When we ask ordinary people and even music lovers what are the first traces of hip-hop in Quebec, the answer generally begins with a scratch of the head, which then leads to commonplaces well established in our imagination. THE Rap-to-Billy by Lucien Francoeur, or It makes rap of RBO, for example. However, this is not the case, we learn from the new documentary series The roots of hip-hop in Quebecbroadcast online from 1er February on the Télé-Québec website.
In fact, journalist Félix B. Desfossés, instigator and screenwriter of the eight-episode web production, had already explored the issue in a book published in 2020 and which bears the same title as its filmed extension. This new iteration on screen features the native of Rouyn-Noranda, who however entrusts the bulk of the animation to the renowned rapper Imposs – who made his mark with the group Muzion.
Together, and thanks to multiple interviews with little-known pioneers of Quebec hip-hop, they examine the rare audiovisual archives of the birth of this cultural movement, which we discover to be anchored since the end of the 1970s in several more English-speaking neighborhoods of Montreal, such as Little Burgundy, LaSalle, Côte-des-Neiges or Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. These communities maintained, among other things, privileged links with New York, the cradle of this culture which had become global.
The roots of hip-hop in Quebec therefore reveals a reality that is very little known to French speakers, particularly because this part of history was written at a time when Quebec was heading towards a referendum, and the two solitudes were more so than ever.
“There is no one who told us that, the rest of us [les francophones], notes Félix B. Desfossés, who has been interested in musical history for around twenty years. Within the English-speaking community, this was perhaps a little more talked about. Then, we have to break down these barriers. And that all of this is now part of our cultural narrative. »
Is the history of hip-hop in Quebec generally well told? The question is quickly asked in the first episode of the series. “ Hell no! » answers the veteran Flight, DJ, radio host and co-organizer of the first parties hip-hop in Quebec since 1978. Many have distorted reality, he complains in an interview. “But Félix gave us the chance to tell the story the way we wanted to tell it. »
Each episode of this very accessible documentary series revolves around a specific aspect of hip-hop culture – dance, DJs, media broadcasting, MCs – and features some of its pioneers, such as Chuck Ice, Butcher T ., Shanwan, the duo Baby Blue and Wavy Wanda, host Michael Williams and dancer DKC Freeze.
In Imposs’s eyes, these artists are the royalty of local hip-hop. “They have a heritage that is enormous, but they didn’t have the chance to share it,” explains the rapper. But each speaker we met are people who are ultra-solid. They did not let the situation get them down, they remained standing, they remained smiling, they remained involved. Then they have so much to leave behind. And that’s the essence of royalty for me. It’s like treasures that had to be revealed. »
Imposs believes that his presence as host – very pleasant indeed – helped to alleviate the distrust of all these guests who had long been forgotten. “When I arrive, [ils se disent] like “OK, it’s us, he experiences the same issues, he knows our problems, he practices this art form,” he notes. I think I helped create that bridge a little. »
Speaking of a bridge, the web series also serves as an outstretched hand towards current artists, who, for the most part, were unaware of this aspect of their own scene. Through their humility, KNLO, Zach Zoya, Shash’U and other creators of the moment are a bit like the alter egos of the spectators, and we suddenly feel less bad for having ignored these pioneers, even if they were close to us .
The roots of hip-hop in Quebec stops where the rise of French-speaking rap began, where Muzion, Sans Pression, Yvon Krevé and especially Dubmatique shone – whose composer, DJ Choice, is, according to Félix B. Desfossés, “the missing link” between these two worlds. The rest of the story could easily be the subject of a second season, the journalist believes and hopes. And why not, well, offer a TV broadcast of the first eight episodes?