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Hip Hop in Senegal & Senerap News

[Aux visiteurs Francophones: cliquez ici ou regardez en droit pour des liens vers quelques pages en Francais et du son de rap Sénegalais. Lien principal vers ce page: www.africanhiphop.com/senegal ]

Welcome to our Senegalese hip hop pages. This section is the largest representation on the web of hip hop in Senegal. The city of Dakar is a worldwide player when it comes to the number of rappers and hip hop heads, only beaten by the USA, France and Germany. Thus our list is only the tip of the iceberg, but what a tip! Check out the realaudio, read the almost 60 album and group descriptions under 'crews', and listen to interviews with Pee Froiss, Jant-Bi and Yat-Fu.

Down this page are some news updates and if you read French, don't miss the regular 'Nouveautés' straight from Dakar.


What's new in Senegal?

If you read French you already knew this, but for the English-only heads here are some Senegalese hiphop headlines provided by our reporter Cheikh from Dakar:

Daara J signed an international release deal with BMG for their 3rd album to be released outside of Senegal. They also contributed to the international rap compilation 'Power of Unity' (Polydor).

Positive Black Soul signed a deal with East West records who are supposed to release their second international album in January 2001.

New albums out recently: 'Remembering' by Bamba J Fall, 'Yeufu Mak' by Pacotille (his 1st effort), 'Exodus' by Daara J (totally sold out the day it was released!), 'Les prophetes du rap' by Yat-Fu, 'Djogé çi leudemm dgém çi leer' by Slam Revolution (old school group but their 1st album) and 'Politiciens' a compilation by Mr Kane of D-Kill Rap.

Former rivals Xuman (from the group Pee Froiss) and Bibson (from Rapadio) have now released an album together called 'Freres ennemis' which so far has been very succesful. In response, both Yeufu Mack and Fatah (from CBV) released a single in which they criticize Xuman & Bibson for defending concepts that wouldn't fit into the laws of hip hop, and for behaving contrary to what they rap about.

  > Les nouveautés en direct de Dakar


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New PBS album 'Run... cool' presented

PBS is finally going to enjoy an international release of their long awaited album. Dj Rab met up with the crew in Lille (also see our new update on the Pan African festival last October) and they shared the following info with him.
The album is titled 'Run, Cool' and the title track (available on CD/K7/LP) is called 'XOYMA' (click here to listen to the song in realaudio!). This title translates from Wolof to mean 'show me' - PBS described this as 'showing the goods' i.e. the private parts of the woman. The song has a sexual overtone. The beat is very similar to ‘Southern Bounce’ of Atlanta and New Orleans of the USA. It’s catchy and strictly for the clubs! Other tracks appeared on the double cassette 'Revolution 2000', but there's also smoothed-out tracks that probably are targeted at the western market.

They successfully presented this album at the giant European music chain, FNAC on the Champs Elysées in Paris, France on November 15, 2000.

PBS is now signed to East-West Records (France) which is a subsidiary of The Universal Music Group. The whole project was under the negotiations of Palm Tree Entertainment. Brooklyn-based producers Van Gibbs and Salaam Remi are known for their work with the Fugees. Other producers involved were Shellshock and Edison ‘Electric’. Invited artists include Princesse Erika and Kymani Marley.

Apparently the album will only be in stores around February 2001. We'll announce it here!

  > PBS @ International Hiphop festival Lille


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Black Mboolo releases new album: Mandu

Some years ago, there was a new rap group in Dakar (Senegal) that could make the schoolgirls go wild. For a while Black Mboolo with its three young members Yoro, Abo and Atou doing a fusion of rap and mbalax (the very Senegalese percussive pop) was the talk of the town. Now we had to wait some time for them to get back on the market, and there's been a whole new generation of new groups that dropped a release.

On Black Mboolo's third album 'Mandu', the trio worked with musicians Samba Laobé Ndiaye (bass) and Ousmane Wade (keyboard and production) from the group Missal, and Papa Ndiaye from Super Diamono (sabar percussion) and Idrissa (tama).

The cassette contains the follwing titles: Mandu, Yéné, Bamba (a tribute to the late Mouride leader), Khif and Deug Nuy Dundal. Black Mboolo's first success was the mbalax-rap song 'Alal', which they revisit on this album. After the dancing, there's some time for reflection and the songs have plenty messages - 'Don't spend your time gossiping out there on the streets, we have more important stuff to do such as the development of our country' (Thanks Le Soleil magazine, Dakar)


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Realvideo: Positive Black Soul

Senegalese crew PBS is on the road again. With a new cassette out in Dakar, and an international cd release coming this autumn, they recently performed in USA at WOMAD in Seattle. You may have read the excellent interview at Nubianunderground, and now there's a realvideo interview available at wen.com

  > PBS live at WOMAD USA 2000 (article & realvideo links)


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Pic: Da Hop - Senegalese rap compilation

Da Hop - Senegal at its best
Due to be released since February 1999, at last 'Da Hop' is available. The first cd compilation of SSenegalese rap, this one is targeted at teh western market. Released on Youssou N'Dours label Jololi, Da Hop comes out just after the international release of Youssou's new cd on which he featured Wycleff of the Fugees, but not a single Senegalese rapper! To make up for this, Da Hop has some of the best crews around, though it was impossible to get all of the leading crews together. PBS are not there, nor is Pee Froiss, but with Daara J, Yat-Fu, Jant-bi and the others this is a good representation of what's out on the local cassette market.
We are yet to receive a copy so there's no 'five mics' yet. However if you want to listen to MP3 previews, try the official Da Hop homepage.

Here's the track listing:

Xuman & Bugz - Sassouné
Boul N'Baï - Sida
Kantiolis - Comportement
Nabil - Andando
Lakale Posse - Africa
Daara J - Xarétey
BMG 44 - Maymassi
Yat Fu - Waxandé
Bideew Bou Bess - Kaay Xool/Ndékété yo
Akassa - Masstata
Jant Bi - Waay Waay Kay
Peace and Peace - My Sister


You can order the album at FNAC (French online cd store), click here. They also got realaudio previews of all the tracks.

Bideew Bou Bess interviewed by PlayList (Radio France)

Early 2000, the three rappers of Bideew Bou Bess toured Europe to present the compilation 'Da Hop' on which they are featured with 2 songs. Radio France interviewed them on 25 April. Click here to listen.


Vivian: Aaaliyah plus Wolof & talking drum



Vivian N'Dour is not only married to Youssou N'Dour's brother but also background singer in his band. She now has an album out that's only available in Senegal. The track 'Goor fit' is most popular in Dakar, especially with the men. It is based on the American r&b hit 'Are you that somebody' by Aaliyah, but it certainly is a local version with Wolof lyrics, talking drum, added live instruments and rap by Khouman. Rumba-kali has the track available in high quality realaudio, to listen straight or to download. See the sounds & video page.


Pulp Fiction into Senegalese Rap

Last summer saw the release (in French and German languages) of a novel about the hip hop scene in Dakar! In fact rap only provides the backdrop for a story featuring detective Pulp, but there are some characters in the book that were based on real-life heroes including the group PBS (just look at the cover drawing and you know who we mean). You can now order the book in our online store, and it's cheap (U$ 5). Hope you speak French or German since there's no translation into English yet.


V.I.B. single available from Switzerland

Senegalese group V.I.B. released their 1st album on the Senegalese market earlier this year.
An outstanding production, with serious ragga, hip hop and soul vocals, it was only a matter of time before someone would release their music. Now Switzerland based MRS Records have done it: 'In a air', their first cd-single is out! Better still, you can mail order it straight from the record company (about 10 U$, but you can only pay by cheque). The single features 4 tracks: A remix of Mafioso (dancehall style), plus the original track (hardcore hip hop), and two more songs 'Nathalia' (a cover of the Toure Kunda song) and Happy day. Recommended!


PBS sign new international record contract

The Senegalese rappers Doug-e Tee and Awadi from Positive Black Soul have been silent on the record market. Their last (and first) international came out nearly 5 years ago, and since then they have done a few local Senegalese cassette releases and been touring all around the world. Their 1997/8 album New York Paris Dakar was never released outside of Senegal as supposed to through Island/Mango because of some internal label stuff. Now it seems that everything is settled and Doug-E and Awadi have made a new deal with Palmtree records, who ran into them during the Marché International de la Musique (MIDEM) in Canne, 1998.
The album is supposed to be recorded in New York as we speak and will feature Ky-Mani Marley, Princess Ericka (Cameroon) and Sarafina (South Africa). We don't know what will happen with the tracks on New York Paris Dakar, which included a collaboration with KRS-1. It's about time PBS should come up with something new, as there are many new Senegalees rap crews that are targeting the home & world markets and even in Dakar the group needs to come with a new album.

Competition: "Espoirs Du Rap Senegalais"

In January 2000, the Nuit internationale du rap will take place in Dakar.This well attended yearly festival is organised by the French Cultural Center (CCF), who hold a large hall in the city center where they have been organising many rap- and other concerts over the years.

This year's pre-selected Senegalese groups are Yalla Suur En, Jaffee-Roy and Sotti-xam. They will be on stage together with top French rap crews who will fly over to play at the festival. The selection took place recently during the 6th edition of 'Espoirs du rap Sénégalais' (hope of Senegalese rap), a competition at CCF. According to local sources, this year's edition of the competition was not on the same level as previous editions. The groups still have a month to sharpen their skills, so we trust they will be on the same level as the French by then!

When Rapadio are out to diss....
Jant-Bi Reply; Cheikh Lo Doesn't

Underground act Rapadio came out with an album last year. The first thing we heard was that they had been disrespecting popular musician (Baye Fall by religion) Cheikh Lo. The latter reacted to the disses (exactly what they said is unknown to us) like this: 'they are so young, I could be their father, so it is below my dignity to answer them. Just let them play'. Next thing we heard is from Jant-Bi. This group came out with a first album 3 years ago and the song 'Bul ma joylo' was very popular, as well as the album itself which sold about 30.000 copies. Rapadio made a parody about 'Bul ma joylo', which to them wasn't real hip hop as it had a melodic and commercial edge to it. Now on their forthcoming album 'Dax neex', Rapadio react to that diss by emphasizing the importance of melody in their music, as they say 'melody is what unites African music'. Featured artists on Dax neex include Sister Keisha of Domou Joloff and G. Bonbong from Gambia.

Alif anniversary

The all-female rap group Alif exists for one year but listening to their tape (see our Senerap mixtape 99) you'd say they have been going on for ages. Their anniversary party (these parties have become a tradition in Dakar) is to take place on the 20th of November. A tour will then take them to the cities of Thiès, Mbour, Kaolack and Sédhiou.They will also feature in the 'Espoir de Rap' ('hope of rap'), an annual competition held by the French Cultural Center (CCF), which has always been active promoting rap in Senegal.



Sama Flavor album

The best hip hop productions of late are from the hand of Tonton Mac, one half of the old-time rap group Sunu Flavor from Dakar. Earlier this year Sunu split up, and Tonton went on as 'Sama Flavor'. The group soon signed a 5-year record deal with French label Discover. According to Senegalese newspaper Le Soleil, the cost of recording their new album was 15 million CFA (about 20.000 U$) which is more money than the average Senegalese rapper hopes to make in all his life.
The 18-track album called Doomu Daanu includes a reworking of 'No woman no cry' and several old Sunu songs such as 'Histoire sans fin' and 'Nel fess'.

LIVE CONCERT OF POSITIVE BLACK SOUL ONLINE

You'll need a RealPlayer and a reasonably fast internet connection. The performance concerned is a whole hour by the Senegalese duo at Montreux Jazz Festival which took place last month. Click here for 28.8k modem connection, or here if you have ISDN or faster. The Montreux Jazz site can be found here.

Rumba-Kali Senegal Rap Online Radio

We have over two hours of non-stop Senegalese rap online. The first edition was done in 1998 and features many old school groups. The second one is newer and includes tracks that were just out in October 1999.

Album cover of the month - October 1999

The first competition of 'most interesting album cover' (an event held monthly at Rumba-Kali website) was won by D-Kill compilation, an underground project featuring some emcees that nobody ever heard of and several known names including Iba from Rapadio, and Makhtar from BMG44. The idea behind the cover hardly needs explaining: we see the underground rising up and grabbing the mic. The design is by Omar Faye Cidop and Mister Kane. Props to FITNA production, the people behind the album.

News (August 1999)

The Senegalese export rappers of Daara J celebrate their anniversary on 13,14, and 15 August this year in the Senegalese capital with a concert `Dakar, Saint-Louis et Kaolack'. In the same tradition there's going to be a celebration of Positive Black Soul's anniversary, as it is expected that they will be back from their world tour, flying in from the USA.

-Senegalese rap groups Da Brains and Pee Froiss have left for Mali for a three day tour. Together with Saf Niang of Positive Black Soul and promoter Alain Texeira they will perform at the Palais de la Culture de Bamako.

-The Cape Verdan music festival in Gorée on 30th of Jul featured rap crews Bamba J Fall, Rapadio and Doomu Jolof. Gorée is the historic island off the coast of Dakar (Senegal) where in the past slaves were put on transport to the new world. The spot is a popular place for cultural events, and Daara J on their recent album had a featuring of the island's historian who in 3 interludes explains about the history of the slave trade.

-The rappers of the group Kantiolis have participated in the future mixtape of French rapper Oxmo Puccino. The latter has produced 3 songs for their album. In there they also have a collabo with teh French group Movez Langue which is produced by Zoxea.

- Senegalese-French group Fu Efx have 20 songs ready now, 6 of which have been recorded and are being mixed to present them to a producer. It is said that Senegalese pop star Baaba Maal will also be involved with the recordings

Interviews with PBS and BlackBlancBeur

French music mag Lafriche has a few short interviews in realaudio on their website. Two fragments of a talk with PBS and one with the French-Maghrebian-African BlackBlancBeur which is the crew of the dj that PBS used to tour with. The talk was recorded during the festival Rencontres des Cultures Urbaines in October 1998. There's also an interview with kwaito-group Skeem but it got a voice-over in French! Check these out:

Positive Black Soul (1)
Positive Black Soul (2)
BlackBlancBeur

Old School, New School & The DJ's

Inevitably, when one city (Dakar) counts hundreds of rap groups there will always be a lot of different styles and crews grouping together. In the 10 years since rap rooted in Dakar, an old school has been followed, listened to and attacked by a younger generation of emcees. Here's the list of who's old school and who's new school according to the rappers of Yat-Fu. Themselves can be listed as 'new school'. "Old school: MC Lida, Kool n King, PBS, Oumson, Daara J, Pee Froiss, African Yefu, Slam Revolution, Sunu Flavor, Doomu Djoloff, Kantiolis, Black Diaspora, Kocc Barma, Nul te Rapadio, BMG, VIB, Guestu Guestu. New School: Jant Bi, Afrikcan Mboolo, Xippi Xool, Soul Souly, Zaman, Fu li fak, Tigrimbi etc..."
Also interesting is Yat-Fu's namedropping of the Senegalese deejays. With so many of them, it's about time that they enter the international dj competitions! Where's the Senegalese equivalent of Mixmaster Mike?
"Deejays: Jeannot, Kisito, Toukou, Edou, Sam (LMC), Santos, Armand, Joe, Mann, Erik B, Simon Meledge, Coco, Big John, Fred, franky, Cecile Sow, Khalil Gueye, Makhou, Paco, Aziz Zoulibaly, Tata Ndeye, Ama Sakho, Michael Soumah, Fatou Tandian, F.S., Cyprien, Yakhane Thiam, You Diagne, Gibson, Saf Niang, B Bass, Makhou, MC Kool, Jackson, Karim, Koloss, Jacky, Vincent, Jupiter, Laye Diop, Jules Junior, Martino, Amish, Edouardo, Jean L, Agboton, Valo, etc..."

Nuit Internationale Du Rap

The annual 'Nuit Internationale du Rap' in 1998 took place in Dakar in June. A selection of local and international rappers were invited. Some names: Sister Kaya, Blood Brothers (Saint Louis), African Mboolo, VIB, Verbal Intellect Balistique (5 members!), Henry P, Lion Tee, Daddy Macky, Soundiata, Danny Lo, DJ Djihad. Also present were Tribal Jam, Kartel Double Detente, Joe et Moise (Zaireans) and the French group KDD. Surprise of the evening was Sister Kaya, a female rapper who got heads ringing.

Respect



Contrary to what's happening in most other African countries, in Senegal rap music is taken seriously by the older generation. What's more, the Association of Senegalese Writers under the presidency of Alioune Badara Beye has organised a seminar 'Rap et Poesie' which emphasizes the historicity of rap in Senegal. Research by Mbaye Gana Kebe points out that roots of rap in Senegal can be traced back to the 16th century, when griots (West-African troubadours) chanted the outcome of a battle (hey! remember the 'freestyle battle'!). In June 98, the efforts of the organization resulted in a Concours Nouky Bataiilard for an 'Anthology of the New Senegalese Poetry' and in 1999 a 'Dictionary of Senegalese Rappers' was to be published. All this is the work of well-respected Senegalese men over their forties, thus bridging the generation gap which is growing in many other countries.






:: 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)