For the record, French Hip-Hop culture goes back, there is a history that goes back way way further than MC Solaar. This is bloody obvious to French heads but not somethin fans outside of the country might be aware of.

When I associate anything French and Hip-Hop I think of Z-3 MC’s, and the French National Anthem. I think of Melle Mels’ oh si raffine rhymes on It’s Nasty; ‘I tour around the world to make the people dance, and here’s a little message for the ladies in France. Je m’appelle, Melle Mel Donne moi la petit mademoiselle’. I inevitably remember Une Sale Histoire, and Beside on Change The Beat alongside Fab 5 Freddy. And Tribe 2, also on Celluloid Records. I think of photographer & MTV presenter Sophie Bramly, and the Spraycan Art imagery of Paris in the mid-80s featuring Crime Time Kings, Mode2 & Bando. AND NATURALLY, I remember the Zulu King, DJ Dee Nasty.

If you are French and from the era of these tunes, you’ll know the history of French Hip-Hop and Rap and you’ll probably know all about the radio stations that broadcast the sounds of des rues.

FYI. I’m Irish, I speak English and Italian [Neither with any class], I don't speak a word of French and tbh I'm not a huge fan of listening to rhymes in any other language other than English. But this Dee Nasty tape I’ve had since 1988 [not 85 as noted on the label], and due to it’s sonically captivating troves, it is unquestionably one of my favourite radio tapes from over the 4 decades I’ve been amassing them.

The rest of the tape is from Radio Nova, with ZULU KING Dee Nasty dropping serious 88 classics, some of his own Latin Rascals type productions, and even a recording of a megamix of a Kiss FM show courtesy of Kool DJ Red Alert [Where he plays the famous hard to find mix of I Know You Got Soul, remixed by DJ Mark the 45 King].

Huge shouts to Majestic Magic in France and CPB & DJ EZ Kutz for TL assistance…

- Irish Craig - RandomRapRadio