MC Solaar
Encyclopedia
MC Solaar is a francophone
hip hop and rap
artist. He is one of the most internationally popular and influential French rappers.
MC Solaar is known for his complex lyrics, which rely on word play
, lyricism, and inquiry. In the English-speaking world, Solaar was signed by London acid jazz
label Talkin' Loud
and recorded with British group Urban Species and the late Guru
, member of the acclaimed New York duo Gang Starr
. He has since released seven studio records and one live album and currently lives with his wife, French actress Chloé Bensemoun, their son Roman and daughter Bonnie.
, Senegal
to parents of Chad
ian origin. When he was six months old his parents emigrated to France where they eventually settled in the Paris suburb of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges
. At age twelve he went to Egypt
for nine months where he discovered the Zulu Nation
and became fascinated with the rapping styles of Afrika Bambaataa
. Upon his return he began to focus perhaps more on music but still studied enough to pass the baccalauréat
. It has been said that his constant support from his mother was one of the reasons that he was able to pass the baccalauréat and still create music. He coined the stage name MC Solaar in his teens from his graffiti tags "SOAR" and "SOLAAR".
He studied languages at the Jussieu university campus
and was a post-graduate in philosophy. He released his first single in 1990. MC Solaar went to Paris in the summer of 1991 with his friend Jimmy Jay in hopes of succeeding in the music industry. Success came quickly when his first single, Bouge de là ("Move Out of My Way"), based on a sample from Cymande
's song The Message (1973) became a hit in early 1990s. This song was all about brushing people to the side and not having time for them; this is evident in the lyrics, of which an excerpt follows (translated to English):
Many rappers who came out of Africa at the time spoke a lot about slavery and other topics in order to bring the history of their people into light. Nevertheless, the song went platinum in France and ascended to number five on the national charts.
when they performed at the Olympia in Paris in September 1991. At the close of 1991 Solaar released Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo
which went on to sell over 400,000 copies in France. With the success of his début album in France, the French rapper embarked upon extensive tours of Poland and Russia. In December 1992 he performed in twelve countries in West Africa, where his French rap style proved extremely popular with African music fans.
MC Solaar returned to the studio in 1994, recording the album Prose Combat
. It sold 100,000 copies in the first week of its release and became a best seller in 20 other countries. He was rewarded for his efforts when in February 1995 he received an award for Best Male Singer of the Year at the 10th edition of the French "Victoires de la Musique" awards. Also in 1994, MC Solaar appeared on the Red Hot Organization
's compilation album, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS
epidemic in relation to the African American
community, was heralded as Album of the Year by Time
.
Solaar went back to the studio in 1997 with longtime friend and producer Jimmy Jay to record his third album, Paradisiaque
. The album was another success, which led to an extensive European tour starting on January 9 at the Zénith
in Paris. His talents led to international interest from places such as Germany in Europe and all the way to Japan and the United States not long after. He was even included as a guest on American rapper Guru's "Jazzmatazz" project and one of his songs was included in the Tommy Boy rap compilation in the States.
Early on in MC Solaar's career it was important for him to share the struggles and the different hardships for Black people that migrated to France and tried to make a living. Most of his music was dedicated to enlightening the population of a specific deeper message that connected to him in his life. "...he addresses the conditions under which Black people have migrated to and settled in France. In the piece 'Leve-toi et rap,' he describes his Chadian parents' migration from Senegal to a Parisian suburb, the main stages of his teenage years and how he finally came to discover rap." In an interview MC Solaar described the feeling of making a song and the thought process while just writing any part of lyrics that go into his music. "I write quickly, because of the music, he tells me. It’s much easier if you have the music, the rhythm, but I am fast. First, I have taken in “everything.” Do you never write before the music? Ah. I used to, he admits. But when I met the music, I changed."
in 2001 to critical acclaim and Mach 6
in 2003. In the album's third track, "Lève-Toi et Rap", Solaar describes his parents' Chad
ian emigration as well as his own roots growing up in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges
and Cairo
. Towards the beginning of the song he says: Puis trip en Egypte, Ecole Française du Caire/ Pour parfaire mon flow et mon vocabulaire/ Là j'ai appris l'humilité, la peur des cartouches/ Pur style de sniper camouflage paw-mouche, which, translated, roughly means he spent time at a French school in Cairo, perfecting his rapping style and learning how to survive a dangerous lifestyle. Critic Dan Gennoe attests to Solaar's "flow et vocabulaire" by noting "the flow of his words is staggering, as are the low-slung grooves that they roll to; deftly vaulting all language barriers."
The cover of Cinquieme As depicts Solaar topless, and draws comparisons to captives about to be taken onto a slave ship
. However, a look at the inside cover reveals Solaar to be in a wrestler's costume, along with the other men in the picture. As Veronique Helenon discusses in her article concerning the French hip hop scene, references to Africa and "blackness" are a very important part of Solaar's music. Solaar recognizes and pays tribute to the African presence in France by using boxing and wrestling references. Senegalese boxer Battling Siki
is referenced in the album's booklet. Although Siki won the light heavyweight boxing championship in 1922, he still faced racism from journalists. This image combined with songs concerning colonial oppression and the migration experience from Africa to France show Solaar's "blackness," something that is extremely important in France's hip hop scene. For example, in his song 'Les Colonies', Solaar discusses the similarities between the oppression of Africans by colonialists to the modern day exploitation of "third world" countries. "Cinquième As" includes lyrics in French, English, and Spanish, which represents his ideals that rap should be inclusive of all people.
, was launched in March 2007. The album was released June 18, 2007. In early 2004, his 2001 song "La Belle et Le Bad Boy" was featured on the final episode of the popular television series Sex and the City
. The MTV series "The Hills" featured the song as well. MC Solaar is best known outside of France for his work on Guru's Jazzmatazz
project and as a guest rapper on the Missy Elliott
track "All N My Grill". Collaboration with Elliot propelled him to higher popularity in the American market. The single "Le Bien, Le Mal" (The Good, The Bad) has been a Hip Hop/Dance crossover hit and has received playtime on MTV
, which characterizes his work this way: "His fluid phrasing makes up for his lack of English, and the production on his solo work (by DJ Jimmy Jay and Boom Bass of La Funk Mob) surpasses that of most of his hip-hop contemporaries."
MC Solaar is one of the few French rappers having success in the English-dominated American hip hop culture. Solaar has appeared in many Bollywood
movies like Hum Tum
. MC Solaar has released a few songs which never appeared on albums, including "Comme dans un film" (falsely known as "John Woo") and "Inch'Allah". He has criticized people for illegal downloading and producing altered versions of his albums Mach 6 and Chapitre 7.
. The couple split in December 2000. On December 7, 2003, MC Solaar married Chloé Bensemoun and on May 7, 2004, she gave birth to the couple's first child, Roman. In 2007, she gave birth to a girl named Bonnie.
Beginning September 2, 1997, MC Solaar became involved in a legal battle with record label Vivendi
for commercially exploiting his first three albums. In 2002, French courts sided with Solaar, but as a result, his older songs are banned from radio , giving him less media exposure.
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
hip hop and rap
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...
artist. He is one of the most internationally popular and influential French rappers.
MC Solaar is known for his complex lyrics, which rely on word play
Word play
Word play or wordplay is a literary technique in which the words that are used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement...
, lyricism, and inquiry. In the English-speaking world, Solaar was signed by London acid jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
label Talkin' Loud
Talkin' Loud
Talkin' Loud is a record label started by Gilles Peterson at Phonogram in 1990 after he left Acid Jazz Records. The label name is based on Peterson's club night "Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Something", itself a reference to James Brown and Bobby Byrd's "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing".The first...
and recorded with British group Urban Species and the late Guru
Guru (rapper)
Keith Edward Elam , better known by his stage name Guru, was an American emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts...
, member of the acclaimed New York duo Gang Starr
Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
. He has since released seven studio records and one live album and currently lives with his wife, French actress Chloé Bensemoun, their son Roman and daughter Bonnie.
Early life and debut
Claude M'Barali was born in DakarDakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
to parents of Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
ian origin. When he was six months old his parents emigrated to France where they eventually settled in the Paris suburb of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges
Villeneuve-Saint-Georges
Villeneuve-Saint-Georges is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Transport:Villeneuve-Saint-Georges is served by two stations on Paris RER line D: Villeneuve – Triage and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges.-Demography:-International...
. At age twelve he went to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
for nine months where he discovered the Zulu Nation
Universal Zulu Nation
|rightThe Universal Zulu Nation is an international hip hop awareness group formed and headed by hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. Originally known simply as the Organization, it arose in the 1970s as reformed New York City gang members began to organize cultural events for youths, combining local...
and became fascinated with the rapping styles of Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...
. Upon his return he began to focus perhaps more on music but still studied enough to pass the baccalauréat
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...
. It has been said that his constant support from his mother was one of the reasons that he was able to pass the baccalauréat and still create music. He coined the stage name MC Solaar in his teens from his graffiti tags "SOAR" and "SOLAAR".
He studied languages at the Jussieu university campus
Jussieu Campus
The Jussieu Campus is a higher education campus located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France, which is the main campus of the Pierre and Marie Curie University ....
and was a post-graduate in philosophy. He released his first single in 1990. MC Solaar went to Paris in the summer of 1991 with his friend Jimmy Jay in hopes of succeeding in the music industry. Success came quickly when his first single, Bouge de là ("Move Out of My Way"), based on a sample from Cymande
Cymande
Cymande are a British funk band, who released several albums throughout the early 1970s. The group was formed in 1971 in London, England by musicians from Guyana and Jamaica...
's song The Message (1973) became a hit in early 1990s. This song was all about brushing people to the side and not having time for them; this is evident in the lyrics, of which an excerpt follows (translated to English):
Directly I went to Lucy's
Who loves dogs, cats and TV pet's shows
She says 'Do you love beasts, you my super MC'
I said 'Yeah, lov'em, with salt and well cooked'
She said 'Move out my way'.
Many rappers who came out of Africa at the time spoke a lot about slavery and other topics in order to bring the history of their people into light. Nevertheless, the song went platinum in France and ascended to number five on the national charts.
1991–1997: Early success and Prose Combat breakthrough
After the success of Bouge de là, Solaar went on to support the famous American rap group De La SoulDe La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
when they performed at the Olympia in Paris in September 1991. At the close of 1991 Solaar released Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo
Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo
Qui 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...
which went on to sell over 400,000 copies in France. With the success of his début album in France, the French rapper embarked upon extensive tours of Poland and Russia. In December 1992 he performed in twelve countries in West Africa, where his French rap style proved extremely popular with African music fans.
MC Solaar returned to the studio in 1994, recording the album Prose Combat
Prose Combat
Prose Combat was the second studio album released by MC Solaar. Its success propelled him to international fame. An outtake from the album sessions was "Comme dans un film"...
. It sold 100,000 copies in the first week of its release and became a best seller in 20 other countries. He was rewarded for his efforts when in February 1995 he received an award for Best Male Singer of the Year at the 10th edition of the French "Victoires de la Musique" awards. Also in 1994, MC Solaar appeared on the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's compilation album, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
epidemic in relation to the African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
community, was heralded as Album of the Year 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...
.
Solaar went back to the studio in 1997 with longtime friend and producer Jimmy Jay to record his third album, Paradisiaque
Paradisiaque
Paradisiaque was the third studio album released by MC Solaar in 1997. The album was a departure from his previous work focusing more on the funk style.-Track listing:#Intro - :32#Paradisiaque - 3:12#Gangster Moderne - 4:05#Tournicoti - 3:49...
. The album was another success, which led to an extensive European tour starting on January 9 at the Zénith
Zenith
The zenith is an imaginary point directly "above" a particular location, on the imaginary celestial sphere. "Above" means in the vertical direction opposite to the apparent gravitational force at that location. The opposite direction, i.e...
in Paris. His talents led to international interest from places such as Germany in Europe and all the way to Japan and the United States not long after. He was even included as a guest on American rapper Guru's "Jazzmatazz" project and one of his songs was included in the Tommy Boy rap compilation in the States.
Early on in MC Solaar's career it was important for him to share the struggles and the different hardships for Black people that migrated to France and tried to make a living. Most of his music was dedicated to enlightening the population of a specific deeper message that connected to him in his life. "...he addresses the conditions under which Black people have migrated to and settled in France. In the piece 'Leve-toi et rap,' he describes his Chadian parents' migration from Senegal to a Parisian suburb, the main stages of his teenage years and how he finally came to discover rap." In an interview MC Solaar described the feeling of making a song and the thought process while just writing any part of lyrics that go into his music. "I write quickly, because of the music, he tells me. It’s much easier if you have the music, the rhythm, but I am fast. First, I have taken in “everything.” Do you never write before the music? Ah. I used to, he admits. But when I met the music, I changed."
1997–2003: Cinquième As and Mach 6
Solaar's career continued to evolve throughout the late nineties and into the new millennium. He released Cinquième AsCinquième As
Cinquième As was the fifth studio album by MC Solaar released in 2001. It is slightly different than his previous works because of a stronger emphasis on a string background. The album gained exposure in the United States after "La Belle et le Bad Boy" was played on an episode of Sex and the City...
in 2001 to critical acclaim and Mach 6
Mach 6
Mach 6 is the sixth studio album by MC Solaar. It was released in Europe in 2003 and in the United States on June 6, 2006.-Track listing:#"Introspection" – 1:05#"La Vie est belle" – 3:53#"Hijo de Africa" – 3:23...
in 2003. In the album's third track, "Lève-Toi et Rap", Solaar describes his parents' Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
ian emigration as well as his own roots growing up in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges
Villeneuve-Saint-Georges
Villeneuve-Saint-Georges is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Transport:Villeneuve-Saint-Georges is served by two stations on Paris RER line D: Villeneuve – Triage and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges.-Demography:-International...
and Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. Towards the beginning of the song he says: Puis trip en Egypte, Ecole Française du Caire/ Pour parfaire mon flow et mon vocabulaire/ Là j'ai appris l'humilité, la peur des cartouches/ Pur style de sniper camouflage paw-mouche, which, translated, roughly means he spent time at a French school in Cairo, perfecting his rapping style and learning how to survive a dangerous lifestyle. Critic Dan Gennoe attests to Solaar's "flow et vocabulaire" by noting "the flow of his words is staggering, as are the low-slung grooves that they roll to; deftly vaulting all language barriers."
The cover of Cinquieme As depicts Solaar topless, and draws comparisons to captives about to be taken onto a slave ship
Slave ship
Slave ships were large cargo ships specially converted for the purpose of transporting slaves, especially newly purchased African slaves to Americas....
. However, a look at the inside cover reveals Solaar to be in a wrestler's costume, along with the other men in the picture. As Veronique Helenon discusses in her article concerning the French hip hop scene, references to Africa and "blackness" are a very important part of Solaar's music. Solaar recognizes and pays tribute to the African presence in France by using boxing and wrestling references. Senegalese boxer Battling Siki
Battling Siki
Battling Siki , aka Louis Mbarick Fall, was a French light heavyweight boxer born in Senegal who fought from 1912–1925, and briefly reigned as the lineal light heavyweight champion after knocking out Georges Carpentier...
is referenced in the album's booklet. Although Siki won the light heavyweight boxing championship in 1922, he still faced racism from journalists. This image combined with songs concerning colonial oppression and the migration experience from Africa to France show Solaar's "blackness," something that is extremely important in France's hip hop scene. For example, in his song 'Les Colonies', Solaar discusses the similarities between the oppression of Africans by colonialists to the modern day exploitation of "third world" countries. "Cinquième As" includes lyrics in French, English, and Spanish, which represents his ideals that rap should be inclusive of all people.
2004–Present: Chapitre 7 and international acclaim
"Da Vinci Claude", the first single from Solaar's album Chapitre 7Chapitre 7
Chapitre 7 is the seventh studio album by MC Solaar. The album was released worldwide on June 18, 2007. The album was recorded in New York over an eight month period. The first single, "Da Vinci Claude", was released in March 2007, and the corresponding video in April 2007. In the song, Solaar...
, was launched in March 2007. The album was released June 18, 2007. In early 2004, his 2001 song "La Belle et Le Bad Boy" was featured on the final episode of the popular television series Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
. The MTV series "The Hills" featured the song as well. MC Solaar is best known outside of France for his work on Guru's Jazzmatazz
Jazzmatazz
Jazzmatazz may be a reference to:An album from the Jazzmatazz series of hip hop and jazz recordings from Guru , including:* Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1* Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality* Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Street Soul...
project and as a guest rapper on the Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
track "All N My Grill". Collaboration with Elliot propelled him to higher popularity in the American market. The single "Le Bien, Le Mal" (The Good, The Bad) has been a Hip Hop/Dance crossover hit and has received playtime on MTV
Music television
Music television is a type of television programming which focuses predominantly on playing music videos from bands, usually on dedicated television channels broadcasting on satellite or cable. Music TVs may host their own shows charts, award prizes. Examples are VIVA, Scuzz, MTV, JBTV, MuchMusic,...
, which characterizes his work this way: "His fluid phrasing makes up for his lack of English, and the production on his solo work (by DJ Jimmy Jay and Boom Bass of La Funk Mob) surpasses that of most of his hip-hop contemporaries."
MC Solaar is one of the few French rappers having success in the English-dominated American hip hop culture. Solaar has appeared in many Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
movies like Hum Tum
Hum Tum
Hum Tum is a Bollywood movie, released in India on 28 May 2004, directed by Kunal Kohli and produced by Aditya Chopra and Yash Chopra. The movie stars Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles....
. MC Solaar has released a few songs which never appeared on albums, including "Comme dans un film" (falsely known as "John Woo") and "Inch'Allah". He has criticized people for illegal downloading and producing altered versions of his albums Mach 6 and Chapitre 7.
Personal life
Solaar's personal life became media fodder starting in 1996 when he began dating singer/actress Ophélie WinterOphélie Winter
Ophélie Kleerekoper-Winter is a French singer and actress.- Biography :Her father David Alexandre Winter, was a Dutch pop singer during the 1970s, while her mother was a French fashion model, who is now her agent...
. The couple split in December 2000. On December 7, 2003, MC Solaar married Chloé Bensemoun and on May 7, 2004, she gave birth to the couple's first child, Roman. In 2007, she gave birth to a girl named Bonnie.
Beginning September 2, 1997, MC Solaar became involved in a legal battle with record label Vivendi
Vivendi
Vivendi SA is a French international media conglomerate with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications, the Internet, and video games. It is headquartered in Paris.- History :...
for commercially exploiting his first three albums. In 2002, French courts sided with Solaar, but as a result, his older songs are banned from radio , giving him less media exposure.
Discography
- 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...
(1991) - Prose CombatProse CombatProse Combat was the second studio album released by MC Solaar. Its success propelled him to international fame. An outtake from the album sessions was "Comme dans un film"...
(1994) - ParadisiaqueParadisiaqueParadisiaque was the third studio album released by MC Solaar in 1997. The album was a departure from his previous work focusing more on the funk style.-Track listing:#Intro - :32#Paradisiaque - 3:12#Gangster Moderne - 4:05#Tournicoti - 3:49...
(1997) - MC SolaarMC Solaar (album)MC Solaar, the self-titled fourth album by French-Senegalese rapper, MC Solaar was a shorter effort than his previous releases. Following the funk-grooved sounds of Paradisiaque, the production style once again changed, to essentially an album of two halves...
(1998) - Le Tour de la QuestionLe Tour de la QuestionLe Tour de la Question was the first live album released by MC Solaar in 1998. The album featured two discs worth of previous and original material spanning his career.-Track listing:#Nitro – 0:28#Zoom – 3:15#Dix de mes disciples – 3:49...
(2 CD) (1998) - Cinquième AsCinquième AsCinquième As was the fifth studio album by MC Solaar released in 2001. It is slightly different than his previous works because of a stronger emphasis on a string background. The album gained exposure in the United States after "La Belle et le Bad Boy" was played on an episode of Sex and the City...
(2001) - Mach 6Mach 6Mach 6 is the sixth studio album by MC Solaar. It was released in Europe in 2003 and in the United States on June 6, 2006.-Track listing:#"Introspection" – 1:05#"La Vie est belle" – 3:53#"Hijo de Africa" – 3:23...
(2003) - Chapitre 7Chapitre 7Chapitre 7 is the seventh studio album by MC Solaar. The album was released worldwide on June 18, 2007. The album was recorded in New York over an eight month period. The first single, "Da Vinci Claude", was released in March 2007, and the corresponding video in April 2007. In the song, Solaar...
(2007) - Magnum 567 (2011)