Kool Shen

Less media-savvy and sulphurous than his alter-ego JoeyStarr, Kool Shen is nonetheless one half of a duo that imposed rap in France. Always imitated and never equalled, Nique Ta Mère has been the standard-bearer of protest and rebellion since the 90s. In 1998, he founded the collective and label IV My People, which ceased to exist in 2005 after a series of ups and downs. His 2004 album Dernier Round was the best-selling rap album of the year. After NTM reformed in 2008, Kool Shen released the single "J'reviens " with JoeyStarr, which preceded the album Prise de Conscience. The next album came seven years later. Sur le Fil du Rasoir, ideally launched by the single " Ma rime ", a fine reflection on his art, sounds like an explosive comeback as the artist reaches his fifties.