Hocus Pocus: a french take on hip-hop

France has always had a very close affinity to hip-hop. Profoundly influenced by early 90's American rap music, French artists has taken this genre and made a whole new sound of their own. Among the emerging French hip-hop artists, I've always found Hocus Pocus as one of their most innovative. They don't use samples, they write their own music, they play it. In that sense, they are a pleasant rarity: a genuine hip-hop band. Even though 16 pieces (2010), their latest record, is very close in sonority to what they exposed in Place 54 (2009), they continue to play fresh music. In terms of production, they continue to grow while offering delightful and danceable tunes. It's hard to find another genre as influencing, worldwide speaking, as hip-hop. When you listen to such well-made hip-hop sang in French as Hocus Pocus', you can't but celebrate their talented and ingenious way in taking their influences and crafting great original music.

This is the video for Beautiful losers featuring Alice Russell