Kery James (born Alix Mathurin, December 28, 1977) is a French rapper singer, songwriter, dancer, and record producer, who was born in West Indies from Haitian parents. His mother raised him in Orly, a suburb of Paris. Nowadays with his three solo albums, he is one of the most respected French rappers. The media labelled him "the rapper repented through Islam". Kery James is aware of it, he really assumes this image. " I prefer to be the one who hold this role rather than somebody else. Numerous young Muslims are tempted to be intolerant or extremist. If I can open their eyes it is a good thing for them."
Early life
Kery James arrived in continental France at the age of seven. He started at a young age to rap, dance, and write his own texts. The famous MC Solaar noticed him when he was only 10 years old in a cité (suburban ghetto) of Paris. He described the setting as "A place where the Islamic faith was omnipresent. All my friends in , and the symbols of the religion.
At around thirteen years old, he became a member of the group Idéal Junior (later abbreviated to Idéal J). They garnered a few singles with explicit titles like Hardcore, Pour une poignée de dollars and a first album titled Original MC’s sur une mission. In 1992, their single La vie est dure was released showing great promise though one of the talented artists, Alter, promptly left the group. In subsequent years while colleague Mehdi progressed as a prominent producer, Kery worked extensively on writing new material, his texts refcting a life that involved altercations with the police, street rivalries and an omnipresent fear of death.
In 1996 the band's first album under the moniker Ideal J led the group to became renowned and respected as amongst the top French rappers with well-know singles like Ghetto français, Show business and, Je veux du cash. Ideal J multiplied their appearances on Maxis and as featured acts, reaching a surprising maturity with the single J'désole mes parents present on the compilation Nouvelle donne. However, Kery's career was put temporarily on hold in 1999 when his close childhood friend Las Montana was shot and killed. Kery took refuge in religious faith and took the name Ali as a symbol of his full conversion to Islam.
Solo career
In October 2001 his solo album "Si c'était à refaire" with, among others, the tracks "28 décembre 1977", "Si c'était à refaire", "Soledad", "Y'a pas d'couleur". Released in 2001, this album is very personal and benefits from numerous collaborations: Nubians, Salif Keita... The rap is influenced by African, Arabic, Cuban musical influences, without forgetting the use of percussions and original instruments for this music style as the xylophone. He sings his African roots but also the problems of society like money, violence, and moral values. This album reflects the surprising maturity of Kery.
In 2004, Kery James' second album, Ma vérité continued to underline social and political militant messages taking positions on such subjects as the war in Iraq and on reality tv. However, at the same time, duets with very popular stars such as Diam's Mélanie Giorgadès and Amel Bent, started to distance him from his underground image.
In March 2008 this metamorphosis to mainstream popularity was underlined by a new album À l'ombre du show business whose title track was a collaboration with legendary French chanson star Charles Aznavour. Other tracks included Le combat continue part III, Banlieusards and Vrai Peura. On its first week of release the album reached third place on the French charts with 24,459 albums sold. For the music videos of this album, he worked with Luc Besson , Matthieu Kassovitz , J.G Biggs and Chris Macari.
Solo albums 2002 : Si c'était à refaire 2004 : Savoir et vivre ensemble 2005 : Ma vérité 2008 : À l'ombre du show business 2009 : Réel
with Ideal J 1992 : La vie est brutale (Maxi-single, as Ideal Junior) 1996 : O'riginal MC's sur une mission 1998 : Le Combat Continue
Collaborations 1991 MC Solaar feat. Raggasonic & Kery James - "Raggajam" on MC Solaar's album, Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo 1995 Ideal J - Mauvais garçon on the soundtrack of Raï (1995) Ideal J - Ce soir, on est down on the soundtrack of Raï (1995) Ideal J - Orly City Bronx on the mixtape Orly City Bronx 1996 Ideal J - Attaque/Contre attaque on the mixtape Invasion 1997 Kery James feat. 113 & Rohff - "Dans Ta Race" on the compilation Mysta D. presents L'invincible armada Different Teep feat. Kery James - "Ras" on Different Teep's album, La rime urbaine Ideal J - "Cash Remix" on the compilation L 432 1998 113 Feat Kery James - Association sur le EP du 113, Ni Barreaux, Ni Barrières, Ni Frontières Manu Key Feat Lil Jahson & Kery James - "Triste point en commun" sur l'album éponyme de Manu Key Ideal J Feat 113 & Intouchable - "La voie que j'ai donnée à ma vie" sur la compile Nouvelle Donne 1999 Alibi Montana Feat Kery James - "Le monde a cracké" sur l'album d'Alibi, T'as ma parole Prodige Namor Feat Kery James - "L'année de tous les dangers" sur l'album de Prodige Namor, L'heure de vérité Daomen Feat Kery James - "J'émerge" sur l'album de Daomen, Underground Classic Kery James Feat Rocca [disambiguation needed], Shurik'N & Hamed Daye - "Animalement votre" sur la mixtape Première classe vol. 1 113 Feat 113 Clan - Main Dans La Main sur l'album du 113, Les Princes de la ville 2000 Kery James - "J'émerge (remix)" sur la compile Nouvelle Donne Collector Vol.1 Kery James - "Les frères ne savent pas" sur la compile Time Bomb Session Vol.1 Kertra Feat Kery James - "Face à face" sur l'album de Kertra, Le labyrinthe 2003 Mafia K'1 Fry Feat Kery James - "Nuage de fumée Part II" sur l'album de la Mafia, La Cerise Sur Le Ghetto 2004 Rim'K Feat Kery James - "Intact" sur l'album de Rim'K , L'enfant du pays Kery James Feat Booba - "Chacun Sa Manière" sur la compile Street Lourd Hall Stars Rohff Feat Kery James - "Mal aimé" sur l'album de Rohff, La Fierté Des Nôtres Kery James - "Laissez" sur la compile Des 2 cotés 2005 Kool Shen Feat Kery James & Sinik - "That's my people" lors du dernier concert de Kool Shen au Zénith de Paris Tandem Feat Kery James, Faf La Rage, Diam's, Tunisiano & Kazkami - "Le Jugement" sur l'album de Tandem, C'est toujours pour ceux qui savent Kery James - "Je N'crois Plus En L'illicite" sur la compile Illicite Projet Mac Tyer Feat Kery James - "Patrimoine Du Ghetto" sur la compile Patrimoine Du Ghetto Kery James Feat Manu Key & A.P. - "Humanity" sur la compile Zone Caraïbes Kery James - "Attention" sur la compile Rap Performance Samat Feat Kery James & Larsen - "Le repentir" sur le Street CD de Samat, Samat Feat Hip Hop de rue Kery James - "Outro" sur la compile De la poudre au Rap 2006 Heckel & Geckel Feat Kery James - "Moins de 20 ans" sur l'album d'Heckel & Geckel, Street Show OGB Feat Kery James - "Ninety Four Side" sur l'album d'OGB, Enfermé Dehors Mac Tyer Feat Kery James - "Suicide carcéral" sur l'album de Mac Tyer, Le Général Rim'K Feat Kery James - "T'as Le Choix" sur la compile Illegal Radio Apash Feat Kery James - "3 horizons Differents" sur le Street CD d'Apash, Du Bon Son Pour Une Bonne Cause 2007 M. Toma Feat Kery James - "Ouvrir ton cœur" sur l'album de M. Toma, Identité Kery James - "Symphonie d'amour" sur la B.O. du film Taxi 4 Kery James - "1 pour la cause" sur la mixtape Ghetto Truand & Associés Manu Key Feat Kery James, F.dy Phenomen, Die & Tiwony - "Babylon System" sur l'album de Manu Key, Prolifique Vol.2 Melissa M Feat Kery James - "Lettre à la tristesse" sur l'album de Melissa M, Avec tout mon amour Kery James Feat K'libre 13 - "Avance" sur la mixtape Opinion sur rue 3 Kery James Feat Heckel & Geckel, Youssoupha, Smoker, Kamel L'ancien, Ben-J, Pit Baccardi, Diam's, Kalash L'afro, Ikbal Vockal, Seth Gueko, Sear Lui Même, Baba, Dosseh, Salif, James Izmad, Despo Rutti, Mister C, Alibi Montana, Mr Toma & Mac Tyer - "On ne sait pas abandonner" en hommage à l'émission Couvre Feu sur Skyrock Rohff Feat Kery James & Dragon Davy - "9.4 Mental" sur le Street CD de Rohff, Le chauchemar du Rap français TLF Feat Kery James - "Le box" sur l'album de TLF, Rêves de rue Kamelancien Feat Kery James - "J'résiste" sur la réédition de l'album de Kamel L'ancien, Le charme en personne Bakar Feat Kery James - "N'incite pas" sur l'album de Bakar, La rose du béton Idjal Feat Kery James & Farenheit - "Victimes du passé" sur l'album d'Idjal, Enfant du monde Légende Urbaine Feat Kery James - "D'humeur guerrière" sur l'album de Légende Urbaine, L'école de ma rue 2008 Grand Corps Malade feat Kery James & Oxmo Puccino - "À la recherche" sur l'album de Grand Corps Malade, Enfant de la ville Zap Mama feat Kery James - "Apres La Pluie," A L’Ombre Du Show Business
