Yo La La ! #21 : Interview of a Hip-Hop activist

December 2006

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Pour télécharger la version originale française de l'interview, cliquez-droit ici

Julien C., hip-hop activist and scholar talks about the relationship between the French hip-hop scene and the government, bands he likes and events he helped create:

-the Paris Hip-Hop festival (concerts, exhibits, debates, films showings etc) all around Paris lasted 2 weeks and attracted 15'000 hip-hop fans.

-the Rue event at the Grand-Palais (concerts, dance shows, graffiti and street sports) lasted 3 days and attracted 50'000 visitors.

If you're going to Paris next year, make sure to check out the 2007 editions of these events!

A big shoutout to Melstar and J-Blendz of the United Nations of Hip-Hop show on Sheffield Live radio! Check out their show for excellent US, UK *and* French hip-hop!

And for an end-of-the-year present, pick an album or two among the many Amazon links on this page. Hopefully, I'll get a small cut. Or if you want to give *me* a present, just Paypal money to

• For the essential compilation of Assassin, the most famous political French rap band, buy their Académie Mythique: it even contains a DVD!
• For some noisy, rough, unapologetic hip-hop with a dance-hall flavour, try JoeyStarr's 1st solo album, Gare au jaguarr
• For some jazzy, soft yet funky hip-hop with exquisite wording and mood, check out Lipopette Bar by Oxmo Puccino, who'll get his very own special show in January 2007.

Yo La La ! #20 : Represent

November 2006

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While many French rappers have foreign origins, they spend more time rapping about their city or their neighborhood than about their parents' country. After the French history lesson of the immigration show, it's on to French geography!

• Representing Marseille and the south of France, "Independenza" is introduced by DJ Kheops and can be found on IAM's 3rd album, L'école du micro d'argent
• Representing Lille and the north of France, "Lillo" can be found on MAP's debut album, "Debout là d'dans".
• Representing Marly-Gomont and all small villages, "Marly-Gomont" can be found on Kamini?'s website: check out the video!

The following tracks represent Paris and its suburbs:

• "Paris, Paris" will be found on TTC's next album. In the mean time, it's on Cuizinier's mixtape "Pour les filles - Volume 2".
• "Panam All Starz" is on Sniper's second album, Gravé dans la roche.
• "Nuits blanches" by Octobre Rouge? is from their "Là où ça fait mal" album.
• "Paris Black Night" by A.L.A.R.M.E. is from the first French rap compilation, Rapattitude
• "Paris nous affame, Paris nous nourrit" is from La Rumeur's 2005 album, Regain de tension.

Yo La La ! #19 : Immigration

October 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

Tracks dealing with the past, present and future of immigrant communities in France, featuring French rappers with origins in Brittanny, Italy, Algeria, Tunisia, Togo, Senegal and the West Indies. And by the way, your host is an immigrant too, having left France seven years ago to look for a better life abroad.

• "Fest-noz de Paname" is the eponymous track of Manau's second album.
• "Où sont les roses" by IAM is on the original, 2-CD version of Ombre est Lumière
• "Le cuir usé d'une valise" is from La Rumeur's first album, L'ombre sur la mesure
• "Tonton du bled" by 113? is from Les Princes de la Ville
• "Manich mena" can be found on MAP's debut album, "Debout là d'dans"
• "Blessé dans mon ego" is from "Poison d'avril", an EP by LaRumeur.
• "Sénégalais de France" is from Disiz la Peste's african album, Itinéraire d'un enfant bronzé
• "Entre deux" is from Sniper second album, Gravé dans la roche
• "Hey Marianne" is from Al Péco? street album, "Bled Hard Concept"
• "Des terres d'Afrique" is from Kery James first solo album Si c'était à refaire

Yo La La ! #18 : Commercial Successes

September 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

Yo La La! sells out! A chronological selection of commercially successful French rap songs. Note that Diam's' "DJ" or IAM's "Je danse le mia" were also big hits, but this shows represents songs from more "commercial" bands (whatever that means). Shurik'n's song was included by request from Tim, an awesome Parkour practioner and breakdancer: check out the videos on his site.

• "Chacun fait (C'qui lui plait)" is Chagrin d'amour's 1981 hit.
• "Mais vous êtes fou" is from Benny B.'s 1990 debut album.
• "Bouge de là" is from MC Solaar?'s 1990 album
• "Respect" is from Alliance Ethnik's 1995 album, "Simple et funky".
• "Samouraï" is from Shurik'n 1998 solo album, Où je vis.
• "La tribu de Dana" is from Manau's 1998 debut album "Panique Celtique".
• "Angela" is from Saian Supa Crew's 1999 debut album, "KLR".
• "Un Gaou à Oran", by Mohammed Lamine, 113? and Magic System is from the 2004 compilation, "Rai'n'B Fever".

Yo La La ! #17 : Eurolatinos

August 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

Yo La La! en español! Connections between francophone and hispanophone rappers as well as some plain, simple weirdness.

• "El Original" is from Rocca?'s "Elevaciòn" album.
• "Hijo de Latino" is from Sens Unik's "Panorama" album.
• "Mina Hundar" is from Fattaru's "Fatta Held" album
• "537 C.U.B.A." and "Orishas Llego" are from Orishas?'s first album, "A Lo Cubano".
• "Le P.I.M.P. en rose", by yours truly, is a mashup of 50cent's PIMP, Grace Jone's cover of Edith Piaf's "La vie en rose", with an intro of the original and speaksinging by Marlene Dietrich. You can download it here.

Yo La La ! #16 : Le Klub des 7

July 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

Back to real French rap with Klub des 7, a combination of rappers from various bands that I like. When l'Atelier was very electronic, Klub des 7 is jazz-rock oriented due to Fuzati's influence. I saw them live so this show also features some concert reviews. International guest track of the month is from Brazil.

• "Juste pour le kiff" is from ATK's compilation, Oxygene Vol. 1.
• "Ca sert à rien" is from Svinkels' second album, Bons pour l'asile.
• "Baise les gens" is from Klub des Loosers' debut album, Vive la vie.
• "Le parapluie", "La réunion secrète" and "Juju" are from Klub des 7's album Le Klub des 7.
• "Gueto" is from Marcelo D2 album Meu Samba E Assim.

Yo La La ! #15 : Southern Comfort

June 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

Not-quite-rap tracks from the French "Dirty South", featuring ragga-reggae-ska and whatnot. No need for an international guest track of the month when one of the song contains lyrics in Occitan!

• "Elles ont des pilotis" and "Pauvres de nous" are from Massilia Sound System last album, 3968CR13.
• "Ma ville est le plus beau park" by Fabulous Trobadors.
• Zebda tracks include "La bague à Danièle" from L'arène des rumeurs, Je crois que ça va pas être possible is from Essence ordinaire, Le bruit et l'odeur is from Le bruit et l'odeur, and "J'y suis j'y reste" is from Utopie d'occase.

Yo La La ! #14 : The Drug Show

May 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

French rappers cover everything from crack to cocaine, heroin, weed and booze. International guests of the months are from the Netherlands and the USA.

• "Autopsie" by Ministere A.M.E.R. is from their second album, 95200.
• "Weekend à Meda" by Octobre Rouge is from their album "24 sur 7".
• "C-real killer" by Svinkels is from their second album Tapis rouge and "Happy hour" from their third album Bons pour l'asile.

International guest tracks for the month are

• "Quitting smoking song" is by Princess Superstar from the USA.
• Buitenbad is produced by Kubus, featuring Rico from Opgezwolle, a Dutch band.

Yo La La ! #13 : Conscious Lyrics

April 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

In the good ol'tradition of smart and political French rap lyrics, check out these songs about the media, the French fascist party, crime and the French welfare system.

Here is the track listing for this show:

• "A qui profite le crime" and "La France" by Les Specialistes is from their 2005 album, Reality Show.
• "Plus jamais ça" by Supreme NTM is from their third album "Paris sous les bombes".
• "Marine" by Diam's is from her latest album, Dans ma bulle.
• "Le meme sang" by Diam's and Sinik is from his debut album, La main sur le coeur
• "Y a pas d'mérite" by Sniper is from their second album, Grave dans roche.

Yo La La ! #12 : The Anniversary Show

March 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

It's been a year! A big thank you to listeners of Yo La La ! around the world, with plenty of funny songs.

Here is the track listing for this show:

• "Me revoilà", by Diam's is from her latest album, Dans ma bulle.
• "Quand je serais grand", played especially for Yo La La! listener Mark Hunter, is from Fabe's 1999 album Détournement de son.
• "C'est ton destin" and "Auteuil Neuilly Passy" are rap spoofs by French comedians "Les inconnus".
• "MC Lagaf'" can be found on Disiz la peste's debut album, Le poisson rouge
• "L'affaire hot-dog" is the final track on ATK's second album, "Heptagone".

Yo La La ! #11 : The Rock Show

February 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

Keyboards and computers are thrown out of the window as electric guitars take over your favorite French Rap podcast.

Next month is the anniversary show! Send your comments, Yo La La! stories and suggestions as emails and/or .mp3 or .wav files to thomasINSERTATHEREyolalaINSERTDOTHEREorg.

Yo La La! was mentioned in the Humanist News Network podcast, along with a great interview on French rap and the November riots. In a time when cartoons can lead to deaths, the world really needs some secular humanism.

Here is the track listing for this show:

• "Flirt avec le meurtre", by Ministere A.M.E.R. is from their second album, 95200.
• "Dangereuse Liaison" by Rockin'Squat from Assassin with backing music from Jimmi Hendrix. It's from Doc Gyneco's compilation Liaisons Dangereuses.
• "Reveille le punk" is from Svinkels' Tapis Rouge album.
• "Revolution", featuring Mass Hysteria, is from La Brigade "Il etait une fois" album.
• "Govedina" is from Beogradski Sindikat 2002 album, "BSSST...Tišinčina".
• "C'est grave" is from Freko Ding' 2003 EP "Mangeur de pierre... 4 ans plus tard".
• "Antisocial/Qu'est-ce qu'on attend" is Trust/Supreme NTM mashup by Loo & Placido

Yo La La ! #10 : La Caution

January 2006 To download this show manually, right-click here

We're closing the experimental french rap chapter with this special on La Caution, a band that will use anything from electronica to acoustic guitar to back their often crazy lyrics.

Here is the track listing for this show:

• "Pollutions", by L'Armee des Douze is from TTC's first album, Ceci n'est pas un disque.
• "J'plante le décor" (featuring Saphir le Joaillier and 16S64) and "Aquaplanning" are from La Caution's first album "Asphalte Hurlante".
• "Antimuse", "Thé à la menthe" and "Faut-il" are from La Caution's second album Peine de maures/Arc-en-ciel pour daltoniens.
• International guest track of the month is TKO from Tokyo, Japan. More on this here. Thanks to Gareth-Michael Skarka of Adamant Entertainment for the tip.

Yo La La! has been around for a while now, so don't forget to check out the 2007 and 2005 shows too!