There’s no doubt that hip-hop is an art form as American as Jazz and comic books. But just like those two, hip-hop has left an indelible mark all around the globe and spawned offspring in various languages. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 5 great foreign hip-hop acts spitting game in 5 different tongues. Consider this the United Nations of Hip-Hop.
5. Pete Philly & Perquisite (Language: English)
Video: Pete Philly & Perquisite – Mystery Repeats
Pete Philly & Perquisite are a duo from Amsterdam comprising of, you guessed it, Pete Philly & Perquisite. Pete, who was born in the Caribbean, moved to The Netherlands at an early age. He’s a versatile vocalist, with the ability to rap, sing and render an energetic stage performance. But it’s the chemistry with his musical partner that sets this crew apart. Perquisite is a producer and cellist, an instrument that’s not exactly commonplace in hip-hop and has become a key element to their sound.
The duo released its debut album in 2005 to much acclaim in Japan. Through a deal with Anti-, their debut album Mindstate (which features Talib Kweli, among others) was released a few months later in Europe and the US. In 2007 they released their second album Mystery Repeats (title track above) in Europe and Japan. Their second go-round is even more diverse than their previous effort, which helped expand their fanbase. The cello not only gave many beats a classical tinge but Perquiste went further as a crate-digger and Pete started flexing his singing muscles more and more. They’re currently touring through Europe again with their excellent live band and quickly spreading their strong reputation beyond The Netherlands and Belgium.
4. Salah Edin (Language: Arabic)
Video: Salah Edin – Horr
Salah Edin is a Moroccan/Dutch rapper known for his music as well as his strong political statements. His debut Nederlands Ergste Nachtmerrie (The Netherlands’ Worst Nightmare) was an album featured a cover photo of Salah Edin in the likeness of Mohammed B., the man that murdered famous Dutch film director and columnist Theo van Gogh in the name of his faith. The idea behind the cover that all muslims were seen as equivalent to Mohammed B. was ironically reinforced by Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders who mistakenly used the album cover in stead of the original Mohammed B. photo in his propaganda film Fitna. This made Salah Edin a subject of many talkshows and news programs where he didn’t shy away from controversy himself.
Salah Edin toured through Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa, often accompanying Wu-Tang Killa Beez (Killa Bee Cilvaringz is his friend and manager). He recently released his second album Horr, his first Arabic album. He possesses a rough, menacing voice and his music often has a dark sound to it. However, it’s not all doom and gloom on this album. Produced in it’s entirety by Aftermath in-house producer Focus it revolves around politics, Islam, the role of the media in a post-9/11 world and one of Salah’s favorite, more lighthearted subjects — beautiful women.
3. Samy Deluxe (Language: German)
Video: Samy Deluxe – Diss Wo Ich Herkomm
Samy Deluxe is one of the most renowned and critically acclaimed veterans in German rap. Samy was always skilled on the mic but what’s really of interest is how over the course of his career you can also hear his personal development as an artist. He started out as a boastful MC, a mean freestyler and a guy who explicitly stated his music was without a clear message. This stance has changed over the years and with his latest album Dis Wo Ich Herkomm he’s delivered his most honest and personal project so far.
Being away from his home country (he was in the US before recording this album) made him see it in a different light. Samy now spits about Germany’s societal ills and his place in it, basically positioning himself as Germany’s most prominent “conscious” MC. “I used to think everything that defines Germany is uncool to me, something I can’t identify with” he said recently in an interview with HHV.de. “Meanwhile I have a 10-year career behind me, sold millions of albums and many people listen to my music and come to my concerts. In a way I’ve become German culture myself”.
2. DuvelDuvel (Language: Dutch)
Video: Duvelduvel – Wie Is Ut
Duvelduvel is a rap group that doesn’t really seem like a group, at least not in the traditional sense. Centered around rapper/producer Duvel, often in collaboration with his partner-in-rhyme Supadupa a.k.a. Supa Pollum (named after a very strong breed of Dutch weed), they create an individual sound filled with slang and vibrant language. Dutch hip-hop is practically synonymous with collaboration; acts on the same label, from the same city or just from the same group of friends often merge forces to create various side projects. It’s a very collaborative environment. Duvel isn’t opposed to this and even did a collabo album with another group years ago but he lives and works in Rotterdam (one of the most lively hip-hop breeding grounds in the country) and rarely even collaborates with other big acts from that city.
For some reason Duvel stands alone and forms a niche in Dutch hip-hop culture completely his own. He’s like a Dutch counterpart of DOOM, minus the mask. Music is his true passion and all the random stuff the rap game brings with it seems to only irritate him, sometimes to the point he even despises it. Case in point: he decided to turn his back on rapping at the (commercial) highpoint of his career. His biggest hit “Wie is Ut?” (trans: Who Is It?) still fresh in many ears. He publically struggled with his label, who didn’t really have a clue how to handle the situation, and then it all went quiet for quite some time. That was until he suddenly cranked out another album Puur Kultuur’ (Pure Cultue), arguably better than the last one. Things have been quiet again for a while now, which means he’s probably means back in the lab cooking up another banger.
1. IAM (Language: French)
Video: IAM – Un Autre Brique
You can’t have a serious conversation about European hip-hop without mentioning IAM (which stands for Invasion Arrivée de Mars or simply ‘I Am’ among other things). Its members Akhenaton, Shurik’N, Freeman, Kheops, Imhotep and Kephren are veterans among veterans. The crew has remained relevant since its inception in 1989 and has evolved into the French equivalent of the Wu-Tang Clan. That’s also a crew they share many of their subject matter with, but don’t expect any half-baked Shaolin knockoffs from Marseille. These guys have a style of their own. Kung Fu, eastern philosophy, Islam and Egyptian mythology are all incorporated in IAM’s cultural stew.
Like Wu, many members have solo careers next to their group work and the solo efforts often feature other members of IAM. Given their influence, a list like this could’ve easily been filled with solely IAM related projects. Their 1991 debut was succesful in France but their big break came in 1997 with the Gold-certified L’ecole de Micro d’Argent (trans: School of the Silver Mic) going gold in just two days, thus reaching audiences far beyond France. The Sunz of Man/Royal Fam collabo “La Saga” and the single “Petit Frere” were both instrumental to their success at home and abroad. The album remains a certified classic to date, thus solidifying its place among your humble scribe’s personal all-time favorites. The last major group effort was in 2008, a few months after the album Saison 5, when they gave a live concert at the foot of the pyramids in Cairo(!). Sadly, Freeman quit the team over creative differences with Akhenaton later that year, leaving the crew’s future seemingly shaky. The good news is that they’re set to release a project sometime in 2010.
