Fresh Voices in Hip-hop: the Hop

The Hop are a 12-piece live hip-hop band from Paris that formed a little over a year ago, take their name from a Tribe Called Quest song, have performed backing band duties for Dead Prez, and play with a talent and schooling that would give the Roots a run for their money.

That's all great, but what's really exciting is the fresh (and deep) voice of the group's MC Espiiem, whose stop-and-listen 30Hz vocal chords recall baritone French rap godfather MC Solaar doing a Chali 2na impersonation through a didgeridoo at the bottom of a well (all after a deep inhalation of helium... on Opposite Day!).

Not only that, he's keen to show us his lyrical fluidity and verbal calisthenic capability from the first verse of "Rien Ne M'Arretera" ("Nothing Will Stop Me"). Espiiem never misses a beat and never fails to come clear as he makes origami out of the French language in fast-forward. Sampled victory horns just blaze out of an MPC on the chorus, beefing up the band's live trumpet and sax section. Amid the robust drum loops and wut?! shouts, this MC doesn't sound profane or arcane and neither lame or tame as he proclaims and explains with an authority that doesn't wane in the refrain, that again, and again, nothing will stop him. And we really hope nothing won't. Espiiem's voice deserves to be huge in global hip-hop.

I love this song. I'm going to bump it in my car for the rest of the summer every time I drive somewhere fun. Do the same after clicking for more Hop here.