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Senegalese rap crews (L-Z) This is the complete index of Senegalese rap crews in alphabetical order. You are on page 2: letters L through Z. Click here to see the rest (A-K) Lakalé Posse Members: Lony Bony, Big Was, Alou T, Khouya K Songs: 'Kids' with Jimmy Mbaye According to this group, 'rap is a way of saying things about the position of young people that don't get attention in other ways. It's a way of communication, a philosophy, and a way to express ideas.' They have a 7 title demo which includes the tracks 'Help the homeless', 'Stop the pollution', 'Aids bi', 'Maryjane' and 'Yakk Der'. Then, there is one track of theirs available on the cd 'Dakar Heart' by Jimmy Mbaye, the guy known from Youssou N'Dour's Super Etoile group (see here for lyrics). Leer Gui posse Members: Cisko, Mac J, Blackson Album: Diock (1999) Group that was formed in 1996 with members from Gueule Tapée and Médina areas in Dakar. Blackson was one of the original members of Kocc Barma. They made their recording debut on the Petit frère compilation. On 'Diock' they work with Ilon Bâ of the group Daandé Lénol on guitar and Gee Bass of Pee Froiss dj-ing. They have an underground approach, and as they say 'we sing for the youth to keep hoping and so that they themselves will take charge'. Apparently they were featured on a cd-rom by a Dutch NGO... it's not us, anyway. Les Freres de l'Ombre Members: Shin, VelociRash-tor, Lord Cheick,Rozo , Chancellier Perfect Tracks: Mortel Rap Kombat From Yoff-Cimetiere in Dakar, working on their first album 'Mortel Rap Kombat'. One of the members Shin is also in an Ivory Coast clique! MC Lida Solo Tape: Douma doyal mukk (1995?), Nuni neen (1998) Mc Lida, one of the people who started out rap in Senegal in the mid-eighties, was first heard on tape on his 'Douma doyal mukk', one of the early Senegalese rap releases. Then he did a song with Omar Pene's group Super Diamono - in a mbalakh-ragga-ish song that erupted into a rap. Then MC Lida travelled to Italy and came up with his 2nd album in 1998. Production was done by some Italian producers - he even got part of the raps in Italian! Lida is one mc who apparently doesn't care to sound like the average Dakar mc - and why would he? He has more flow than most and you can hear that he's been in hip hop for long. Ndiaf-a-ngara Members: Laman Junior, Kumah Daman, Daddy Carfa Albums: Ayoo (1999) Only First Way Members: Dou K, Dou G, Dieyna, Soda While Senegalese rap is still so young, already a new school is coming into existence. The rappers that are launching their carreers right now are some ten years younger than veterans PBS. Still they are following close in the footsteps of these older brothers. Only First Way, members of which come from Gibralter and Medina areas of Dakar, have won a prize in a rap contest organized by the French Cultural Center. They like to stay away from the rebel image that Hip Hop has to some (notably among the older generation in Dakar, though even this is changing). Instead of using gangster lyrics, OFW talk about the importance of education, giving respect to their parents and singing for peace. In their music they use Senegalese traditional instruments alongside synthesized beats. Peace and peace Members: Ely, Naby Albums: Diam ak Diam (1999) Duo that fuses r&b and rap, in a succesful way as their first album Diam ak diam proves. They were first heard on the Senegal Freestyle 2 album, with a song using an American instrumental. Pee Froiss Members: Kool Koc VI, Bibson, Khouman, Gee Bass Cassette: Wala wala bok? (1996), Affair Bou Graw (1997) In Senegal, Pee Froiss is almost as well known as Positive Black Soul. They worked together on the first album of Pee Froiss, called 'Wala wala bok' and released in august 1996 on cassette in Dakar. The cassette includes a remix of the title track featuring PBS. Pee Froiss used to be one of the few Dakar Posses with a female rapper. Sister Joyce could sing as well. She is now with Ouza, a well known longtime singer who is currently into poppy soul. Pic: Sista Joyce The 2nd album Affair Bou Graw was an interesting affair which showed a more mature Pee Froiss, with a good balance of tight rap and soulful vocals. Like most Senegalese groups, Pee Froiss is not just into rapping but singing plays an equally important role in the music. They also have one of the better dj's in Dakar, Gee Bass. Pee Froiss toured Europe in 1997. In September 99 we witnessed the release of the 3rd Pee Froiss album. After a silence of 2 years, 'Ah Simm' came out. On our arrival in Dakar the town was plastered full of posters announcing the release and the 'première concert'. We spoke to the group about their music, and the release of their new album, and recorded the conversation. You can listen in realaudio at our interviews section. Petit Frère compilations Albums: Petit Frere 1 (1997), Petit Frere 2 (1997)     The 'little brother' cassette compilations were released in 1997 with the backing of well known rap crew Sunu Flavor (whose name appears on top of the cassettes). Other than the 'Senerap freestyle' collection which borrows the music from US hip hop, the raps on Petit frere are over mostly locally produced instrumentals. Several of the rap acts that debuted here seem to have benefited from their appearance. We can name Ndiaf-a-ngara from the 1st tape, and African Mbolo, Bamba J Fall and Sunu Gaal from the 2nd - all of these now have albums out! The overall quality of the groups presented here is not bad at all. I like the Bamba J Fall track because it has some interesting Baye Fall-singing. Positive Black Soul Members: Doug-E Tee, Didier 'dj' Awadi Cassettes: Boul Fale (1994), Boul Bes (1995), Salaam (1996), Daw Thiow (1996), Fo Deuk (1997), Senerap-Freestyle no 1 (1997), New York-Paris-Dakar (1997), Wakh Feign (1998) Compact discs: Salaam (1996), Fodeuk (with David Murray, 1997) The men from Sicap Amitie, Dakar have been the first African Hip Hop crew to attain international succes with their 1996 album 'Salam' which was released by Mango records. Their subsequent tour through West-Africa, Europe, America and beyond has given them a lot of credit and the status of ambassadors of West-African Hip Hop. The group has been together since 1989 when Doug-E Tee and Awadi met after their original -rival- crews split up. It was the song 'Boul Fale' (a Wolof word meaning 'don't worry'), appearing on their first cassette, that got them well-known among Senegalese youth. One year later, a remix-album featuring alternative versions of 'Boul Fale' appeared with guest-appearances of fellow rappers MC Leader and Pee Froiss, also starring the famous singer Omar Pene. From then on it was clear that Hip Hop in Senegal was not going to lead an underground existence as it has in so many other countries. A few concerts in France and Belgium made the international record business aware of the groups capacities, and with the help of French (Senegal-born) rapper MC Solaar PBS signed to Mango (Island) label. More recent developments have been the cooperation of PBS with other Senegalese musicians (mbalax-group Dieuf Dieul, Hamet Maal who is the brother of Baaba Maal and the living legend of Senegalese percussion Doudou Ndiaye Rose) and American trumpettist David Murray, who used to perform with Miles Davis. Reason for this unusual gathering was the project Fo Deuk ('Cest ou chez toi') which aimed to bring urban youth worldwide together by cultural exchange. For the purpose, PBS and these musicians performed on stage in New York, Paris and Dakar in early 1996. Next they went to do some recordings which finally have been released on cd. Then came the cooperation with KRS-One, Supernatural (both from US), RAS, MC Claver and RAS from Ivory Coast (which see) on their album 'New York-Paris-Dakar. Many songs were taken from Daw Thiow which came out first, and then given a remix which in most cases did nothing good as Dwa Thiow was a superb production. In 1998 PBS spend much of their time touring all around the world, going to America, Europe and other places. The Wakh Feign 'hors series' tape came out to celebrate their ninth birthday. Its cover design closely resembles 'Boul bes', the second-ever PBS tape, but the tracks are a world apart. The newly recorded 'Wouyouma' appeals to both pop listeners and the real hiphop heads, with its soulful & catchy chorus and tight rhyming. Other tracks are left-overs of earlier recording sessions and indeed resemble the style that PBS came up with earlier. Now there's one track on this album that has some of the best recording artists in Senegalese rap put together on tape: 'Wakh free' features Da Brains, Peace & Peace, Melokan, Kantiolis, Yat Fu, Pee Froiss, Xelmi Jo and Boul-n-Bai. Don't forget to listen to some of their music at the Rumba-Kali sounds page, and watch the realvideo broadcast of the concert that they gave in Montreux in 1998. Rap'adio Members: Lady Sinai, ..... Tracks: Rang bi dematoul (on Senerap freestyles no. 1), Xolal sa bok Albums: Ku weet xam sa bop (1998) Despite the fact that these rappers were invited by Positive Black Soul to join in at the first Senerap Freestyle compilation tape, they have now started a serious stride with the forementioned. The good thing is that it looks like here's one of those phenomenons in hip hop that some people mistake for a sign of the downfall of the culture, but which in fact is where it all started out with: COMPETITION! The argument is like this: Nioul te rapadio want the old generation to make way for the new school of Senegalese rappers. Now PBS haven't yet celebrated their 10th anniversary so they will still want to be in the game for the next years to come... To be continued. Saf Sapli All-female group from Guédiawaye... Sama Flavor Members: Tonton Mac,.... Album: Doormu daanu (Discover records, France 1999)     Tonton Mac (see pic) from Sunu Flavor has now gone on with this new group. Sama Flavor have signed a contract with French label Discover.They have a 5-year view in which cd's should be released on the international market, and singles will be dropped prior to every album. The first 10-track cd is out now. An international tour is also planned. Tracks on the cd include a cover of 'No woman no cry' from Bob Marley, 'Histoires sans fin', 'Mentalités africaines', and the old Pee Froiss songs 'Nel fess' and 'Sali'. Sektion K-As Members: Loko Loko, Sedidunlay, Wiggydaz, Roots Boy Albums: Sektion K-As (1999) Underground sound! This crew is obviously inspired by the American sewersound, and probably even more by the French non-commercial crews that we (here in Holland) don't get to hear so often. Wu-Tang comes to mind and in this album we hear the name 'Wu' pass by several times. There's even a voice-over that reminds of a dj in a mixtape (by the way why don't we ever hear Senegalese mixtapes??). Honored guests on the closing freestyle track include Wa BMG 44 and Pee Froiss and on other tracks the latter group's dj Gee Bass is playing with the decks. Senerap: freestyle no 1 (compilation) A fresh compilation which shows the healthy state of Senegalese rap, in fact of the whole music business down there at the moment, is the cassette 'Senerap: Freestyle no 1' which was released in Dakar in February 1997. This compilation was the first ever to bring together some of more than 100 Senegalese rap groups that have started to do their thing in the last two years. Featured are some of the most well-known crews that have already shown their talent: PBS, Sunu Flavor, Pee Froiss... Others are not that well known but will be soon. The concept of the album is rather unique because it shows a dedication to one of the oldest surviving elements of Hip Hop culture: freestyle. Recent world tours have given PBS and Pee Froiss a lot of experience performing but also more insight into Hip Hop culture. After using the skills of French deejays Abdul and Cut Killer while on tour, PBS realised that they would have to teach the Senegalese deejays how to cut, scratch and backspin, so they brought Abdel to Dakar to do some workshops. This time they are hitting us with the freestyle flow. Rather than making new beats they chose to pick some US Hip Hop instrumentals. The ten groups (most are from Dakar, only Siki Saka are from Thies) stated that this album will be of great importance for the upliftment of Senegalese Hip Hop. PBS promised that soon a second compilation can be expected, featuring new groups from various regions of the country. Senerap volume 2 (compilation) Early June 1998, the second volume of this groundbreaking initiative dropped on the local market. The production by PBS meant to create opportunities for new groups to sort an album, and after 'no 1' indeed two groups - 'Boul n Bai' and Da Brains - have come out with a cassette. Now there's a new tape which apart from well-known PBS, Pee Froiss, Da Brains and Boul n Bai, features some 9 more tracks by Merguiklan, Kanthiolis, Slam Revolution, Domou Capsi, Mediklan, Peace & Peace, Xelmijo, Meloklan - all from Dakar. Also there's three groups named Yutom, Digital, and Wulaba from Ziguinchor. This time all tracks have been mixed in a non-stop sequence. It's dope... The tracks we like most are the one by old school group Kanthiolis, and the Wolof sung r&b track by Peace & Peace which uses that Usher hit. If you go to Dakar, go get it!! Siggi Fippu Members: Maxi, Gnul Laoji, Cool Meta, Gnul G Cassette: Khosluman (1996) Group from Hann, into ragga and soul music. They call their style 'Tang shine style', whatever that may mean. Did their first recordings in Studio 26. Before they were called 'Positive Madness', now the Wolof language name 'Siggu Fippi' means something like to raise your head and act as a rebel. They are still studying and want to combine studies and rapping. The group slogan is 'Ci kaw, ci kanam' (take it higher, take it further) Sunu Flavor Members: Doctor Mac, Tonton Mac, Sugar Flavor, Salt Flavor, dj Matar Cassette: B i/e boor (1995), Nel Fes (1997), Togne (1998) Sunu Flavor 'since 1993, until 1998' released four albums before splitting up. They got a lot of exposure in the media after their first release B/e Boor which was recorded in the studio of Youssou n'Dour. They worked with the Guinean group Kill Point on the album 'Foreboma' and played their part in doing the rap compilation series 'Petites Freres'. In early 1998 they toured Senegal and even Morocco in what was called the 'Togne Tour'. There's another album by Tonton Mac on his own, entitled 'Saloum Ghetto'. Tonton went all the way to Paris to promote the album on tv and radio. There he announced that he was to release a compact disc in 1999. Next thing we heard was that they broke up, and Tonton continued with a new group of his own 'Sama Flavor'. He is also active as a producer. Tim Timol Members:Sister Yakim Thikita, Alioune Guisse, Father Mounty Album: Diarama (1999) Tim Timol use the Peul language in their songs, whereas most other rappers - being that they live in Dakar - rap in Wolof. They mix singing and rapping, and unlike most crews there's as many men as women on the mic. Tonton Mac Album: Saloum Ghetto (1998) Went for a solo album, promising to stick with hsi group Sunu Flavor but now there's Sama Flavor who signed with a French music label. Interestingly his solo effort is much more hardcore than Sunu Flavor's earlier work, especially the flow is sort of vicious-sounding. Tonton is a gifted producer whose work includes albums of Pee Froiss and Alif. His studio is dedicated to hip hop and nothing else! V.I.B. Album: Surgit des decombres (1999); track: 'Stop Violence' (on Boul-n-Bai's 'Mama Africa' album); cd-single 'In a air' (1999) Members: Tee Lion, Daddy Maky, Henti P, Soundjata "Verbal Intellect Balistic" was founded in 1995. The 4 members recently (July 1999) had a 10-track album out which got very positive reviews. They fuse rap, ragga and reggae. In 'Mafioso' they talk about politics: "les mafiosi de Fayçal et des Almadies' have to leave their positions of power and give way to others, if they can't do anything for the people". According to the newspapers: "Tee Lion et Daddy Maky estiment que "la société sénégalaise est faite de débrouillardise, de petits boulots sans lendemain, et surtout d’oisiveté" . Le constat d’échec fait par les rappeurs est amer. Ces derniers lancent cependant un appel à la jeunesse sénégalaise à "s’inscrire massivement sur les listes électorales lors de la présidentielle de l’an 2000 et à voter ", car même si les autorités se soucient peu de l’avenir de la jeunesse, cela ne doit pas être une raison pour eux de négliger leur devoir civique, soutiennent Daddy Maky et Tee Lion. Ils s’insurgent d’autre part contre l’acculturation qui gagne du terrain au Sénégal chez les jeunes sénégalais qui ont tendance à "vivre à la face de Babylone". Il urge, selon eux, de "rester dans le vrai et de cesser cette fascination pour les cultures étrangères" et de s’engager dans une dynamique panafricaine à quelques encablures de l’an 2000". Xarnu-Bi Members: Thiat, Rimos, Tofo, Fufa, Xuma Group from Yarakh (Dakar) who are still negotiating about a place to record their 1st album. As they told Senegalese newspaper Le Soleil (excuse our French): "Il y va de notre crédibilité, laissent-ils entendre. Parce que nous arrivons avec un style nouveau qui tranche nettement avec ce que les gens ont l'habitude d'écouter". Même Rapadio? "Oui, nous sommes au-dessus de ce groupe", rétorquent-ils. Il y va alors de l'intérêt du message. "Nous, nous n'accusons pas. Au contraire, nous intériorisons les problèmes pour mieux les transcender. Parce que nous avons aussi notre part de responsabilité. C'est la meilleure manière de prendre en charge les préoccupations des populations" Yat-Fu Album: Fenku (1998) A group with a vision, underground appeal and a whole lot of posse. Enter the Yat-fu. Indeed the group's image is inspired by Shaolin and Wu-Tang is echoed in the flow. No wack singing here but just the (blunted) rhymes. Yat-Fu are currently working on their 2nd cassette which is supposed to be a double album and should be available in 2000. Check out the interview in our interviews section.

:: OUR SENERAP :: Nouveautes (Fr) Dakar photo report SeneRap News Crews A-K (page 1) Crews L-Z (page 2) SeneRap Realaudio ('98) SeneRap Realaudio ('99) Interview Pee Froiss :: SECTION FRANCAIS :: Producteurs locaux Producteurs etrangers Collaborations (1) Collaborations (2) Interview: Yat-Fu (audio) Interview: Jant-Bi (audio)