Monsieur R

Monsieur R, (Richard Makela), is a French rap artist^[1] whose work focuses on the political rap genre. His music features hard driven rhythms with thumping base lines, known as "old school," which conveys the hard reality of his environment. There is a rich legacy of 'reality rap' going back to 1982 with artists such as Run DMC and continuing with KRS-1, Public Enemy, Ice-T and Dead Prez. Monsieur R is originally from Belgium. His parents were from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (DRC) formerly known as Zaire before its independence. Monsieur R was born in 1975, in Belgium where he spent his early years. He and his family moved back to the DRC when he was 3 years old. The family migrated to Europe moving into the Seine-Saint-Denis area of Paris in 1989.

In his early career, he was a member of the Hip Hop group "Menage À 3". In 1998, 2001, and 2002, he produced compilations against the far right, called Sachons Dire Non.

After releasing his solo debut in 1997, Au Commencement and two more albums (Mission' R (1999) and ANTICONstituellemen (2000)), he finally achieved recognition outside France with his 2004 album, Politikment Incorrekt, which featured U.S. and French rap legends Ol' Dirty Bastard, Mobb Deep's Prodigy,KRS-1 and Rockin' Squat as well as popular R&B artist, Akon. There was much debate over this album, as in July 2005, he was accused by the Mouvement Civique Militant, a nationalist organisation, of inciting of racial hatred after they had listened to the song "FranSSe".

Discography

Au Commencement (1997)

1. Intro
2. Au Commencement
3. Est-ce une vie ? (feat. 2Bal' Niggets)
4. Verset III (feat. Ménage A 3)
5. Casino
6. R III
7. Les Cowboys (feat. Ménage A 3)
8. R Le missionnaire
9. Pinocchio (justice pour la justice)
10. L'enfer sur Golgotha
11. 2000 ans ap. J-C
12. Outro

Mission' R' (1999)

1. Intro
2. Guerilla urbaine
3. Mais que veux-tu?
4. "R" Liberté (feat. P.H.I.L.O. (Ad'hoc-1))
5. Dossier "R" (feat. Kid Mesa (Gued'1))
6. Baby come on
7. Tout est permis
8. Ne me laisse pas
9. Le rêve français
10. Imagine "R"
11. Comme un oiseau qui s'envole (feat. D.O.C. (2Bal))
12. Putain de droits de l'homme
13. C'est dommage
14. J'aurais voulu vivre comme Jésus-Christ
15. Tcha tcha tcha (feat. G-Kill (2Bal) et Djamatik (Neg Marrons))
16. L'indépendant
17. Et si c'était demain (feat. Akhenaton)
18. Le nouvel ordre mondial (feat. P.H.I.L.O. (Ad'hoc-1))

ANTICONstitutionnellement (2000)

1. ANTICONstitutionnellement
2. Quoi ma gueule ? (feat. Mystik, G-Kill (2 Bal), Lino (Ärsenik)
3. Tragédie (feat. Pit Bacardi)
4. Un simple regard sur le monde (feat. Dragon davy (Soundkail))
5. Tu veux savoir (feat. Rocca, Rockin' Squat, La Brigade (Acid & Agent X), Profecy, Ritmo, Reoz, Etyr)
6. Poésie urbaine
7. 41 balles
8. Papa MC
9. 1,2,3
10. Bon baiser de juda (feat. Busta Flex, Paul Guan (Comité des brailleurs))
11. Le soldat inconnu
12. Misère (feat. Fabe, Faf La Rage, Sat (Fonky Family), Ritmo, Off)
13. R comme un homme libre (feat. Freeman d'IAM)
14. Interlude
15. Nique la police
16. Anticonstitutionnellement (instru)
17. Poésie urbaine (instru)

Révolution R (2001)

1. Bang Bang
2. Qu'est-ce qu'elle a ma gueule ?
3. Misère
4. Tragédie
5. 20 ans
6. Comme un oiseau qui s'envole
7. Et si c'était demain
8. Tout est permis
9. Tcha tcha tcha (remis
10. Fils et fille du ghetto
11. J'accuse
12. Au commencement (remix)
13. R3
14. L'arme

Politikment Incorrekt (2004)

1. Street Politik
2. Criminologie
3. Coup De Gueule Coup De Gun
4. Pour Mes Frères
5. International Husler (feat. Prodigy (Mobb Deep))
6. Le Monde D’Aujourd’hui
7. FranSSe
8. This Is Not (feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard)
9. Rebel Musik (feat. Akon)
10. Descente En Enfer
11. Misère Humaine
12. Interlude Antisocial 05 (feat. Olivier Besancenot)
13. Antisocial 05 (feat. Enhancer)
14. Par Tous Les Moyens (feat. Ménage à 3)
15. Our Philosophy (feat. KRS-One & Rockin' Squat)
16. Manipulation Médiatique
17. Depuis Le 11/09
18. Street Gospel
19. Pouvoir Remix 05 (feat. Lino (Ärsenik))

Black Album (2006)

1. J'ai la haine
2. Monsieur Fric
3. Ennemi public # 1 - Feat Jacques Mesrine
4. Passion du crime
5. Guetto republicain
6. R l'insolent (Le roi du 77)
7. Rebelion
8. Revolutionnaire - Feat Youssoupha
9. Braquage verbale - Feat Ilegal Click
10. R

Le CHE : une braise qui brûle encore (2007)

1. Intro [Ft. Olivier Besancenot]
2. amarade Ne Pleure Pas
3. Camarade De Laz Sierra
4. Un Peuple Uni Ne Meurt Jamais (El Pueblo Unido)
5. Ernesto Guevara
6. De Bueno Aires A Kinshasa [Ft. Keny Arkana]
7. Le Silence Tue
8. Regarde Autour De Toi
9. Ni D'Ici Ni D'Ailleurs
10. L'internationale 2007
11. Je Suis Révolte
12. Le Pouvoir Au Peuple
13. Triompher Ou Mourir

Articles

• French Right Reviles Rappers, The Indypendent
• "Monsieur R", transcript of broadcast on The World, Public Radio International, March 13, 2006.

References

1. Angelique Chrisafis. "Rapper faces jail for song dissing France". the Guardian.