Proze Combat

I had this CD 16 years ago when living in France - but lost it. I decided to replace it and am glad I did - wonderful lyrics with many literary references and that good old Gallic intellectualism wedded to a melodic rap sensibility.

One of the best hip hop, jazz and rap releases you are going to come across, it is that good that although I don't speak French, it matters not a darn, well I think it well might, but hey. The music is powerful, but also intriguing with many layers of instrumentation building to various climaxes.Each song is very much of its own nature and delivers the music without any pretence of trying too hard.This brings it's own joy of wonder what's coming next. At no time are you left disappointed with the continuous results.I have taken over 10 years to get around to try and turn people onto this, please give yourself a turn on and give this a go.There are also such great musicians to behold with some real intricate playing throughout.

This is probably one of the classic hip-hop albums of the early 90s- brilliant production, infectious, jazzy loops, and ultra-smooth rapping from Solaar. Whether you understand French or not you can't help but admire his seamless lyrical flow, but it obviously helps- because Solaar doesn't fill his rhymes with cliched gangsta nonsense, but rhymes thoughfully about a range of subjects. He namechecks Nietzsche and Rousseau (could you imagine 50 Cent doing that?) and makes ample use of the French language's particular capacity for word-play.Some of the tracks here are just classic- the highlight is probably Nouveau Western, which samples Serge Gainsbourg's Bonnie and Clyde. Solaar raps about the American idealisation of gun culture through the myth of the Wild West, and how this culture of violence has been exported to the housing estates in France.Over a decade later, this album's impeccably smooth, laid-back ryhthms still sound fresh and bright- its a great antidote to the over-produced (and un-funky) R&B which clutters up the charts.

This album is just brilliant, even from the start, Obsolete puts you in that mood. Tracks like Nouveau Western and Sequelles are classics, but the freestyle with Menelik, Les Sages Pos and co is just smooth. A definate buy if you like Jimmy J, a must for a Solaar fan, and an essential for all french hip hop lovers. This is the best album Solaar has ever done!

Probably one of the best hip-hop albums of all time, up there with Step in the Arena as an exponent of funky, lyrical jazz-tinged hip-hop. Jimmy Jay's lush, sun-drenched soundtrack is an amalgam of warm horns, jazz guitar, funk bass and some serious bottom-wiggling, foot-tapping breakbeats. MC Solaar never equalled the lyrical density and flows like there's no tomorrow. He goes from the bitter-sweet Séquelles via the optimistic, streetwise strut of A La Clair Fontaine and the ghetto realism of Nouveau Western (co-credited to Serge Gainsbourg, with the main sample being lifted from the latter's Bonnie and Clyde) to the sheer lyrical joy of the freestyling LNMIACCd'HTCK72KPDP. An absolute must!

Classic hip hop from a golden age for the genre. Fans of old school Mo Wax do not hesitate (Solaar credits La Funk Mob amongst others). One for the Headz.