What is the oldest French rap group?

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French rap is a style of hip hop music that emerged in France in the mid-80s. At the time, rap was considered a counterculture movement. Little did we know that rap would become one of the most listened-to music styles years later.

Indeed, rap became popular 10 years after the first and second generations of French rap groups appeared on the scene. But who was the first French rap group? In our article, we're going to answer that question, and introduce you to the oldest French rap group. Then, we'll show you who the best French rappers in history are.

The birth of French rap

France discovered rap with the Sugarhill Gang song "Rapper's delight". Indeed, this Sugarhill Gang song brought rap to a wide audience, especially in France, where it topped the 45-t sales charts in the early 80s.

The French public was introduced to different hip-hop cultures at the time - graffiti, break dancing and deejaying - in 1982 by the New York City Rap tour. This tour of American rap artists toured France. Although the concert's success was limited, it made a lasting impression on French audiences, as featured on TF1's Mégaherz TV show.

Other TV shows helped propel this new culture onto the same stage where rap legends of the day were called to the microphone. It was then that Kurtis Blow, Herbie Hanckock and Afrikaa Bambaataa were discovered. Above all, the show helped young people familiarize themselves with this new culture, from dress codes to break dancing and graffiti.

What is the first French rap group?

Long before it was popularized, many groups were already rapping in the 80s, but it was in the 90s that rap groups recorded their hits. These included Zoxea or Sage Poètes de la Rue, Triptik, Oxmo Puccino, Lone, the X Men or Time Bomb, Yusiness and Busta Flex.

These rap groups are considered the precursors of French rap. This was after the emergence of the first and second generations of rap groups or male and female rappers. Examples include Mc Solaar, Supreme NTM; Lionel D, IAM, PNL, Saliha, Sens Unik, etc. The years 1990 to 2000 were the golden age of French rap.