One of MC Solaar's first claims to fame was the rap he did on a level one French language education tape: "Comment t'appelles-tu?".
MC Solaar's first single, Bouge de là, was a French hit in 1990 that went platinum, as was his first album, Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo. His second album, Prose Combat, may be his most acclaimed.
As a rapper MC Solaar is known for the complexity and poetry of his songs, which rely on wordplay, lyricism, and philosophical inquiry. The music is based on dance rhythms and sensual grooves. In the English-speaking world, Solaar was signed by London acid jazz label Talkin' Loud and invited to record with British group Urban Species and Guru, a member of the famous and highly-acclaimed New York group Gang Starr.
MC Solaar gained new fans in North America in early 2004, when his 2001 song La Belle Et Le Bad Boy was featured on the final episode of the popular television series Sex and the City. MC Solaar remains best-known outside of France for his work on Guru's Jazzmatazz project and as a guest rapper on the Missy Elliott track All N My Grill. Out of Guru and Solaar's collaboration, the single Le Bien, Le Mal (The Good, The Bad) was a popular Hip Hop/Dance crossover hit receiving playtime on MTV.
Lève-toi et rap
MC Solaar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Born in Senegal both my parents were from Tchad)
Fils du sahel j'avais les envies du roi Fahd
(Son of Sahel, I had desires of the King Fahd)
Mais j'suis venu ici dans un foyer a Saint Denis
(But I came here in a shelter in Saint Denis)
Avec mes freres et soeurs, on demenage pour Evry
(With my brothers and sisters, we move to Evry)
(My mom did housework in hospitals)
Elle sait que le savoir sera mon seul allie
(She knows that knowledge will be my only ally)
Elle rentre tard le soir, moi je joue au football
(She comes home late, while I play soccer)
Acceleration. Grand pont ensuite je shoote. Goal
(Acceletation, dribble, then I shoot, Goal)
Colonies de vacances en Haute Savoie
(Summer school in Haute Savoie)
On controlait les moniteurs sans avoir le BAFA
(We used to control monitors without the BAFA)
Puis trip en Egypte. Ecole francaise du Caire
(Then took a trip to Egypt, French School of Cairo)
Pour parfaire mon flot et mon vocabulaire
(To master my flow and my vocabulary)
La j'ai appris l'humilite, la peur des cartouches
(There I learned humility, and the fear of gun clips)
Pur style de sniper camouflage paw-mouche
(Pure style of sniper camouflage)
J'ai vu des mecs partir a l'ilot Chalon
(I've seen guys go to Chalon Island)
Des manifs etudiantes des contre manifs des Jalons
(Students demonstrations, police anti-demonstrations)
Puis j'ai passe des journees dans des bibliotheques
(Then I spend days in libraries)
Des nuits entieres dans la rue face a la mediatheque
(Whole nights in the street facing the mediatheque)
Pris le microphone dans le wagon 8 a la gare de triage
(Took the mic in passenger car Number 8 down at the switchyard)
En cotoyant des gens qu'etaient pas dans les rouages
(Hanging out with people from the 'hood)
A cette epoque en plein Paris y'avait les Skinheads
(Back then, there were skinheads in the heart of Paris)
Tu venait du bled il ne fallait pas crier a l'aide
(Never sream for Help if you came from the backhoods)
Mais etre apte a garder le meme cap
(But be able to keep your cool)
Peut etre parcequ'un jour un type m'a dit vas y leve toi et rap
(Maybe because one day a guy told me to get up and rap)
Chorus:
I Remember back in the day on my block...(scratches)...
Oh my God...Why?...I excel...got the funk...(samples of old school hip hop)
Y a eu le temps du Globo , du Bobino, du Rex Club
(It was the time of Globo, of Bobino, and Rex Club)
Peniche rubis pour le Rub-a-dub
De High Flight, Polino, Kwame N'Krumah
Youthman, Lord Zelko...Jah Jah pour Mushapata
Le luxe n'est pas Lexus mais les kilometres de Boxer
(Luxury wasn't Lexus, but kilometers of Boxer)
Ou comme les musulemans fumant c'est de taguer dans le RER
(Or Like muslims smokin' it's takin trips in subways)
On prenait le metro avec un regard d'esthete
(We used to take the subway with a glance of aesthete)
Une casquette pour check un name plate a Tikaret
(A cap for check, a nameplate to Tikaret)
En mec honnete j'allais chercher des jobs au CIDJ
(Being an honest man, I went to get a job at the employment office)
Mais tu le sais deja. On recherchais des Dj
(But you already know, they were lookin for Djs)
500 one posse pour la France
(501 posse for France)
Avec la meme ethique garder le droit a la difference
(With the same ethic, keep the right to be diffenrent)
On m'en voulait Parceque j'avais ce qu'ils voulaient
(They were mad at me 'cause I had what they wanted)
Un style qui m'etait propre et le verbe au plus-que-parfait
(A style that belonged to me and a verb
Me faire entrer dans un gang? T'es ouf ou wak
(Get into a gang? are you crazy or what?)
J'suis chetif comme ghandi et ne kiffe que les kilowatts
(Slim like Ghandi, I only deal with kilowatts)
Je marche profil bas, n'exhibe aucun bijou
(I walk low profil, and I flash no jewelry)
Tu vaux bien plus qu'une marque" m'avait dit Mamadou
("You're worth much more than a designer label" once told me Mamadou)
Le cinema de mafia me rendait mefiant
(Mafia movies made me mistrustful)
J'ai vu des jeunes mafieux et puis des capis deviants
(I've seen young mafiosos and deviants capos)
Comme dans les ecoles, j'porte le fut large
(Just like in schools, I move large barrels)
C'est de la weed quand j'deale des messages barjes
(It's about weed when I deal barjes messages)
Rap, Bac, Fac. Premiere entree dans les bacs
(Rap, baccalaureate, College, first entrance in the ferryboat)
Parcequ'un jour Jesus m'a dit vas y Leve toi et Rap
(Because one day Jesus told me, get up and rap)
In MC Solaar's song "Lève-toi et rap," the artist reflects on his upbringing and the challenges he faced as a rapper in France. The lyrics are a mix of personal experiences, cultural references, and social commentary, all delivered in MC Solaar's signature style. The song starts by acknowledging the artist's origins, as he was born in Senegal to Chadian parents, and moves on to describe his journey to France, his childhood in Saint Denis, and his later life as a musician.
Throughout the song, MC Solaar contrasts his own experiences with the social and political climate of France at the time. He mentions skinheads, police brutality, and the pressure to conform to certain expectations as a black immigrant in France. However, he also emphasizes the importance of education, self-expression, and individuality, and he celebrates his own achievements as a rapper.
The chorus of "Lève-toi et rap" samples old school hip hop tracks, emphasizing the artist's connection to the genre and his respect for its pioneers. The overall tone of the song is one of defiance, determination, and pride, with MC Solaar asserting his own identity and encouraging others to do the same.
Line by Line Meaning
Born in Senegal both my parents were from Tchad
MC Solaar was born in Senegal to parents who hailed from Tchad.
Son of Sahel, I had desires of the King Fhad
Growing up in the Sahel region, he dreamt of opulence like the Saudi King Fhad.
But I came here in a shelter in Saint Denis
He arrived in France and lived in a shelter in the suburb of Saint Denis.
With my brothers and sisters, we move to Evry
He and his siblings later moved to Evry.
My mom did housework in hospitals
His mother worked as a housekeeper in hospitals.
She knows that knowledge will be my only ally
His mother understood that education would be his greatest asset.
Hanging out with people from the 'hood
He spent time with people from the neighborhood.
Back then, there were skinheads in the heart of Paris
In the past, there were skinheads in central Paris.
Never scream for Help if you came from the backhoods
People from certain areas were expected to handle things on their own without asking for help.
Maybe because one day a guy told me to get up and rap
Perhaps it's because someone encouraged him to pursue his musical ambitions.
Luxury wasn't Lexus, but kilometers of Boxer
In his eyes, true wealth was not having a luxury car like a Lexus but rather having a reliable ride.
Or Like muslims smokin' it's takin trips in subways
Taking trips in the subway is like smoking cigarettes for muslims.
Being an honest man, I went to get a job at the employment office
He tried to earn a living by seeking a job at the employment office.
They were lookin for Djs
They were in search of DJs.
With the same ethic, keep the right to be diffenrent
He believed in preserving individuality while upholding the same ethical principles.
A style that belonged to me and a verb
His style was unique to him and he excelled in his craft.
Get into a gang? are you crazy or what?
He didn't see the appeal of joining a gang and regarded the idea as absurd.
Slim like Ghandi, I only deal with kilowatts
He likened his physique to that of Ghandi and only dealt with kilowatts of energy.
I walk low profil, and I flash no jewelry
He remained humble and didn't wear flashy jewelry.
"You're worth much more than a designer label" once told me Mamadou
Someone once told him that he was worth more than just a brand name.
Because one day Jesus told me, get up and rap
He was inspired to pursue his passion when he felt that Jesus had given him a sign.
Contributed by Lucas V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TodayWitness
Le temps où c’était un plaisir de connaître les lyrics par cœur ♥️🇸🇳
@timmarshall7411
Le meilleur rap francophone de tous les temps.
@funkysound869
"Je marche profil bas/n'exhibe aucun bijoux "tu vaux bien plus qu'une marque" m'avait dit Mamadou" la grande classe!
@perikmalik6124
Il m en voulait parceque j avai ce qu il voulait, ce type est un victor Hugo en version rappeur, rappoetique, il a des très beaux textes, il sait manier les mots......
@frapophonik7517
"Me faire entrer dans un gang ? Oh, t'es ouf ou oik ? J'suis chétif comme Gandhi et ne kiffe que les kilowatts."
@s0ulh0rze73
...J'adore MC Solaar...
i came from germany but i love him sooo much<3
@agathevergnes9245
🎈🎈❤️❤️❤️Love mc solaar
@perlanegraperla4049
le meilleur rapeur francais
@LORENZO-il3mi
perla negra perla ma mere sa ses toute sa jeunesse
@angengotoum4127
Le meilleur rappeur du monde