Les Sages Poètes de la Rue

Dany Dan, Zoxea, and Zoxea's brother Melopheelo formed Les Sages Poètes de La Rue in 1987. Operating in Boulogne-Billancourt, they expressed the "cool" rap spirit of MC Solaar and made their first appearance on Jimmy Jay's Cool Sessions. Gaining popularity from Cool Sessions' "La Rue" single, they collaborated with the producer for an album released in 1995, Mais Qu'est-Ce Qui Fait Marcher les Sages?, which remains a classic in French rap music. Their second album was more mature: Jusqu'à l'Amour displayed their strengthened belief in harmony through peaceful behavior, and invited their listeners to follow the same path. This integrity took them closer in spirit to other great French rappers, while they also encouraged new artists from Boulogne-Billancourt with their own label, Beat de Boul. All three group members also pursued solo projects, but no one ever questioned their return to Les Sages Poètes de La Rue; their solo experiments just made them stronger together, as inventive and open-minded as they had been in the beginning. New experiences have since provided the rappers with a 360-degree vision and the courage to speak about matters that are rarely confronted in hip-hop, which can only take them closer to their goal: to become wiser. ~ Vincent Latz