Customer Reviews

Cinquieme As

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

US rap has dominated the ages and has never come up against any sort of competition. The UK (where im from) doesnt even come close with Dizzee Rascal the biggest emcee. The 90s was the peak of rap with 2pac and The Outlawz Death Row assualt but to date rap is struggling with 50cent's Massacre being a real massacre in the fact that it was prehaps one of the most commercial rap cds of all time. France must be doing something right because MC Solaar is rap at its best. You do not need to know your French to enjoy this CD. The beats are amazing their are none like it at his rhymes are on top of the game. The CD has everything a rap CD should have, it has fantastic chorus, the best beats ever and the French rapping becomes suprisingly catchy, i got half way through the CD and forgot it was in French good way to learn the language too. A must have for all true hip hop fans.

Well, after a somewhat disappointing (at least length-wise) studio album and a vaguely confusing live album, MC Solaar has returned to the formidable level he achieved with the dashing "Paradisiaque" back in 1997. Here, as the drum fill crashes into the first verse of "Solaar Pleure," one can sense a new urgency and excitement w/in the music - the rest of this album's first single does not disappoint, building towards a powerful climax, leaving the listener in disbelief that only a single track has passed. The rest of the album maintains Solaar's artistic integrity, the beats always solid and the rhymes never misplaced. Additionally, he even takes the time to move amongst other langues romantiques, from the various english interjections that seem to pervade all french hip-hop these days, to his en espanol "Hasta la Vista," which actually isn't nearly as cracked out as one might imagine. All in all, a very solid buy.

Here in the states international hip hop is near non-exsistent. Which is a shame because this CD is better than most of the stuff being released in America today. Truely international, the Senegal-born rapper raps fludily and beautifully in French and at times Spanish. Very high well-thought out production values show the effort put into this album. The text is not the usual "check out my money, women, and cars" fare of most other rappers at this time. His lyrics have relgious and political implications. I esp like the first track, solaar pleure.

Off the hook!
I dont speak french and it dont matter. Every time i play this Solaar EVERYONE wants to know who he is. The album is strong the whole way through, no filler at all.
Take a chance and get this album - it wont dissapoint.

Nice to see that this CDs finally getting the exposure it deserves. Great chill music, his rhymes flow a lot smoother than comparable American rap-- check out some of his older works like "Qui Sème Le Vent Récolte Le Tempo" too.

MC Solaar est simplement le meilleur artiste dehors là. Il coule comme aucun autre et il donne ses pensées et idées tellement bien par le langage le plus beau au monde. Vous devez acheter cet album. Roche De MC Solaar!

#6 "La Belle Et Le Bad Boy"

"...Carrie was running through the streets of Paris, hurrying to meet her fans, while Mr.Big drove by in a taxi. they didn't see each other..."

Love it, it fits the scene perfectly, wonderful!

Even if you don't understand French, or if it's as rusty as mine, this album is fantastic! Smooth rhymes, interesting and unique rhythms, this album keeps your toes tapping and your head thinking. There is just something about the quality of the music that speaks to something beyond your conscious self.
There are many great tracks on here, My faves: Solaar Pleure, Baby Love and La Belle et Le Bad Boy.

I first listened to MC Solaar when I was in France in 1992. The album "Qui s'eme le vent" was getting airtime. I purchased that album and enjoyed it quite immensely. It was a number of year before I purchased "Prose Combat" and then "Paradisiaque". After whcih I listened to his self-titled 1998 import album which is on par with "Paradisiaque". Solaar is like fine wine - he gets better with age.

Now we have "Cinquieme AS". Solaar just keeps getting better. His mixes are diverse, at times political, and more modern on some tracks. Fortunately, the same silky smoothness permeates the album. Even if you can't understand French this guy is a must if you enjoy higher-conscious rap. You'll feel his message even if you can't fully understand it.

Vive le Solaar

While this isn't MC Solaar's best work, it's still head a shoulders above most other hip-hop this year. English-speakers should not be put off by the fact that Solaar raps in French (plus one admirable track in Spanish that reminded me of Delinquent Habits) - Solaar has the most effortlessly cool and smooth style around. He makes Q-Tip look laboured. He makes Chuck-D look like an overweight Mike Tyson (not that I'm dissing PE here...). He is in short, the best rapper that there has ever been in any language. Sorry all you US citizens out there, but that's the way it is.

With this cool, you would expect blandness, but no, Solaar is angry on this one. He can be fierce and very politically-engaged - the superb 'Solaar Pleure' (Solaar is Crying), 'Si Je Meurs Ce Soir' (If I Die Tonight) and 'Les Colonies' (The Colonies) as well as sweet - the aforementioned 'Hasta La Vista (Mi Amor)'. Everybody who loves hip-hop should buy this (and all MC Solaar's other albums), and be amazed.