when rap offers an elsewhere to prisoners in Fresnes

At the first listen to the songs, there are heavy productions, and sharp words, a very well produced hip hop. And then, suddenly the background becomes obvious: the texts all or almost all speak of cells, of impeded daily life, of permissions, of convictions…

shtar (prison, in slang, editor’s note) Academy volume 2, there are 21 pieces for as many guest rappers, from Sofiane to PLK, via Rim-K, Rémy or Leto, and four prisoners from Fresnes, selected by audition between the four walls of the prison. Among them, Rayan: “Rap has always been my passion, what drives me, even if life’s ups and downs have kept me away from it.“. He speaks of this project as a “therapy“.

Many survive in prison by listening to rap

Rayan, former prisoner, rapper, at franceinfo

At the origin of the project, Mouloud Mansouri. At the head of his Fu-Jo association, which organizes concerts and activities in prisons, he co-produced the album, struggling to obtain all the authorizations, with all the constraints of use, the texts being checked by the ‘penitentiary Administration.

The hell of the prison, it reads between the words. Bringing culture into it has never been easy, even more so since images of Fresnes inmates going karting, even if the activity had been validated, sparked very political reactions last month. “Prisoners find it hard to tell what they are going through, paradoxically, explains Mouloud Mansouri. They live with rats, cockroaches, bed bugs, Rayan has toothaches that last for a month and he can’t get treatment. You can’t criticize something you don’t live“.

When you see programs talking about prison on television, everyone thinks it’s Club Med and comments on it, politicians in particular

Mouloud Mansouri, at franceinfo

Because ultimately for the prisoners, this album is also a lot of hope: “What I always tell them is that it’s your business card, now make sure to confirm behind.”

Shtar Academy Season 2 (Fu-Jo/All Points). Album available.