Sage poet Zoxea & Busta Flex battle it out in ‘C’est nous les reustas’: Youssoupha (a name you must be familiar with by now), Indila and Skalpovich Dreamin’: About these ads
Paris a Continent … the Nike edition
March 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
http://vimeo.com/37302066 I like the tone and aesthetic of this commercial. It makes Paris look like parts of Brooklyn. We’ll leave the close reading for another day (the relationship between identity politics and consumption for example), except to note it would be interesting if mainstream France engages with this reality, i.e. accepting of difference and diversity. […]
Paris is a Continent N°10
March 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Less than two months before France’s presidential elections, this ‘Letter to the Republic’ couldn’t come more timely. And it blew up accordingly. Kery James has some thoughts on France’s history of racism, colonisation, and the African diaspora. “How can we love a country that hates us?”
Paris is a Continent N°9
February 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Watching French incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy’s speech in Marseille Sunday night (his second speech since announcing he’s seeking a second term last week), I was hoping for a reference to how the financial crisis — the millstone round Europe’s neck, a politician’s nightmare — has hit the banlieueus. I should have known better. His words […]
Paris is a Continent N°8
January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Loads of Paris suburbs gets shouted out in this song by a cast of the city’s rappers.
Paris is a Continent N°7
January 21, 2012 By 3 Comments
My friends and the musicians we listen to–we’re mostly the children of immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean–prefer Francois Hollande and the Socialists over Sarkozy, but know Hollande won’t win.
Paris is a Continent, N°6
December 18, 2011 By 1 Comment
I thought I’d continue my focus on French women singers. First up is Kayna Samet: great voice, from Algeria. This song named “Yema” (mother in Arabic) is about the love for the mums. It features Indila (remember her).
Paris is a Continent, N°5
December 4, 2011 By 2 Comments
Not sure what it says about France that Dominique Strauss-Kahn (he is portrayed as a victim of a conspiracy) and David Beckham (a 36-year-old player is entrusted with bringing back gloss to French football) dominate the headlines there this week. Meanwhile, a mix of French hip hop and smooth R&B continue to dominate my instalments of music from […]
Paris is a Continent, N°4
November 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Paris is a Continent, N°3
November 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
