa Fierté des nôtres is the third album by French rapper Rohff, released in 2004 by the EMI label.To date, it has sold 250,000 copies in France alone.-Disc one:#"La Fierté Des Nôtres " #"Nouveau Rap"#"Le Milieu"... - Kery James - "Laissez" sur la compile Des 2 cotés
- 2005
- Kool ShenKool ShenBruno Lopes, alias Kool Shen is a French rapper, with Portuguese origins. He is also a break dancer and a graffiti artist. He is a co-founder of Suprême NTM and one of the major figures of French rap. He featured on Enhancer's album "Electrochoc" in the song "Hot"...
Feat Kery James & SinikSinikThomas Idir a.k.a. Sinik is a French-language rap artist. His father is Algerian while his mother is French.His meeting with Diam's at 14 was the turning point of his career...
- "That's my people" lors du dernier concert de Kool Shen au Zénith de ParisZénith de ParisThe Zénith de Paris is a concert hall in Paris, located in the Parc de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement on the edge of the Canal de l'Ourcq. Its ability to seat approximately 6,300 people makes it one of the largest venues in Paris... - Tandem Feat Kery James, Faf La Rage, Diam'sDiam'sDiam's is a French-language rap artist of French and Greek Cypriot origin. Her family moved to Essonne in 1984....
, TunisianoTunisianoBachir Baccour better known by his stage name Tunisiano is a French rapper of Tunisian origin.- Career :...
& Kazkami - "Le Jugement" sur l'album de Tandem, C'est toujours pour ceux qui savent - Kery James - "Je N'crois Plus En L'illicite" sur la compile Illicite Projet
- Mac Tyer Feat Kery James - "Patrimoine Du Ghetto" sur la compile Patrimoine Du Ghetto
- Kery James Feat Manu Key & A.P. - "Humanity" sur la compile Zone Caraïbes
- Kery James - "Attention" sur la compile Rap Performance
- Samat Feat Kery James & Larsen - "Le repentir" sur le Street CD de Samat, Samat Feat Hip Hop de rue
- Kery James - "Outro" sur la compile De la poudre au Rap
- 2006
- Heckel & Geckel Feat Kery James - "Moins de 20 ans" sur l'album d'Heckel & Geckel, Street Show
- OGBOgbogu OkonjiOgbogu Okonji is a Nigerian Anioma popular traditional musician and the leader of the band Ogbogu Okonji and his Anioma Brothers. He is known in the Anioma music industry as OGB or The Message Man.- Biography :...
Feat Kery James - "Ninety Four Side" sur l'album d'OGB, Enfermé Dehors - Mac Tyer Feat Kery James - "Suicide carcéral" sur l'album de Mac Tyer, Le Général
- Rim'KRim'KAbdelkrim Brahmi-Benalla a.k.a. Rim'K is a French rapper of Algerian descent. Rim'K was born and raised in the Parisian suburb of Vitry-sur-Seine...
Feat Kery James - "T'as Le Choix" sur la compile Illegal Radio - Apash Feat Kery James - "3 horizons Differents" sur le Street CD d'Apash, Du Bon Son Pour Une Bonne Cause
- 2007
- M. Toma Feat Kery James - "Ouvrir ton cœur" sur l'album de M. Toma, Identité
- Kery James - "Symphonie d'amour" sur la B.O. du film Taxi 4Taxi 4Taxi 4 is a 2007 French comedy film directed by Gérard Krawczyk. It is the sequel to the 2003 French Action/Comedy film Taxi 3. As with all the other films in the Gallic Taxi franchise, Samy Naceri plays taxi driver "Daniel Morales", this time in a Peugeot 407 unlike the 406 in the previous films...
- Kery James - "1 pour la cause" sur la mixtape Ghetto Truand & Associés
- Manu Key Feat Kery James, F.dy Phenomen, Die & Tiwony - "Babylon System" sur l'album de Manu Key, Prolifique Vol.2
- Melissa MMelissa MMelissa M or Melissa is a French R&B singer with Algerian roots. She started her musical career with Maniac from Norway based in Oslo. Maniac helped Melissa to guide her positively through the music industry...
Feat Kery James - "Lettre à la tristesse" sur l'album de Melissa M, Avec tout mon amour - Kery James Feat K'libre 13 - "Avance" sur la mixtape Opinion sur rue 3
- Kery James Feat Heckel & Geckel, Youssoupha, Smoker, Kamel L'ancien, Ben-J, Pit Baccardi, Diam'sDiam'sDiam's is a French-language rap artist of French and Greek Cypriot origin. Her family moved to Essonne in 1984....
, Kalash L'afro, Ikbal Vockal, Seth Gueko, Sear Lui Même, Baba, Dosseh, SalifSalifSalif , real name Salif Wonka, is a French rapper based in Boulogne-Billancourt. He is of Malian and Guadeloupean origin. His musical career began at the age of thirteen when he and EXS formed the rap duo Nysay in 1995. Salif released his first solo album, Tous Ensemble - Chacun Pour Soi, in 2001...
, James Izmad, Despo Rutti, Mister C, Alibi Montana, Mr Toma & Mac Tyer - "On ne sait pas abandonner" en hommage à l'émission Couvre Feu sur SkyrockSkyrockSkyrock.com is a social networking site offering its members a free web space where they can create a blog, add a profile, and exchange messages with other registered members... - RohffRohffRohff - « Rimeur Original Hardcore Flow Fluide » is a French rapper from Vitry-sur-Seine, in Val-de-Marne, south of Paris. Rohff was born in Comoros and immigrated to the Parisian suburbs in 1985.A fan of 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., NWA, Game, and others, Rohff began rapping around 1994...
Feat Kery James & Dragon Davy - "9.4 Mental" sur le Street CD de Rohff, Le chauchemar du Rap français - TLF Feat Kery James - "Le box" sur l'album de TLF, Rêves de rue
- Kamelancien Feat Kery James - "J'résiste" sur la réédition de l'album de Kamel L'ancien, Le charme en personne
- Bakar Feat Kery James - "N'incite pas" sur l'album de Bakar, La rose du béton
- Idjal Feat Kery James & Farenheit - "Victimes du passé" sur l'album d'Idjal, Enfant du monde
- Légende Urbaine Feat Kery James - "D'humeur guerrière" sur l'album de Légende Urbaine, L'école de ma rue
- 2008
- Grand Corps MaladeGrand Corps MaladeFabien Marsaud better known by his stage name Grand Corps Malade, often abbreviated GCM, born on July 31, 1977 in Le Blanc-Mesnil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France is a French slam poet-Biography:...
feat Kery James & Oxmo PuccinoOxmo PuccinoOxmo Puccino is a French hip hop musician.- Life :Puccino was born in 1974 in Ségou, Mali. He came to Paris one year later, and lived in the XIXe arrondissement from the age of 5. He is the brother of basketball player Mamoutou Diarra...
- "À la recherche" sur l'album de Grand Corps Malade, Enfant de la villeEnfant de la villeEnfant de la ville is the second studio album of Grand Corps Malade. It was released on 31 March 2008.-Track list:#"Mental"#"Je viens de là"#"Comme une évidence"#"4 saisons"#"Pères et mères"... - Zap MamaZap MamaZap Mama is a Belgian musical group founded and led by Marie Daulne. Daulne says her mission is to be a bridge between the European and the African and bring the two cultures together with her music...
feat Kery James - "Apres La Pluie," A L’Ombre Du Show Business