Monsieur R, is a French rap artist whose work focuses on the political rap genre. His music features hard driven rhythms with thumping base lines, known as "old school," which conveys the hard reality of his environment. There is a rich legacy of 'reality rap' going back to 1982 with artists such as Run DMC and continuing with KRS-1, Public Enemy, Ice-T

ICE-T

* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...

 and Dead Prez

Dead Prez

Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...

. Monsieur R is originally from Belgium. His parents were from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...

, (DRC) formerly known as Zaire before its independence. Monsieur R was born in 1975, in Belgium where he spent his early years. He and his family moved back to the DRC when he was 3 years old. The family migrated to Europe moving into the Seine-Saint-Denis

Seine-Saint-Denis

- Culture :A number of hip hop artists come from the Seine-Saint-Denis, including one of the first major hip-hop groups in France, NTM, as well as Lord Kossity, or more recent acts such as Tandem or Sefyu.- Miscellaneous topics :...

 area of Paris

Paris

Paris 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...

 in 1989.

In his early career, he was a member of the Hip Hop group "Menage À 3". In 1998, 2001, and 2002, he produced compilations against the far right

Far right

Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...

, called Sachons Dire Non.

After releasing his solo debut in 1997, Au Commencement and two more albums (Mission' R (1999) and ANTICONstituellemen (2000)), he finally achieved recognition outside of France with his 2004 album, Politikment Incorrekt, which featured U.S. and French rap legends Ol' Dirty Bastard

Ol' Dirty Bastard

Russell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper and occasional producer, who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard or simply ODB...

, Mobb Deep

Mobb Deep

Mobb 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...

's Prodigy

Prodigy (rapper)

Lance Albert Johnson Banks, better known as Prodigy, is an American rapper and one half of the hip-hop and rap duo Mobb Deep....

,KRS-1 and Rockin' Squat

Rockin' Squat

Mathias Crochon, better known as Rockin' Squat, is a French MC . He is the son of the actor Jean-Pierre Cassel and the brother of Vincent Cassel and Cécile Cassel. In the mid-80s, he created the famous rap group Assassin , becoming the first artist of this scene to mention politics and social...

  as well as popular R&B artist, Akon

Akon

Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...

. There was much debate over this album, as in July 2005, he was accused by the Mouvement Civique Militant, a nationalist organisation, of inciting of racial hatred after they had listened to the song "FranSSe".

Au Commencement (1997)

1. Intro
2. Au Commencement
3. Est-ce une vie ? (feat. 2Bal' Niggets)
4. Verset III (feat. Ménage A 3)
5. Casino
6. R III
7. Les Cowboys (feat. Ménage A 3)
8. R Le missionnaire
9. Pinocchio (justice pour la justice)
10. L'enfer sur Golgotha
11. 2000 ans ap. J-C
12. Outro

Mission' R (1999)

1. Intro
2. Guerilla urbaine
3. Mais que veux-tu?
4. "R" Liberté (feat. P.H.I.L.O. (Ad'hoc-1))
5. Dossier "R" (feat. Kid Mesa (Gued'1))
6. Baby come on
7. Tout est permis
8. Ne me laisse pas
9. Le rêve français
10. Imagine "R"
11. Comme un oiseau qui s'envole (feat. D.O.C. (2Bal))
12. Putain de droits de l'homme
13. C'est dommage
14. J'aurais voulu vivre comme Jésus-Christ
15. Tcha tcha tcha (feat. G-Kill (2Bal) et Djamatik (Neg Marrons))
16. L'indépendant
17. Et si c'était demain (feat. Akhenaton)
18. Le nouvel ordre mondial (feat. P.H.I.L.O. (Ad'hoc-1))

ANTICONstitutionnellement (2000)

1. ANTICONstitutionnellement
2. Quoi ma gueule ? (feat. Mystik, G-Kill (2 Bal), Lino (Ärsenik)
3. Tragédie (feat. Pit Bacardi)
4. Un simple regard sur le monde (feat. Dragon davy (Soundkail))
5. Tu veux savoir (feat. Rocca, Rockin' Squat, La Brigade (Acid & Agent X), Profecy, Ritmo, Reoz, Etyr)
6. Poésie urbaine
7. 41 balles
8. Papa MC
9. 1,2,3
10. Bon baiser de juda (feat. Busta Flex, Paul Guan (Comité des brailleurs))
11. Le soldat inconnu
12. Misère (feat. Fabe, Faf La Rage, Sat (Fonky Family), Ritmo, Off)
13. R comme un homme libre (feat. Freeman d'IAM)
14. Interlude
15. Nique la police
16. Anticonstitutionnellement (instru)
17. Poésie urbaine (instru)

Politikment Incorrekt (2004)

1. Street Politik
2. Criminologie
3. Coup De Gueule Coup De Gun
4. Pour Mes Frères
5. International Husler (feat. Prodigy
   Prodigy (rapper)
   Lance Albert Johnson Banks, better known as Prodigy, is an American rapper and one half of the hip-hop and rap duo Mobb Deep....
   
    (Mobb Deep
   Mobb Deep
   Mobb 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...
   
   ))
6. Le Monde D’Aujourd’hui
7. FranSSe
8. This Is Not (feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard
   Ol' Dirty Bastard
   Russell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper and occasional producer, who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard or simply ODB...
   
   )
9. Rebel Musik (feat. Akon
   Akon
   Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
   
   )
10. Descente En Enfer
11. Misère Humaine
12. Interlude Antisocial 05 (feat. Olivier Besancenot)
13. Antisocial 05 (feat. Enhancer)
14. Par Tous Les Moyens (feat. Ménage à 3)
15. Our Philosophy (feat. KRS-One & Rockin' Squat
    Rockin' Squat
    Mathias Crochon, better known as Rockin' Squat, is a French MC . He is the son of the actor Jean-Pierre Cassel and the brother of Vincent Cassel and Cécile Cassel. In the mid-80s, he created the famous rap group Assassin , becoming the first artist of this scene to mention politics and social...
    
    )
16. Manipulation Médiatique
17. Depuis Le 11/09
18. Street Gospel
19. Pouvoir Remix 05 (feat. Lino (Ärsenik))

Articles

• French Right Reviles Rappers, The Indypendent
• "Monsieur R", transcript of broadcast on The World
  The World (radio program)
  PRI's The World is a global news radio, audio and multi-platform program created by Public Radio International based on the program's congruence with PRI's mission, and in order to fulfill the critical need for more original global news created for and provided to Americans. This was partly a...
  
  , Public Radio International
  Public Radio International
  Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
  
  , March 13, 2006.