Daara J

Daara J, also daara -J ( about German school of life ) are a hip hop / reggae group from Senegal. They are next to Positive Black Soul of the leading representatives of the Seneraps. Members are N'Dango D, Aladji Man and Faada Freddy.

Career

The group had their first gig in 1994 and that same year released their first tape. In 2004 they succeeded with Boomrang the first release on a major label western; they were then represented for months in the world music charts in various countries. As a result, they performed internationally, such as Live 8 at the Eden Project in Cornwall.

In Senegal's 2000 presidential campaign, they helped the challenger Abdoulaye Wade to write his speeches and to support its anti -corruption platform. An action that was not without controversy within the scene; especially as, in the opinion of the scene of the old corrupt president was indeed deposed successful shows under the new but also no improvement in the situation.

Musical Style

The music of the group is based on influences from French and U.S. hip-hop, reggae music, soul, Cuban music and influences of traditional Senegalese music. The group raps mainly in French and Wolof. Compared to other Senerappern they are relatively far from the U.S. hip hop and have a greater proximity to the Caribbean and African influences. They even say in their most internationally successful song Boomrang, Hip Hop was born in Africa, grew up in the U.S. and now come back to Africa.

Lyrically, they are more in the tradition of the African Hip Hop by much more explicitly politically than most of their Western counterparts: they rap about globalization, the dangers faced by the traditional African societies, the threat to the environment or spirituality.

Discography

• 2003: Boomrang ( Wrasse Records / Harmonia Mundi )
• 1998: Xalima ( Declic )
• 1997: Darra J ( Declic )