French NBA and rap: a story that says a lot about the evolution of the popularity of basketball in France

More than ever in full international development and especially in France, the NBA is a little more talked about each year and its reputation as the largest basketball league in the world is no longer to be made.However, the bet taken by Canal+ over thirty years ago was not won in advance. Cette hausse exponentielle de la popularité du basket dans l’Hexagone est difficilement mesurable avec des outils traditionnels et de cette simple réflexion est donc née une idée : pourquoi ne pas mesurer cette évolution de l’amour pour la NBA par le prisme du… rap français ?

Rich in images and tributes to popular culture, this style of music which has now established itself as one of the most important and/listened to on French territory is a bit like the target audience of the NationalBasketball association in France: young and urban.After consultation with Basketball Reference of Hip-Hop Aka Genius and hours of getting lost on dedicated forums, we hold our frame: the popularity of our favorite league on our territory corresponds to the increase in the appearances of our sport inThe texts of French rhymers.Like the younger generations, this league may be too little considered thirty years ago has today returned to the customs of adolescents and young adults, and gradually wins the field in its media and popular echo.

Chapitre 1 : De la diffusion du soft power américain

To understand the linked destinies of French NBA and rap, it is above all necessary to immerse yourself in the discovery of these two universes in France, in the early 90s.The first axis to be tackled is the question of the broadcasting of the NBA on our small screens and we can only thank Canal+ for having greatly participated in spreading the virus.Young channel founded in 1984, Canal+ shapes an identity focused mainly on sport and the idea of broadcasting the NBA to occupy the evening niche quickly comes on the carpet.On March 5, 1985, the encrypted channel began to broadcast the competition to its subscribers with a Celtics - Knicks.In the program "Le Pain des Français" broadcast in 1995 on France Inter, the illustrious George Eddy does not hide the almost confidential audience level of this championship when the 4 decides to incorporate it into its grid ofPrograms:

A few years later, in 1989, the Eastern Bloc collapsed with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the United States reached their cultural peak.The country of Uncle Sam seeks to expand its influence through its "soft power".This is also the first year when hip-hop culture is invited to mainstream media in France: Sydney presents H.I.P h.O.P every week on TF1 and makes most French people discover this new culture which has already made its hole in the United States, the pioneer of French DJs, Dee Nasty, invites its listeners to Freestyler on Radio Nova in the show DeenastyleAnd it is also during this period that the first album of NTM "Authentik" begins to be recorded.In the same way as American basketball a little earlier, this style of music is experiencing its success of esteem and aims great by being still very marginal for the general public.The growth that the two disciplines will experience is similar and their popularity is only growing year after year.In 1991, the first finals played by Michael Jordan gave another dimension to the NBA in France, Jojo was then the second favorite sportsman of young French people behind Jean-Pierre Papin precisely designated Ballon d'Or and his easily marketable image allowedA hype never seen in France.1991 is also the year when the albums of the French rap trinity come out of the time: MC Solaar, IAM and NTM.Rap writes its first letters in the history of the French charts and the two movements, still far from being the most popular in the country, gradually gain Paris.Slightly later, in the classic album "The School of the Silver Micro", Freeman will also chain a strange punch / punch basket combo of the most surprising: "Fixed or I mystify you as a Twix, as wild as theKnicks.»»

Beyond the proximity between the foundations of the two cultures, a real imprint left by the rap and American basketball marked a generation of young people and children who grew up in the 90s.RAP, by the exponential number of MCS having started to take the microphone, does not need justification to explain that its impact was great in the culture of 90’s and 2000’s.Only, these young people who took the microphone thanks to the pioneers have not forgotten to talk about their orange ball idols.After the IAM/NTM generation, other emerging schools, among which we can then count Time Bomb.The Parisian collective, much appreciated for its technical side and its great American inspiration, is a lot talked about.His members ?The so-called Booba, Ali, Oxmo Puccino, Pit Baccardi, X-Men and other rappers revolving around the nebula, and their US influences are not just the New York imprint of the sound of MCS.The group in the group which then speaks the most of NBA is X Men, and Cassidy, by its punchlines, reveals by scraps of its attraction for the big league.As early as 1998, through a metaphor, he s/o this sport by a line letting his love heard for the game.

But this is not the only punch in reference to basketball. Déjà en 1996, lors de la première compilation Time Bomb, III dans le morceau Predator, 2Bal crie le fameux « boomshakalakala»» en référence à NBA Jam.Without forgetting this phase dedicated to the big shaq which shows that Cassie Dinero is definitely a basketball follower.

NBA culture is not just about what is happening on the parquet floor, and even more than the game, the lifestyle around the two universes is perhaps what illustrates this affiliation the most.Always on Time Bomb Vol 1, Ni2g evokes his pair of Mutombo.And in the other large school of the 90s, sector A, the great media star of rap of the time, Doc Gyneco, even regrets the release of Air Jordan models for all, no longer allowing to be a brand of differentiationfor the street.At this time, the reference level is still rather simple.As explained earlier, the NBA is not yet easy to access, the level of knowledge of basketball is still quite limited.The more the years of rap advance, the more the NBA references are sought in technical rappers.The NBA is still a symbol of the underground where even the simple basic reference speaks only to the most learned of sports.

Chapitre 2 : La NBA en symbole du rêve américain

Big brother Football takes place and the NBA speaks above all to the most American rappers of French rappers.Forget the references at the Mafia K’1 Fry, La Fonky Family or Sniper, the orange ball is much more present on the side of the rappers of Time Bomb and sector A, with a big exception: Manu Key.The rapper of the Mafia K1K1 is a big basketball fan and his love for the game is not just about watching matches in his living room of 94.Now coach-assistant on the Vanves bench in N1, this fan of Magic Johnson has never hidden his passion in his music, until it makes a hymn song for Parisian playgrounds: quai 54.On this posse cut, we can find the cream of French rap of the 2000s, some thieves of which should be found later.In the casting: Booba, Dany Dan, Zoxea, 16ar and Oxmo.If Booba deploys an ego trip based on double meaning linked to basketball, the Ox ’pays homage to its French international brother Mamoutou Diarra.Puccino is not the most passionate about the great league a priori, but this song was the ideal moment to place one in its blood broker.This track, perfect for introducing the Dany Dan basketball world shows the references of a generation halfway between American basketball and French basketball.Sending several S/O to players from the Paris region of the time like Amara Sy, Jim Bilba, Moustapha Sonko or Thierry Zig, the Boulonnais evokes with intelligence in some of his texts his relationship to basketball. Lui qui écrira être « tombé pour rebondir comme un ballon Spalding»», voue un amour certain pour Michael Jordan, idole de nombreux jeunes ayant grandi dans les années 90.The back of the Bulls is erected as a model of success, aesthetics and victory, well appreciated by the technician of the wise men who quotes him seven times in all of his artistic work.

Booba, headlining rappers lulled by the United States, maintains a special relationship with basketball.Installed in Miami for many years now, the Duke has not often shone by the ability of his punchlines. Nous targuant d’un honteux « numéro 23, Chicago Bulls,testo de taureau #DerrickRose»» ou d’un curieux « Ni*ue ta grand-mère côté de ta mère avec la bi*e de Mutombo.The Bitzer of Mutombo, Oouloulou Ouloulou ", it is difficult to conceive that the Duke is a scientist of the NBA analysis after these hard lines to write.Far from the field considerations, the NBA is rather an object of fascination symbolizing America for it, where business, sport and show mix.We can even say that B2O hit the NBA since it was not uncommon to hear Friday in the speakers of Orlando Magic when the two French speakers, Evan Fournier and Nikola Vacevic, recited his rhymes in the locker room.

If Dany Dan was able to use Jordan for his Ego Trip, he does not forget the importance of this cultural object for the Americans."Killed by the American nightmare/ They use Michael Jordan, their culture, their basketball/ their propaganda in the Bucket menu.»» La NBA semble alors être un doux rêve, inaccessible, voire dangereux, auquel cette génération n’a pas pu croire.The passage of Tony Parker not doing it too late for the Dan, Booba took advantage of this hype in France introduced by the Spur to stay on the association's train.American basketball does not yet reach the standards of cunning references such as football in French hip-hop, but generation Y under the impulse of the Internet will quickly correct the shooting.

Chapitre 3 : L’avènement de la rime au service des références

The Internet generation will succeed the Canal+generation, and in addition to this Americanization of the increasingly important society, access to information and content is now increased tenfold.At the dawn of the 2010s, young people no longer need to make white nights in front of a encrypted channel to know the results, see the best actions and buy the specialized press to consume NBA content.The breach opened by Tony Parker has so much marked the French youth that, near or far, each young person has a relationship with the big league.This alignment of the planets has allowed certain feathers to add more advanced references to their technical armada.Already in 2009, Orelsan who concedes him, in a song of the Casseurs Flowters, would have dreamed of being a basketball player, is surprised at the move of the Grizzlies of Vancouver in Memphis, slightly more smart than the Booba of the 2010s in the idea.At the same period, French rap offers us its second hymn in tribute to basketball: the playoffs, with Furax Barbarossa and the hexaler at the microphone, bringing a 2 side.0 in the references used.These songs announcing the color of the generation of New Comrs of the 2010s embodied by MCS like Alpha Wann, Jok’Air, then Dinos, Flaco, Sidi Sid or Freeze Corleone, who will push the process a little further.Their ability to play numbers, Go to Moves or the achievements of certain players is much more notable than in their predecessors, more fans of shoes or banalities.Alpha Wann launched the ball of this trend in Parisian rap, in particular thanks to the memorable Freestyle playoffs.Having already had a few words on the subject with 1995 in particular, this ability to incorporate NBA elements into a rap setting recalls Dany Dan's style at the microphone, with a good evolution in the relevance of the chosen images. Le rap FR s’actualise, au point de quasiment rattraper les Américains sur leur propre terrain de jeu avec la technique au service du ballon, Don Dada allant même jusqu’à nommer son featuring avec Kalash Criminel « Pistons vs Pacers»», ce S/O à Malice of The Palace ayant pu faire sourire les initiés par la qualité de l’image.In this line of Parisian technicians, Freeze Corleone has also put the package for three years.Between tribute to Tacko Fall, Freestyler The Professor or even to the disappearance of Sonics of Seattle, Freeze, in his atypical style, was not idle to show his knowledge in basket-ball by dropping around fifteen references between 2018 and 2021.His style, while comparison, allows him to easily insert specific elements of the history of the big league, easy for the one who self-heaks like Jeremy Lin.The level of popularity of the NBA has reached such a stage that even rappers who are uninitiated in the field are likely to try their small double meaning.The references used by the most connoisseurs in the field twenty years ago can now be released by most French rappers of our time.Kaaris, Hamza or Damso may not have as much the passion for the game as the aforementioned kickers, but their respective little winks make the NBA each time in French popular culture, somethingwhich was not won two decades back.Fails and attempts, as recently with Fianso or previously with Booba and Ninho also show a new trend: the NBA is the train in which you have to go up, whatever it costs.

Basketball references are just behind those of football in France, at a time when this sport is perhaps still too under Mediatal in the traditional media, even though it is the second sport with the most licenseesIn Tony Parker's country.This interest in French rap, growing over the years, also shows somewhere that, growing, of the public of France for this show.Between new geeks of basketball, interested from afar or in admiration for this sport, French rap offers us a good synthesis of all that can crystallize today the big league on our people, of 67 million people anyway.