MC Solaar

Cinquième As
by Michael McCarthy

Long the king of Rap Français, MC Solaar could probably be considered the French LL Cool J. His songs are often radio friendly, yet there’re always edgier tracks which almost serve as counterpoints to the singles on some of his releases. Although Solaar has always been introspective, it’s never been so prevalent as on his new and fifth album, appropriately entitled Cinquième As. There are still a few radio-friendly tracks (the R&B flavored “Baby Love” immediately comes to mind) but others are much, much deeper. The “Introdiction” slides into “Solaar Pleure,” a long, angry tirade about the apocalypse that should make Busta Rhymes jump for joy.