In America you have “the projects” and “street cats”, but in France you have “villes” and “cités” with a different culture in terms of slang and style (this slang is commonly known as L’argot). Hip-hop minded kids in Paris ain’t your typical French stereotype, you know. You probably recognize that in two centuries, those little rascals over in France have tried to make a statement in stature and elegance, to become the most well rounded being which sets foot on our planet. But it is quite the contraire, if you look at the wide spectrum they are just like you or me (but French). Paris is Paris, which is a beautiful city bleeding with history and tradition, but it’s just another f**king city filled with ignorant people who believe that their home is in the centre of the Universe. People go to France to be inspired with art and music, while drinking red wine and attempt to speak what is a beautiful language, but they are often neglected from the reality which lurks in the outside neighborhoods (the different tongue ‘L’argot), and what has become an occurring problem with the Government and how they have treated immigration -NTM Sarkozy.
That is moving a little aside of what should be said, because by looking past those borders or ‘walls’ which make Paris what it is, there are some incredibly talented individuals who share another creative direction, unheard of outside France. They are really quite prolix when it comes to print real life on a film, add rythm and top it with super super fantasy. Breaking away from the Tour Eiffel and Nouvelle Vague is fresh, rad as hell, yes monsieur. Remember the name, Kourtrajmé : it is the French slang for short-movie, court métrage (mé-trage = trage-mé). Everything originates from freewheelin experiences in the sunny ghettos of the dimly lit city, with dreams, cigarettes and madness in the pockets of the windbreaker. Sketch accent, funny focus.
Now playing the game as a real production company, Romain Garvas and Kim Chapiron started up in 1994. Today they do everything from documentaries to advertising. Success come from much so much aquaintance with viral communication, tremendous buzz-orchestrating skills and glorious originalty-mastering. Oh yeah and famous actors like Vincent Cassel (Ocean12, Matrix, La Heine…) collaborate extensively with them from the beggining. It adds fromage in the épinards.
Movies genuinely represents youth French concerns, loves and society myths. They gush out from this concept of street-fantasy : happy concrete-oriented life, arab jokes uttered by gorillas, Romanian pizza delivery guys and on and on and on and on. Controversy is also part of the recipe, check out the video Stress (Justice, same kind of folks). And observed from the top of my building, what is really dope with Kourtrajmé is that they show the real France and its diverse ethnic groups and sub-cultures. They are like the new Edith Piaf, speaking the criminal slang with no filter, no posh poses and no coffee table. Real life, Burberry scarfs and couscous fragances I said.”
To justify my point-whether you may or may not know-Hip Hop in France exists as the second biggest market in the World. Marseille (which has produced the best rappers to date), has always been considered different than the other cities in France. Whether it be their laid back Mediterranean style, their strong accent or their unique slang, they manage to stand apart from the rest. The home of numerous french artists, Marseille will forever be the rival of Paris. In terms of culture, music and lifestyle, I’m on the Marseille side of things, especially when i compare my people and common interest. There you will find the grime ridden streets filled with piss and glee, where people respect each other and support their ‘cite’, so that they can live in peace, love and happiness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sbxOlk-Z1E
-Pierre ze Puzzle.
favela on blast