Senerap

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Daara J in Berlin

Senerap is one of the most important varieties of African hip-hop . The scene is concentrated in Senegal's capital Dakar , which has between 2,000 and 4,000 hip-hop crews, depending on the estimate. Internationally known are Positive Black Soul , Daara J , Pee Froiss and Sister Faiss , who now live in Berlin .

The scene, which is characterized by great creative potential, suffers above all from the lack of money and technology in the country. Only bands that are successful abroad and often need the support of musicians like MC Solaar or Youssou N'Dour can afford the technical basics.

The dominant medium of music distribution in the country is the cassette, with the entire Senegalese market being controlled by a single producer, Talla Diagne . Bands like Pee Froiss or Black Mboolo , who are among the big names in the scene with estimated sales of around 20,000, cannot afford their own DJ desks. According to their own statements, they themselves only produce tapes for reasons of prestige, since it is impossible to make money with them in Senegal.

Other important bands are Da Brains , Jant-Bi (German: the sun ), Sunu Flavor and petit frere .

Senerap developed from 1985. The first rap tapes came into the country primarily through the employees of the airlines, later the new cable TV also brought the first hip-hop videos.

The first major bands were King & Kool and MC Lida . Individual bands became internationally known mainly through the help of the Senegalese MC Solaar , who organized several large hip-hop parties in Dakar and discovered Positive Black Soul, founded by Didier Awadi , among others . There are now a large number of specialist record stores and radio stations, as well as a few recording studios specializing in hip-hop, in Dakar.

Genres like gangsta rap never really made it to Senegal . The music there is mostly positive and much more political compared to the US models. Band names like Positive Black Soul or Pee Froiss (for example: It doesn't matter what you look like ) testify to this. Most of the raps are in English, French and Wolof . The rappers themselves have built a reputation for integrity and moral incorruptibility among the younger population (around 80% of Senegalese are under 30). In the presidential election campaign in 2000, they were therefore courted by all political candidates. They should both provide their reputation and translate the candidate statements into the language of the street. But after Abdoulaye Wade became president of the country, hip-hop plunged into a crisis. Although it promised extensive reforms and thus goals for most hip-hoppers, on the other hand it was vague and hardly anything happened.

One of the few Americans who regularly works with artists from Senegal is KRS-One . According to the Senerapper, the interest of the Americans in their roots and the Black Brotherhood sinks as soon as they realize that there is no money to be made in Africa.

literature

  • Rutledge, Jay (2003): Turntables instead of tradition , in: IFA - Journal for Cultural Exchange 3/2003

Web links