20 Facts About MC Solaar

MC Solaar is one of France's most famous and influential hip hop artists.

MC Solaar is known for his complex lyrics and distinctive flows, which rely on word play, lyricism, and inquiry.

MC Solaar has released eight studio albums and one live album.

MC Solaar studied languages at the Jussieu university campus and was a postgraduate in philosophy.

MC Solaar went to Paris in the summer of 1991 with his friend Jimmy Jay in hopes of succeeding in the music industry.

At the close of 1991, MC Solaar released Qui Seme le Vent Recolte le Tempo which went on to sell over 400,000 copies in France.

Also in 1994, MC Solaar appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation album, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool.

MC Solaar returned to the studio in 1997 with longtime friend and producer Jimmy Jay to record his third album, Paradisiaque.

MC Solaar toured internationally, including Germany, Japan and the United States.

MC Solaar was included as a guest on American rapper Guru's "Jazzmatazz" project and one of Solaar's songs was included in the Tommy Boy rap compilation in the United States.

MC Solaar released Cinquieme As in 2001, to critical acclaim and Mach 6 in 2003.

In 1998, MC Solaar embarked on a tour beginning at the Zenith de Paris.

However, a look at the inside cover reveals MC Solaar to be in a wrestler's costume, along with the other men in the picture.

MC Solaar recognises and pays tribute to the African presence in France by using boxing and wrestling references.

For example, in his song "Les Colonies", MC Solaar discusses the similarities between the oppression of Africans by colonialists to the modern day exploitation of "third world" countries.

MC Solaar is best known outside France for his work on Guru's Jazzmatazz project and as a featured artist on the Missy Elliott track "All N My Grill".

MC Solaar is one of the few French rappers having success in the English-dominated American hip hop culture.

MC Solaar studied humanities in highly selective preparatory classes.

On 7 December 2003, MC Solaar married Chloe Bensemoun and on 7 May 2004, she gave birth to the couple's first child, a son named Roman.

MC Solaar has been a member of the Les Enfoires charity ensemble since 1997.