Erik Gaderlund (erikg@macconnect.com)
Fri, 3 Dec 1999 13:40:20 -0800
>
>> Europeans are buying a lot of hiphop, and
>> im sure they know that US hiphop is better than most of their hiphop.
>
> I have to comment on that. I'm no hiphop freak, but my personal opinion
>(shared by many here at the edge of Europe, that is, Finland) is, that
>lately (say, from 1996 or so), French hiphop in average has been a way
>more innovative, interesting and maybe even techincally on a higher
>level, than its US counterpart.
Not, technically, but, different. Like the first Suprême NTM 'Autentik'
which had such a different sound that the US stuff at the time. And,
certianly La Funk Mob and Jimmy Jay who've produced Solaar. I like the
French groups that haven't aped the 'American Sound'.
> I'm not by any means dissing contemporary American hiphop, I mean, the
>originators came from US and they have a grand tradition, and lotsa
>lotsa fine current hiphop artists, too (Mos Def, Sir Menelik, Peanut
>Butter Wolf, just to name a few), not to speak of turntablism, which by
>all means is a US phenomenon at its best. But yet I have to say, that
>there are so many even greater French acts (IAM, Saian Supa Crew, Oxmo
>Puccino, Mafia trece..) kicking the stuff out there.
Actually I prefer just Menelik from Paris, by way of Senegal.
> It's very different in many ways from the US stuff. More melodic often,
>and there is a great emphasis put on the background, as US acts often
>tend to concentrate on the verse and def rhyme-saying. This is of course
>just my humble opinion, but I think many in Europe share this. All
>respect to the originators, but there is a lot great stuff out here too.
>From France, Germany (tho that's not so much my cup of tea), UK, Sweden,
>even a few groups out of Finland (well, mostly it's not so great, but
>there are some nice groups) for example.
Yes, but, I think rapping in French works better with more melodic backing.
Rakim was (is) the wordsmith, but, Solaar is the lyricist. Which reminds
me, anyone listen to R's latest?
> But hey, after all it's just a personal preference thang. I don't think
>you can objectively say "US hiphop is better than European hiphop" or
>vice versa. What you can say, tho, is that US hiphop has had a greater
>impact on the world of music than any other national style (quite
>obiviously), and is still having.
>
But, the 'underground' US stuff is more appreciated in Europe. Luckly here
Silicon Valley we have lots of College radio stations that play the more
forward thinking stuff, and I do hear the occasional cool Spanish rap on
the Spanish language programs on said stations.
erik g
n.p. still can get Basement Jaxx 'Red Alert' out of my head "And the music..."
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