La Funk Mob

Although MC Solaar was the only French rapper of note during the '90s, several hip-hop production crews made inroads in the quintessentially American style, including DJ Cam, the Mighty Bop, and La Funk Mob. The latter team was formed by Boom Bass and Philippe Zdar in the early '90s, though Boom Bass had worked with Solaar on his first two solo albums, weaving samples from Black Sheep to Serge Gainsbourg. The act debuted with a track on the 1993 compilation album Jimmy Jay Présente 'Les Cool Sessions' and signed to Britain's seminal Mo'Wax for two 1994 EPs, Tribulations Extra Sensorielles and Casse les Frontieres, Fou les Têtes en L'air ("Breaking Boundaries, Messing Up Heads"). Little was heard from the duo during 1997-1998, though two side-projects (Motorbass and L'homme Qui Valait 3 Milliard) saw release, and Boom Bass again provided production work for MC Solaar on his third album, Paradisiaque. The duo resurfaced as Cassius in 1999 for the purpose of French progressive house. ~ John Bush