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Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo

MC Solaar

1991

Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo
Album Summary

Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo is the debut studio album by French rapper MC Solaar. The album title is a pun on the French version of the Biblical proverb "qui sème le vent récolte la tempête" (he who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind, Hosea 8:7). It was released in 1991 and gained considerable success. "Bouge de là" was the album's first single, which was hugely successful in France and went on to kickstart Solaar's career there. The song is based on a sample of "The Message" by 1970s English band Cymande. The title song "Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo" samples Lou Donaldson's "One Cylinder". Other popular singles from the album are "Caroline" and "Victime de la mode".

Wikipedia

Rating

3.1

Votes

13233

Genres

  • Hip Hop

Reviews

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Apr 07 2022
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5

Loved it loved it loved it. Everything sounds cooler in French. The beats are tight and so far beyond the rest of 1991, and even though I only understood every 10th word, the flow was gorgeous. Tres bien, j'adore!

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Aug 23 2021
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4

This is some of the best rap that I didn’t understand a word of lol. Honestly, if I spoke French, this could possibly be a 5 depending on the lyrics. But man, this guy flows so nice, and the beats are delightful.

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Dec 04 2023
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4

Had a run of mediocrity of late and was more in the mood for some uncomplicated rock, so French hip-hop on the weekend wasn't exactly welcomed this morning... Except about halfway through track 2 (the first proper track) I found myself grooving. I really like it. Love the music, I especially love MC Solaar's flow and rhythm, and frankly love the fact that I don't understand most of the lyrics. Treating everything as an instrument / parts of the whole. This was a genuine surprise, not only do I have nothing bad to say about it I'll probably listen again. 8/10 4 stars.

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Aug 23 2021
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5

Surprisingly diverse sounds that pump in African, Jazz, Rap, and plenty others to make a strong record.

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Sep 09 2021
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4

Definately better than expected. Mix of funk, jazz and hiphop. No idea what the lyrics are about, but they have a really nice flow.

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Mar 29 2024
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5

I was today years old when i found out I love french rap. I listened to it all day long. So glad i was exposed to this.

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Feb 08 2023
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5

What a gem! I never would have listened to this on my own. I can't tell what he's rapping about, but he seems to be doing so very skillfully and the beats are all great. This is music to make you feel cool. Loved it the whole way through.

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Nov 07 2022
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5

9/10 I don’t understand what he’s saying, but who needs to when the vibes are this good 😎

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Sep 07 2021
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5

well, shit - that was fantastic. i had a friend in college who was french, and for his final recording project, he produced a track of him rapping in french - and it was amazing! the tape was stuck in my friend's car, so every time we'd go anywhere, all we'd hear was georges screaming away. so this album of course reminds me of that, which is fantastic - but obviously it also stands on its own. the flow is so tight, you'd think he couldn't get any faster and harder after about the third track...but then raga jam comes up, and you fall over. super happy i got to hear this.

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Jan 12 2022
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3

Dear oh dear I can't understand a word these rappers say

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Mar 30 2024
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5

That was fun! Can’t tell you what he said, but I liked the way he said it.

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May 10 2023
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2

Rapping really doesn’t work in French

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Jan 07 2024
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5

Fantastique! I had no idea this would be so good. Like Tribe but French. I will definitely listen to this again.

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Nov 12 2021
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4

Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo by MC Solaar (1991) Cet album est fascinant, en raison de sa fusion de hip hop, jazz, reggae et funk. Pour les anglophones, le fait qu’il soit composé et interprété dans Français n’est pas vraiment un obstacle au plaisir. Il est particulièrement remarquable pour avoir été produit en 1991. C’était assez tôt pour avoir une influence significative sur les rappeurs britanniques et américains. Nous y étions en 1917 et 1944. Avec ce disque, MC Solaar rend la pareille. Merci. La chanson-titre est une tournure intéressante du proverbe biblique « Qui sème le vent récolte la tempête » (Osée 8,7). MC Solaar échange « tempo » contre « tempête », une petite synecdoque astucieuse qui fonctionne poétiquement sinon exégétiquement. Je suis sûr qu’Osée avait autre chose en tête. MC Solaar n’a pas de type de voix que les Américains associent habituellement au rap ou au hip hop. Il a une qualité plutôt apaisante, ce qui rend l’expérience d’écoute très accessible. Certaines de ces chansons ont des arrière-plans éthérés et des rythmes sensuels. Dans « Quatier Nord » et « Ragga Jam », MC Solaar démontre une grande habileté à l’articulation rapide des consonnes. Ses styles vocaux sont polis et bien assortis à l’ambiance de chaque composition. C’est un disque qui élargit ses horizons musicaux. Ce serait un excellent album pour la musique de fond pour le travail. Pardonnez mon expression dans Français. 4/5

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Jan 10 2025
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3

Probably would have enjoyed this more if I spoke French

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Jun 24 2024
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3

cant let gang know i fw the french hip hop

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Feb 29 2024
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3

Oh how we laughed when my friend got the job to promote this album when it came out. French rap?! "Ooh la la, baguette de merde. John-E-Hallidogg, connard!" (I may have work-shopped that a bit). Turns out the joke was on us, this is pretty good, his samples are fun and his flow is smooth. I will note that "Victime de la mode" does, however, sound like Nouvelle Vague covering "Don't Believe The Hype". This album doesn't have Solaar's great one that steals the Bonnie and Clyde riff, but is a good time nonetheless.

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May 26 2022
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3

Mike Ladd est le fils de Robert Dimery

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Feb 20 2025
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5

I groove with this, I rock with this. Most undoubtedly I fuck with this

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Feb 20 2025
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5

Couldn’t understand wtf he saying but it’s a vibe. Would toss this on at a party

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Feb 06 2025
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5

Classic foundational French hiphop album. Funky, great word play, great beats. MC Solaar sits somewhere between a Big Daddy Kane, Q-Tip and Guru in terms of style, flow and wordplay. Great to revisit this album, it's been a while. Worth listening to even if you don't speak French, as the beats are great, representative of the 1991 sound. Great album.

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Jan 20 2025
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5

I found out about MC Solaar from Guru's Jazzmatazz. Smooth. 5/5

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Jan 08 2025
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5

I have the release that came after this one. I can't think of the title at the moment but I will say this one is even better. I love the production on this. Very good.

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Dec 19 2024
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5

Wish I could understand the lyrics

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Dec 18 2024
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5

I'm shocked at how smooth and jammable this album is for its time and genre. Usually hip hop from this era feels very dated and often jarring. I would have guessed this album was at least a decade younger than it is.

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Nov 28 2024
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5

I really like this jazz rap album. A great showcase of MC Solaar's rapping skills and a nice variety of songs. My favourite song on the album was the song named after the title, "Qui seme le vent revolted le tempo". I also really liked Quartier Nord for its high energy, use of the trumpet for the jazz vibe mixed with the DJ scratching and 80s hiphop vibe really makes a special song.

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Nov 22 2024
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5

Surprisingly it was wonderful. I have heard it almost three times.

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Nov 14 2024
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5

Intro - 4/5 Qui seme le vent recolte le tempo - 4.5/5 Matiere grasse contre matiere grise - 5/5 Victime de la mode - 4.5/5 L'histoire de l'art - 4/5 Armand est mort - 4.5 Quartier nord - 3/5 A temps partiel - 3.5/5 Caroline - 3/5 La musique adoucit le moeurs - 4/5 Bouge de la Part 1 - 3.5/5 Bouge de la Part 2 - 3.5/5 Ragga Jam - 2.5/5 La devise - 4/5 Funky Dreamer - 3.5/5

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Oct 27 2024
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5

Another great unexpected treat! My French isn't very good at all, but it doesn't need to be. The sound is so great, that the language simply doesn't matter!

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Oct 03 2024
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5

Not what I expected! (in a good way) I loved that the music backgrounds for pretty much all of the songs were funky and pretty calm. My favorite songs were: “Victime de la mode” and “Caroline”.

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Sep 14 2024
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5

I thoroughly enjoyed this album! I loved how MC Solaar has included jazz and Afrobeats into his rap, and even though I don’t understand what he’s singing about (I have forgotten all of my high school French), I can definitely appreciate all the rhythms and vocal acrobatics he performs. I’ll definitely listen to more of his work.

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Sep 04 2024
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5

Man I don’t care if this guy is rapping about which marshmallows in Lucky Charms taste the best - it sounds cool as fuck no matter what. I felt cool as fuck just listening!

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Jul 20 2024
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5

I'd heard the track with Guru but this artist wasn't really on my radar before. They are now! This was nice to listen to, some of the tracks were a bit much but overall this has some impressive production for '91 and while I don't know what he's rapping about I think the vocals are consistently strong.

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Jul 05 2024
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5

I’m sure it helps that I speak french, so I can understand some of what is being said. And there are some good lyrics, that I need to go back and look at more closely. But even if I didn’t understand the words, the beats slap! And this was his first album?? THIS artist is a great new discovery for me! Will definitely be doing a deep dive and hope to see him live some day, I bet his shows are a party! This was a fun way to start my day and get me up and moving

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Jul 05 2024
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5

I can't understand a word of this. And it's still beautiful. 1991? The godfather of trip hop right here. Just smooth and sexy. Wish I'd had this in my arsenal in my 20's. Unexpected bangers: La devise, Armand est mort, Victim de la mode.

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Jun 17 2024
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5

Wow, that was great! Oldschool tap just like I like it. This is a masterpiece.

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Jun 12 2024
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5

I usually don't like hiphop at all but this was just a little different and i liked this a lot! Will deffinetely listen a lot more to this album

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May 29 2024
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5

I barely understood a word this guy said but I enjoyed it all so much. Good beats and vibes. I wish I could speak French but was very happy to let this funky music do the talking, talking, yeah.

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May 21 2024
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5

This blinsided me a bit, in a really good way. The thing I love about French hip-hop is that I can barely understand a word they're saying, which shifts the focus onto the beats and turns the voice into just another instrument. And this is absolutely the best place to start; accessible and interesting without ever being cheesy or trashy.

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May 20 2024
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5

Idk what my man was saying but it sounded fly as shit! We love a 90s break beat so it doesn’t matter what language is being rapped on it. I need to translate this so I can use some of these lines in real life if they apply 😂

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May 19 2024
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5

I really enjoyed this album. It was surprisingly super funky and catchy. I would jam this again, 100%.

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May 01 2024
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5

I loved this. Wish I knew what he was singing about. 4.5

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Apr 14 2024
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5

Stylish, smooth, and full of personality. I've not really listened to any French rap before, but this was sensational.

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Mar 30 2024
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5

I had bought MC Solaar's subsequent CD, Prose Combat, many years ago and it was a favorite. I was very happy to listen to this one today for the first time. I am happy to know my French, because just like with that album, he uses the sounds and meanings of French words masterfully. He has so many good messages in his lyrics. I love the cool, smooth sound of the tracks as well.

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Mar 30 2024
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5

Very fun, catchy, danceable… my French is too rusty to catch much of the lyrics so didn’t get much from that but I loved the sound of it!

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Feb 09 2024
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5

Love the use of sound effects. The vocal flicks in the third song are fucking crazy After a full listen, I love this guys flow. His samples are great & the instrumentals work amazing with his voice. Definitely saving this one

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Feb 08 2024
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5

This might be one of the most interesting hip-hop albums I have ever heard. The way he is able to pull from a lot of different sounds to make a cohesive project is remarkable. His flows are crazy too.

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Feb 02 2024
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5

This is a refreshing break from the amount of classic rock albums lately. I'm excited to be introduced to something completely different. Maybe that is causing an unfair bias, but I can't resist giving this one a five. Woohoo! being forced to listen to music just got fun again

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Feb 01 2024
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5

Sanaakaan en ymmärrä, mutta todella douppeja biittejä ja varianssia

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Jan 26 2024
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5

New artist for me and really enjoyed. I like a bit of jazz rap so will listen to more of this!

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Jan 24 2024
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5

I dig it and I don’t know a word of French.

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Jan 22 2024
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5

I really like everything I’ve ever heard from this artist. Melodic, rhythmic, soulful, jazzy, excellent rapping in super fast French. Sounds ages ahead of 1991. Prefer this to west coast wannabes. This whole album is very very good. Added 7/16 songs to my favorites, just on the first listen. Emphatically deserves its spot on this list.

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Dec 06 2023
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5

Oh this is dope! 1991? This is really good. Flow - lots of lyrical gymnastics going on, switching up styles almost every track. Tone - very cool, French accent works for me. Production - so clean for ‘91. Jazzy loops, top quality scratching, great variation between tracks. Lyrical content - hard to tell, but it feels pretty positive. The level of skill on this compared to 50cent yesterday is almost incomparable, hiphop is a funny old genre.

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Aug 02 2023
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5

Trés bien! I knew who MC Solaar was largely (solely) due to his collaboration with Neneh Cherry on 7 Seconds but hadn't heard any of his own stuff. This is an incredibly catchy hip-hop/trip-hop/rap blend and the French language has the perfect cadence for rap. Je aime ça, cinq étoiles!

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Jul 28 2023
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5

Its wonderful, French trip-hop jazz thats reminds of Nujables. It's a 5 even though I've no idea what he's rapping about

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May 22 2023
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5

Amaaaaazing. One of my new favourites?! Enlightening and expanding and chill and adventurous. Just wow.

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Apr 21 2023
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5

(it helps to know french). 5 stars. A Smart mimic and comedian, hilarious complex and double-entendre lyrics linking wildly unrelated concepts. It's a fun juxtaposition - surprising to hear childhood & everyday french phrases. Catchy. enjoyable. Yes, rap can be fun and intelligent. \"Bouge de là\" (part 1) provides a veritable thesaurus 'get out of here's and he goes on to mixes a bit of Reggae and plays across cultures. He is great mimic and a comedian. . There is some English language in \"La musique adoucit\" (the music softens you).

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Mar 31 2023
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5

So awesome, its unique but has a Tribish feel, lots of flow but with alot more accompanying music (horns, shredding, cowbell) its really fun to listen to even though I cant understand a word

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Feb 17 2023
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5

With the caveat that I don’t know what the lyrics mean, this is a 5/5. The jazz-funk-rap production was really interesting and the vocal delivery is smooth.

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Feb 08 2023
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5

The vibes are absolutely immaculate. Lo-fi chill beats to study to in its highest form.

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Feb 03 2023
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5

Absolutely amazing. I didn't understand a word of it, but I didn't need to understand French to know that this is something absolutely dripping with skill and talent. There's such a jazzy and funky vibe to the album, and the flow and lyricism seems to be amazing, even if I don't exactly know what he's saying. Makes me want to learn French and listen to this again sometime, but even if I don't learn the language, this'll still be a vibe to come back to. Favourite: Quartier Nord

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Dec 22 2022
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5

This is amazing. I flippin' LOVE French rap. This has everything - beats, flow, plenty of melody and retro sounds.

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Dec 11 2022
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5

I almost forgot about how much I enjoy French hip hop. This is a particularly good example of it, too.

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Nov 23 2022
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5

Cet album est excellent. Je l'ai écouté pendant que <<les bleus>> jouaient leur premier match de la coupe du monde Qatar 2022 - ce qui était une belle coïncidence. Il me fait penser à un Roots Manuva francophone, ou à un Afrika Bambaataa bilingue. La musique est super, et les paroles sont encore meilleures. Cinq étoiles !

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Nov 16 2022
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5

This album cover is amazing. Listening to this is a little strange because I can tell that Solaar is doing some French plays on words, but I have no idea what they mean. The flow is superb, the samples and beats are equally superb.

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Nov 16 2022
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5

with the obvious caveat that i dont know what the lyrics are saying (though the title of this album is a delightful pun), this is truly excellent. sounds really ahead of its time, perfectly matched samples and excellent mixing, and the flow was just super nice and pleasant. all around really good listen.

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Oct 21 2022
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5

Brilliant album. No idea what he's saying, but he is great at saying it. Let's just hope it's not about anything dodgy ...

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Oct 17 2022
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5

Brings back memories of translating his songs in French class. It's a good vibe for music, even if I don't understand most of what is being said!

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Oct 10 2022
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5

Amazing jazz rap with a great flow, no idea what he is saying though

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Sep 28 2022
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5

A few beats and you find yourself sitting on the docks of Marseille or on a bridge over the Seine river. Very cool. I am always regretting that my French is so bad. I guess this guy has something to say

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Nov 17 2021
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5

Классный олд скул

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Oct 08 2021
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5

Interesting to hear rap in a different language but to hear it use a similar music language as lots of other rap music at the time, but MC Solaar's vocals are just sooooooo smooth. Caroline immediately grabbed me. La devise is a solid close to a killer album.

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Feb 12 2025
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4

Very cool old school french hip hop

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Feb 06 2025
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4

This album had a smooth flow with a jazzy feel to the production, making it an enjoyable listen. Even though I don’t speak French and couldn’t follow the lyrics, his delivery fit the music so well that it didn’t take away from the experience. The laid back beats and instrumentation gave the album a great atmosphere.

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Feb 06 2025
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4

Cool. Nice flow and jazz beats. Ragga Jam is amazing.

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Jan 29 2025
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4

I expected nothing from French rap, and was very pleasantly surprised. I actually liked this. It has the jazz hip hop vibe of Us3 and artists like that, although unlike having samples of Blue Note recordings, the backing tracks sounded almost canned in some parts. I think the fact that I couldn’t understand anything he said probably helped. I quickly grow tired of rappers who only spew slurs and epithets and rap about drugs and being horrible to women, so if he said any of that I was blissfully unaware. Whatever he does say flows incredibly well. If I had any desire to learn French, I would probably listen to this guy a lot. Does it deserve 4 stars though? Probably not, probably a high 3, but I’m going 4 just because it was so much better than I expected.

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Jan 25 2025
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4

Really digging this out of the gate with the title track. Effortlessly cool flow over top of some jazz heavy instrumentals that they let breath through the outro. Very smooth. Track 3 has a more progressive funk backing instrumental that sounds uniquely 90s. Still solid stuff that reminds me of ATCQ. L'histoire d l'art is a standout. Pressing vocals over a funky little loop that exchanges with some stanky bass and horns. Have definitely heard the sample on Armand est mort, but cannot place it. Quartier nord is an abrupt change to an aggressive delivery. Really dig the song and the muted instrumental with scratching. Pretty sure that Ragga Jam is referenced directly by Sublime. But then maybe it is a common thing...idk. All I know is I can only imagine how one moves their mouth and tongue fast enough to make some of these sounds -- wild. The vibes are strong with this album. While I can't understand a word, I found myself swaying to damn near every song. It played a little long in the end (especially once it turned over towards more reggae / dub influences). But all in all a very solid listen. 4 / 5.

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Jan 24 2025
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4

bright, french helps, lighter than I remember

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Jan 22 2025
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4

What originally started for me as repeat playing of Obsolète turned into repeat playing of Prose combat, fast becoming one of my favourite hip hop albums, let alone French hip hop. I somewhat ‘completed’ this by purchasing the double LP in a record shop in Montmartre, for the ultimate hipster credit. But this isn’t Prose combat, it’s its predecessor. And it serves just as you’d hope it to, its more laissez-faire older brother, with Solaar meandering through a cool jazz-influenced hip hop soundscape with a ‘je m’en fiche’, ‘à prendre ou à laisser’ attitude. I’m unsure if this really is overshadowed by its follow-up three years later, but it is for me. So whilst Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo is no doubt a stellar rap album, but it’s not something I can come back to when Prose combat is right there.

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Jan 11 2025
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4

Ahh.. MC Solaar! I used to listen to this guy a decent amount in the early 2000s. This jazz rap style is really the best hip hop as far as I'm concerned. I have no idea what he's saying but it sounds so damn good. Also didn't know he got his US breakthrough on a Guru Jazzmatazz track. Fitting.

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Jan 08 2025
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4

This album contains my favourite kind of rap. The kind with good flows and beats. Better yet, no skits at all. I wish I understood French; it would've made the album even better. The only dud on "Tempo" is "Ragga Jam," which shouldn't have been on the album. 4 stars for "Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo".

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Jan 02 2025
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4

Nice and groovy, I hope the lyrics are cool because it's all in French. But the flow was cool 8/10

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