Soon E MC first emerged as part of 501 Posse, a collective that embodied the emerging “cool” strand of French rap alongside MC Solaar, Menelik, Melaaz, and Bambi Cruz. The crew had coalesced by the close of the 1980s and gained momentum once it connected with Jimmy Jay and DJ Seeq in 1990. After MC Solaar’s early releases proved successful, Soon E MC secured a deal with EMI; Seeq then helmed the 1991 recording that became the single “Elucider Ce Mystère.” Buoyed by that track’s reception, the seven-song mini-LP Rap. Jazz. Soul appeared the following year. Soon E MC began appearing on music television around this time, and in 1993 he delivered his debut full-length album under Seeq’s continued guidance. Though it passed largely unnoticed, the record offered striking examples of “cool” rap in the vein MC Solaar had established, with Soon E MC deliberately moderating his delivery so the weight of the lyrics would register clearly. Its jazz-inflected beats and the rapper’s warm timbre created an album that still resonates with jazz-rap enthusiasts. He followed it with a second project, Intime Conviction, which proved equally memorable. Despite these accomplishments, the artist never released another album, a regrettable outcome considering the appeal of his voice and the substance of his writing.
