Lunatic (group)

Lunatic was a French hip hop duo from Boulogne-Billancourt. The lineup consisted of Booba (Boulogne-Billancourt) and Ali (Issy-les-Moulineaux), coming from the department of Hauts-de-Seine in the west suburb of Paris.

After Lunatic split up in 2003, both members went on to successful solo careers. The duo is frequently considered as one of the best French rap group of all time. Their release "Le Crime Paie", produced by DJ Mars, is considered as a classic in the French rap.^[1]

History

The beginning

In 1994, Booba met Daddy Ali at a concert of Coup d'Etat Phonique (consisting of Kohndo and Egosyst), a group in which Booba was a dancer, which was sharing the stage with Poètes Musulmans [Muslim Poets] to whom belong Ali. They decided to form a group and Daddy Ali dropped the "Daddy" from his stage-name, now named Ali. They started working with the local crew from Boulogne: Beat 2 Boul, lead by Les Sages Poètes de la Rue, to finally join the French record label Time Bomb Records.

Their first song "Le crime paie" ["Crime Pays"], released in 1996 and considered a classic song of French hip hop, talked about dangers of the street life and the banlieues. At this time, they also recorded an album titled Sortis de l'ombre with Time Bomb, but this album was never released.

In 1997, they released their second song, "Les vrais savent", addressing the same issues as "Le crime paie", but in a sadder tone.

During this time, each artist developed their own style: Ali's raps were about peace, love and steering youth away from street life, while Booba concentrated on recounting the violence of his past, also with an aim to steer youth away from such a life.

Lunatic left Time Bomb records in 1997, and when Booba was arrested in 1998, Ali had to continue as a solo act.

Lunatic later helped co-found the record label 45 Scientific with Geraldo, in order to release a new album they were preparing, since no existing label wanted to release their album based on its violent lyrics. Their major influence at this time was then American rappers such as Mobb Deep.

In 2000, they released their debut album Mauvais oeil [Evil Eye]. It is considered as one of the best rap albums ever released in French hip hop history. The mix of the peaceful lyrics of Ali and the violent lyrics of Booba was one of the factors that brought Lunatic popularity. They were the first French hip-hop group to sell more than 100,000 albums with their independent record label 45 Scientific.^{[citation needed]}

Separation

The group separated in 2003. Booba and Ali then embarked on solo careers.

Discography

• 1996: Sortis de l'ombre (unreleased)
• 2000: Mauvais oeil (certified Gold by SNEP)^[2]
• 2006: Black Album

Appearances

• 1996

Time Bomb - Time Bomb explose

Time Bomb - Le guidon

Lunatic - Le crime paie

La Brigade Feat Lunatic - 16 rimes

• 1997

Lunatic - Les vrais savent

Lunatic - Le jour J

Lunatic - Chateau rouge

Lunatic - Viens danser avec les Lunatic

Oxmo Puccino Feat Booba - Pucc fiction

Lunatic - Bouge comme un diablotin

Ali - Nique la halla

Ali Feat Oxmo Puccino - Esprit mafieux

• 1998

Lunatic Feat Ärsenik - Sang d'encre

• 1999

Lunatic Feat Comité De Brailleurs - On s'maintient

Lunatic Feat Malekal Morte - Test ton mic

• 2000

Lunatic Feat Dicidens - De larmes et de sang

Lunatic Feat Mala - Hommes de l'ombre

• 2002

Black Jack Feat Lunatic & Mala - Diaspora d'Afrique

Ali Feat Suspects - Ennemis publics

Lunatic - Que le message passe '

• 2003

Hi-Fi Feat Ali & Nasme - Le code de la rue

Booba Feat Nessbeal - Tout c'qu'on connait

References