Kohndo

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Kohndo
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name = Kohndo Assogba
Born = birth date and age|1975|6|17
Origin = flagicon|FranceFrance
Genre = French Rap French hip hop
Hip hop
Rap
URL = [http://www.kohndomusic.com/ Official website]

Kohndo (also known as Doc Odnok, full name Kohndo Assogba) is a French rapper and producer born on June 17, 1975, in Saint-Cloud, a suburb of Paris. Kohndo is known as one of the best lyricist in french rap. He gained recognition as a rapper during the 1990s as a part of the influential rap group, La Cliqua.

Biography

Early career

After his birth in France, Kohndo moved to Benin (West Africa) where his family originated. A few years later he moved back to France, and grew up in Bobigny, a suburb located north-east of Paris. In 1984, he discovered part of Hip-Hop culture through the TV Show, H.I.P. H.O.P. hosted by Sidney. In 1987, he relocated to the "Cité du Pont de Sèvre" (Pont de Sèvre Housing Projects) in Boulogne Billancourt, a wealthier suburb located west of Paris. There he befriended his downstairs neighbor whose family, like his, came from Benin [Interview on http://www.abcdrduson.com/interviews/feature.php?id=24"] , and who would be later known in the rap scene as Zoxea, a member of Les Sages Poètes de la Rue. With Zoxea, Kohndo discovered the deeper aspects of Hip-Hop, and after having learned ‘human beatboxing’ began rapping. Zoxea introduces Kohndo to his cousin: Egosyst, with whom he formed the band: "Coup d’Etat Phonique" alongside producer Lumumba and then-young rapper, Raphael. In 1994, at a radio show, Egosyst and Kohndo met Daddy Lord C, a rapper and former member of the Black Dragons, a Parisian gang. With Daddy Lord C, producer Chimiste, dj Jelahee and Rocca they would form La Cliqua. [Interview on http://www.urban.youvox.fr/Beats-Rhymes-Life-Retrospective,0220"]

The La Cliqua years

With the stage name Doc Odnok and as a part of La Cliqua, Kohndo toured radios and stages, and then released, in 95, a first EP, now considered a master piece of French Rap: "Conçu pour durer" (Built to Last) on Arsenal Records [Review on http://www.abcdrduson.com/chroniques/chronique.php?id=281] . Doc Odnok delivered, for the first time on record, his then eccentric rhyming style alongside his microphone associates: Daddy Lord C, Rocca, Raphael and Egosyt. The record was an immediate success in the French Hip-Hop scene. Quickly Arsenal Records signed with major label Barclay, and La Cliqua worked on their next project released in 1996 as a compilation album: "Arsenal Represente le Vrai Hip-Hop" (Arsenal represents the Real Hip-Hop). The record featured all members of La Cliqua and their young affiliates: Petit Boss and Cercle Vicieux.Critically acclaimed, La Cliqua became a major feature on the French Hip-Hop landscape. They opened for Arrested Development at the Olympia in Paris and performed in New York at the Zulu Nation Anniversary. Following in the footsteps of "Represente le Vrai Hip-Hop", Rocca was the first emcee from La Cliqua to release a solo album: "Entre Deux Monde" which featured Kohndo on: "Mot pour mot" and "Rap Contact 2".In 1997, Egosyst, Kohndo's rhyme partner on "Coup d’Etat Phonique" decided to leave La Cliqua. Kohndo would remain with the band until 1998, when he left the crew to develop his solo projects and career.

After La Cliqua

Shifting lyrical styles for a more relaxed and mature approach, in 1998, Kohndo was invited on NAP's album "La fin du Monde", on Koma's "Le Reveil" and to participate in the compilations: "ZonZon" (Soundtrack) and "Paris, New York, Marseille" (along with Jay-Z and IAM). In 1999, Kohndo released a first EP: "Prélude à l’Odysée", establishing himself as a solo artist. The following year he released another EP: "Jungle Boogie", and then a 3rd one in 2001: "J’entends les Sirènes". On those solo projects, Kohndo exposed his vision of a Hip-Hop far from the clichés of violence and fake gangsterism.2003 saw the release of his long-awaited album, the critically-acclaimed: "Tout est écrit", presented as a recollection of "urban poetry" with welcome hints of soul and jazz [Review on http://www.abcdrduson.com/chroniques/chronique.php?id=315] [Review on http://www.lehiphop.com/chroniques/chr232-kohndo_tout_est_ecrit.html] . In 2004, Kohndo released "Blind Test", a compilation of older tracks and previously-unreleased materials.Over the years Kohndo has open stages for Masta Ace, EDO G (at Nouveau Casino), Talib KweIi, Mobb Deep (La Scène Bastille) and Isaac Hayes (Olympia). [Biography on http://www.kohndomusic.com]

"Stick to Ground"

Kohndo released his second solo album in 2006: "Deux Pieds sur Terre / Stick to ground", a new masterpiece partly mixed in Detroit, featuring the Motor City's very own: Slum Village and Dwele. Other American artists contributed to this album such as Jaheim and Insight with who Kohndo delivers one of the best combination of French and English lyrics ever recorded. The album was released with a DVD which featured 3 new videos, including "Dis-moi" with Slum Village and "Stick to Ground" with Insight, both shot in Paris. Kohndo produced 4 tracks on the album. Other producers on the album include 20Syl of Hocus Pocus, dj Brasco as well as Jee 2 Tuluz and Stix who were already featured on "Tout est écrit". [Review on http://www.abcdrduson.com/chroniques/chronique-669-kohndo-deux-pieds-sur-terre-stick-to-ground-.html] It must be pointed out that "Deux Pieds sur Terre / Stick to Ground" offers an international angle of Hip-Hop, not only because of the featured Amercian artists but also because it has been released in Europe, Japan, Australia and in the USA.

Kohndo & Velvet Club

It was following the release of "Deux Pieds sur Terre / Stick to Ground", and after various collaborations with musicians that Kohndo decided to form a live band to share the stage with him. In a few months of meetings and auditions, Kohndo had created the "Velvet Club" - composed of: Sebastien Artigue (Bass), Yann Massoubre (Drum), David Santhino (Keys), Thomas Agrinier (Guitar) and Dj Kozi (Turntables). Kohndo & Velvet Club have performed all over France, noticibale performances have been at the festivals "La Rue au Grand Palais", "Nancy Jazz Pulsation" and the "Printemps de Bourges".

Career developments and engagements

A rapper, beatmaker and executive producer, Kohndo is also working as a sound engineer on various projects, such as on the album of dj Brasco "Fill the Gap" which features american rappers: Frank n Dank, Phat Kat, Black Milk, Wildchild, Rasco, Declaime, etc. Kohndo is a member of the French Zulu Nation. He has collaborated on various projects and shows with french pionneer Hip-Hop Dj and main representative of the French Zulu Nation: Dj Dee Nasty.

Discography

With Coup d'Etat Phonique and La Cliqua

* "Conçu pour durer (EP - Arsenal Records)" (1995)
* "Dans ma tête II (12 inch - Arsenal Records)" (1995)
* "Arsenal Re-présente "Le Vrai Hip Hop" (Compilation Album - Arsenal Records)" (1996)
* "Mot pour Mot & Rap Contact II (on Rocca's Album "Entre deux mondes" - Arsenal Records)" (1997)

As a solo artist

* "Prélude à l’odyssée (EP - Exil Records)" (1999)
* "Jungle Boogie (EP - Exil Records)" (2000)
* "J’entends les sirènes (Woop ! Woop !) (EP - Nothing but soul records)" (2001)
* "Tout est écrit (Album - Ascetic Music)" (2003)
* "Blind Test (Album compilation - Jungle Boogie Records)" (2004)
* "Dis-Moi ce qu’elles veulent feat. Slum Village b/w Stick to ground feat. Insight (12 inch - Ascetic Music, Greenstone Records)" (2005)
* "Deux Pieds sur Terre / Stick to ground (Album - Ascetic Music, Greenstone Records)" (2006)
* "D’un mot à l’autre / Sur le toit du monde (12 inch - Ascetic Music, Greenstone Records)" (2006)

Notable appearances

* "Au Sommet de Paris - NAP ("La fin du Monde")" (1998)
* "Zonzon (Soundtrack)" (1998)
* "Paris, New York, Marseille (Compilation)" (1998)
* "Koma ("Le Reveil")" (1998)

External links

* [http://www.kohndomusic.com/ Kohndo's official homepage]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nwl7uyNE9U "Dis-Moi / What she wants" feat. Slum VIllage - Music video ]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LorXtS4JCbg "Faiseur de Pluie" feat. Gas - Music video]

References