"Born in Africa, brought up in America, rap has come full circle". That's the claim made in Boomrang, the title track of the third and most recent album by Senegalese hip hop trio Daara J.
Senegal is second only to South Africa in terms of the vibrancy of homegrown hip hop scenes in Africa. But while kwaito appears not to have escaped the gun culture and gangster associations of its US role models, Senegal's rappers are fully 'conscious'.
"Daara J means 'school of life', and with every production we want to give an education to our listeners," Alhadji Man told journalist Katharina Lobeck recently. That means touching on every subject from the shortcomings of traditional society to the perils of globalisation in their lyrics.
Alhadji Man first met Daara J's other two MCs Faada Freddy and Ndongo D in 1993. His colleagues had been performing together as Lion Klan since the late '80s but soon switched to their present moniker.
Positive Black Soul became the first Senegalese hip hop act to get a foreign record deal in 1994, and during this 'golden age' of Dakar rap, there were close to 3,000 such groups in Senegal. Two years later, Daara J finally made it to Paris, where they rerecorded their 1994 cassette-only debut for the French label 顿茅肠濒颈肠, with the help of luminaries Mad Professor and Bubbler. In 1998 they made their second album Xalima back home, which led to a deal with BMG.
Boomrang is their offering for 2003, and has been licensed by the enterprising UK label Wrasse. It features guest appearances by Mali's Rokia Traor茅, Cuban maverick Sergent Garcia and French MC Disiz la Peste among others. With splashes of Spanish guitar, Cuban charanga, and recurring reggae and R'n'B-inspired diversions, there's plenty of variety. Singing, rapping and toasting in Wolof, English and especially French has only broadened their appeal.
Jon Lusk, October 2003
Read other peoples comments
Cool biography. I love these guys!
O. Lee
They are definetly the Best and Senegalese and worldwide!!! from the N.D.O to Faada Freddy to lord Blood Faya, they stepped up dans la cour des grands and that will remain forever.. I dunno for anybody else but to me they are my number (1)ne ever!!!! DaaraJ, I think people need to recognize!~
Mami kc aka MamiDaaraJ
I saw them in Chi town few days ago and I can tell you that; they are the nex actually they are the real HIP hop so screw all the $$$ hunters, these guys are the best. Nothing else to say.
cheikh lame
boomrang is the maddest shit.if only their shit were heard more in australia
aussie mate
one love you are in the good way........the are the referency of groups and crews of senegal i like rap and my prefer crew is daara j y茅 school of life
fallou
at first i did not like hip hop then i thougt it is not so bad and when i heard daara j i thougt its great
Basil
this guys are great there play in malm枚, sweden it was a good show,nice
anna
They have just done an amazing performance at francofolies festival in Montreal just couple of hours ago....I'm breathless.Longtime i've had so much fun.They ROCK!!!!
Alain
I didn't know much about them but was quite impressed when I saw them on CNN World Music.
Hey Bellice,
This is Vicki O from high school (Moi Gee). I noticed your post on Daara J and wanted to say hello. Hope all's well with you. I would love to hear from you. Let me know if you'd like to catch up. Take care.
Libra_law
this is great!!! I saw this guys in the Netherlands on the Mundial festival...oh my god!!! I love there music! and they're so good! And they are all over the world!Everybody has got to know them...and I see everyone who's been on this site..agrees with me. And you guys are doing a lot of good stuff for Africa...i'm thinking about going to Africa too...thinking? no i'm GOING to Africa...if I finish't school and stuff...pleas don't stop making your music...cause the world really can't live without it!!! and i'm sirius! byebye lots of kissis
Nuna
they are just amazing ! i saw them this weekend in germany and i just loved them ! keep going guys !
rike
I wonder when u guys be comin' to Los Angeles, California. Can't wait to see y'all performin' on the BET,MTV, or even the Grammy Awards like brother AKON. Why not??
Yeena ko yorr deh. Chips luv y'all. Proud to be senegalese.
Bigg Chips
AM STUDENT SENEGALESE AT THE UAE UNIVERSITY I LIKE THE TEAM DAARA j
BOCAR
They are so awesome! No one has heard of them in New York and they are the coolest band ever (especially becauset they are from Senegal), how cool is that?!!!
Tara
I'M VERY PROUD of Them
adams
i am first fans daara j in s茅n茅gal. they dont now me but i suppot them old the time they do the international music i give them thanks for they winers bbc awadrs, be cool n take cear, by
cheik
I'm dismayed and despondent that so many artists from Africa, Asia and pretty much everywhere else, it would seem, are compromising the traditional music of their countries by shoehorning them into musical moulds that the western markets demand. very disheartening.
Silverbullet
Saw Daara J at WOMADelaide 2005 last weekend- just loved them. These guys rock!
Mikaella
Daara J are the best ever ever ever!!! They are all so cute (especially Freddie) and perform amazingly. I love the way the produce rap that doesn't fall into the stereotypical rap full of abusive language, and refernces to violence and rape. They are GREAT and i love you all :)
Amy
hi daara-j it's me ur best friends in scotland. i miss all gas good bless daara-j.
ambasseur
Saw them in London last Sunday with Rachid Taha, these guys stole the show!Fantastic!
Samantha M
Saw them for the first time this month and they are AMAZING! I want to tell all my friends and family about them. It was the most amazing, energetic performance I have ever seen by ANY performer...The music world's best kep secret!
Marie
they re the best in africa
maimouna
Daara J are the best, cannot stop listening to them...and can't wait to see them in concert in just 2 weeks!!
Livia
HI I HEARD YOU AT WOMAD, YOU WERE GREAT. I REALY THINK YOU SHOULD TRY AND PUBLISISE YOUR BAND MORE. I AM FROM EATHIOPIA, I LOVE YOUR MUSIC AND ALL MY FAMILY DO TO. YOU ARE THE BEST!!
DANIEL MESFIN
hey man, daara is the best in africa there're incredible i'm so proud of them and i love them to death
awa
i'm cracking my fingers like a pianoist .... ireland ... 01.47 and i'm listeneing to Paris Dakar .. typing so slowly it's now "Number One"This is MUSIC !!!
Please let me know if u know more of this sound ?
aidan
I saw that group in Gran Canaria (Spain) at Womad'04, it was incredible, never hear about them but their live show is great!
good luck guys and esperanza for everybody!
H茅ctor Medina Vera
I saw them playing yesterday in the Oslo world music festival and everybody appreciated. They really are the best african hip hop group at the moment. Big Up also to their french DJ, he was great. Daara J sa kaw sa kanam....!!!
Ayo
I saw you guys in Paris last year and Liverpool this summer and both gigs were brilliant.
You bring Esperanza to da world!
Papageno
I have been yesterday on their concert in Berlin. Never heard of them before but it was great!
Christoph
Saw these guys perform as the opeening act to Femi Kuti on 10/10/04...they should have had a concert to themselves!!!Absolutely brilliant
BELLICE OLIMA
Saw these guys perform at WOMAD Singapore 2004....Excellent stuff!!! The whole crowd was on their feet throughout their performance.
Ravin
VERY GOOD !!!
Ram贸n (Sweden)
What up my brothers i'msoooo
proud of you gus man i see that you are making it remember when we were kicking it back in the days in london when i was doing the promo for my 2 nd artist album check this out i've lost my phone and y'all numbers but i seriously want to kick it wth y'all in january when you come to the us make sure you holla at me cause i got some crazy connections that might interest you.Ndongo remember summer 2002 at the crib? we can do it again in L.A babe
peace
issa aka ISAAC
I would like to know the daara-j,s official web site,'cause I'm a big fan and would like to be informe when they play in london or anywhere in uk.Big to the best african rap group
mutumbo
i think daara-j is the most famous group in africa. I can't compare then to a another group. They tell you the true and educate you like their Name Daara-j That mean a place where you can get a good education.I always like then since i was a boy
mg
What can i say Daara J bring a fresh new favour to hip hop. Their set at Womad was mind blowing top marks
Greg
Go guys, I think that you ar doing great, everybody is talking about you now,you made me proud, I remembers the times I used to work with DJ Maktar at the Metropolis, we used to take you for the"matinees", Now you have your long everlasting Matinees, All of you be good and remember to traet your pepople good.
I'm watching and listening from Chicago, Ill USA,take care.
cheikh lame
thanks alot for coming to our school i thought it was really great in terms of the workshop and i love your sort of music.thanks again...rikaya
Rikaya(Liverpool)
Laura: Daara j are quality and the workshop they gave in our school was brilliant. Thanks Daara J!
Alex: thank you Daara J 4 a great workshop! 21.06.2004!
Laura and Alex from Liverpool
(Jah jeuf) thanks very much for a fantastic workshop.We enjoyed it very much.Good luck in the future, best wishes from Bellerive fcj hope to see you soon!!!!!!
Bellerive FCJ school Liverpool
Just listening to this real player track, this is nothing worthy of "full circle" unless that circle is centered around southern rap from 96 to 2004 in the USA. Not original. If you want good full circle African Hip-hop I guess I'm gonna still wait. Ego trip.
Sja one
No Comment. They're Da Best
Chiko D
They are my favorite rappers. yesterday they had a concerte in Slovenia. if i could i would rap with them. they're the best. Daara J 4ever !!!
Black L
interesting-they have a good dj...nice a bit jazzy, a little of funk,some hard rap,and reggae flashes-very nice
breda,slovenia
big up to Daara-j.i'm very proud of their success to the 大象传媒 awards.law la thiat!!!!!!!!
mamie
great acoustic guitars, great vocals, freat pecussions, mama africa forever !
joao luis gago batista
i like you guys i only can listen at you about senegalese rap you are number one
daara j law ba faw peace !!!
cir茅 kane
FELICITATION AU GROUPE DAARAJ FOREVER
MATY BA
Big Respect to Daara J and their last album
One Love
Tarko
i like daara j and i hope they doing music because their opinion is very positive and i beg to alla the all maity to make the daara j pop groupe fine
cheikh anta ngom
I love daara j like no other artist,they have so much to rap about and what they have to say have so much sence,i hope to one day see them live,that would be the happiest day of my life,Love u Boyz,miss aisha in sweden
Aisha
Daara j along side Positive Black soul and Gokh bi System did so much for the senegalese hip hop out of senegal.
i think this album is one of the best ever musically.
i like their style and i think they gonna go far away
hip hop for ever
pap
i love daara j more than all they say that music is there number one but also they are the number one of music they merit this awards i m proud of them
fatou sarr
A group with a positive message? Then,this is a group that warrants exploring. The cut on this site carries you with driving, melodic stacatto. The mix of languages is a tease to hear more and understand what's being said.
If the rest of their CD is as
dynamic, then, I'm a new fan.
amina
