Elie Yaffa better known under his stage name
Booba, is a French rapper from
ParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He is half
SenegaleseEthnic groups in Senegal are numerous for such a small area, and subgroups can be distinguished within several of them. According to one 2005 estimate, there are twenty groups of varying size....
from his father's side and half
FrenchThe French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
of
MoroccanMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
origin from his mother's side. He started music career with
Ali' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
as rap duo
LunaticLunatic was a French hip hop duo from Boulogne-Billancourt. The lineup consisted of Booba and Lunatic was a French hip hop duo from Boulogne-Billancourt. The lineup consisted of Booba (Boulogne-Billancourt) and Lunatic was a French hip hop duo from Boulogne-Billancourt. The lineup consisted of...
.
Booba has been engaged in feuds with
SinikThomas Idir a.k.a. Sinik is a French-language rap artist. His father is Algerian while his mother is French.His meeting with Diam's at 14 was the turning point of his career...
,
RohffRohff - « Rimeur Original Hardcore Flow Fluide » is a French rapper from Vitry-sur-Seine, in Val-de-Marne, south of Paris. Rohff was born in Comoros and immigrated to the Parisian suburbs in 1985.A fan of 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., NWA, Game, and others, Rohff began rapping around 1994...
, Mc Jean Gab'1 and Alpha 5.20.
Early life
Booba was born in Elie Yaffa on December 9, 1976. He took his first steps in his music career with his friend Ali in 1994. Together they formed the group
Lunatic. In 2000, they released their first and only album entitled "
Mauvais œilMauvais œil is the debut album by French hip hop duo Lunatic, released in October 2000 over the independent label 45 Scientific.- Musical style and informations :...
". This album contains fourteen songs and is considered a classic. They have been often compared to
Mobb DeepMobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
for their sound and their complimentary styles.
The two-man group split up in 2003.
Career
In 2002, Booba released his debut solo album
Temps mortTemps mort is the debut album by French rapper Booba. For the song "Nouvelle école" exists also a remix which features American rap duo Mobb Deep.- Track listing :- Samples :...
. He followed this up with three further albums:
PantheonPanthéon is the second album by French rapper Booba, released on June 16, 2004 over Tallac Records, via the major Barclay Records/Universal Music Group.-Tracklist:Samples...
,
Ouest SideOuest Side is the third album by French rapper Booba released on February 13, 2006 on Tallac Records, via the major Barclay Records / Universal Music Group.-History:...
(the most successful) and
0.90.9 is the fourth album by French rapper Booba and released on November 24, 2008, on Tallac Records via the major Barclay Records / Universal Music Group.-Track listing:-Charts:-External links:* * * *...
. In late 2010, he released his last solo album
LunaticLunatic is the fifth album by French rapper Booba and released on November 22, 2010, on Tallac Records. It's named after his former hip hop duo Lunatic, with Ali.-Track listing:- External links :* * * *...
, with the same name as his former crew.
Bram's, one of his best friends and a 92I member, died on May 21, 2011.
Influences and rap style
At the start of his career, his major influences were the East coast rappers such as
Wu-TangWu-Tang or Wudang may refer to:*Wudang Mountains or Wu-Tang Mountains, a mountain range in central China*Wudangquan or Wu-Tang quan, a form of Chinese martial arts*Wudang District, a district in Guiyang, Guizhou, China...
,
Mobb DeepMobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
, Notorious B.I.G and
KRS-OneLawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
.
But over time, Dirty South influences appeared in his music. He appreciates artists like
T.I.Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
or
Rick RossRick, Ricky or Richard Ross may also refer to:* Rick Ross , American rapper* Richard J. Ross, a Massachusetts State Senator* Richard Ross , an American photographer...
.
He is also an admirer of
Sol CampbellSulzeer Jeremiah "Sol" Campbell is an English footballer who is currently a free agent. A central defender, Campbell has played for Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle United, as well as the English national team.Born in East London to Jamaican parents, Campbell's...
&
Bob MarleyRobert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
and
Muhammad AliMuhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
.
- He has a clothing line "Unkut" that he created in 2004.
Polemic
Booba is the most popular rapper in France, but also one of the most hated. He is accused of taking egotrips, and of too much talking about money.
In 2001 in the EP " Mauvais Oeil, on the track " Si Tu Kiffes Pas " " he says " I like to see dead cops " ( J'aime voir des CRS morts ), in the EP " Temps Mort ", on the track " On m'a dit " ( 2002 ) he says : " When I see France with her legs sprayed I fuck her without oil " ( Quand je vois la France les jambes écartées je l'encule sans huile ). On the same EP
in the track " 100-8 Zoo " his friend Issaka says : " I would put in a cop's head a Glock bullet " ( j'rêve de loger dans la tête d'un flic une balle de G.L.O.C.K. ), in this track Booba says : " We should have more girls like Florence Rey " ( Faudrait plus de filles comme Florence Rey ). Florence Rey is a famous girl who helped to kill police men in Paris.
In the EP " Panthéon " ( 2004 ), the track " Baby " featuring Nessbead made polemics because the misogynist lyrics, and the music-video who contains explicit pictures of naked girls, what is not usual in France. In 2010 on the EP " Lunatic ", on the track " Caesar's Palace " Booba says : " Fuck you, Fuck France, Fuck Domenech " ( Raymond Domenech was the coach of the French soccer team in 2010 ).
Discography
- 2002: Temps mort
Temps mort is the debut album by French rapper Booba. For the song "Nouvelle école" exists also a remix which features American rap duo Mobb Deep.- Track listing :- Samples :...
- 2004: Panthéon
Panthéon is the second album by French rapper Booba, released on June 16, 2004 over Tallac Records, via the major Barclay Records/Universal Music Group.-Tracklist:Samples...
- 2005: Autopsie Vol 1 (mixtape)
- 2006: Ouest Side
Ouest Side is the third album by French rapper Booba released on February 13, 2006 on Tallac Records, via the major Barclay Records / Universal Music Group.-History:...
- 2007: Autopsie vol 2 (mixtape)
- 2008: 0.9
0.9 is the fourth album by French rapper Booba and released on November 24, 2008, on Tallac Records via the major Barclay Records / Universal Music Group.-Track listing:-Charts:-External links:* * * *...
- 2009: Autopsie vol 3 (mixtape)
- 2010: Lunatic
Lunatic is the fifth album by French rapper Booba and released on November 22, 2010, on Tallac Records. It's named after his former hip hop duo Lunatic, with Ali.-Track listing:- External links :* * * *...
- 2011: Autopsie vol 4 (mixtape)
External links