Hip-hop galsen

Following an historical process of appropriation of American popular music by Senegal,[nb 1] hip hop emerged in the Senegalese capital city in the early mid- 1980s.

Then, after having performed in the first part of MC Solaar's show in Dakar, and with a growing popularity, PBS released "Boul Faalé", a recorded cassette in which the group articulated a vehement discourse denouncing the corruption of the PS (political party) then in power.

[nb 4] Geographically, hip hop galsen was represented in Dakar and in its most popular banlieues, such as Guédiawaye or Thiaroye but also in the regional cities, like Kaolack or Saint Louis.

Besides, hip hop as a medium of expression allowed for different messages to be articulated and thus a consequent diversification of genres in the musical productions (from hardcore to mainstream, from politically engaged to more party oriented, from a social to a more individual discourse) as well as in the groups composition with the appearance of the first female figures.

Didier Awadi played a pivotal role by founding Taf-Taf Production in 1998, starting modestly in his bedroom with equipment purchased from his initial artist earnings.

Created in 2000, this event was first thought of as a talent awards ceremony but few years after its creation it evolved to become one of the most visible hip hop festival in the West African region.

Since the emergences of these early musical structures, other festivals and recording studios dedicated to hip hop were developed by artists of the movement in Dakar but also in its banlieues as well as in the Senegalese regional cities.

[nb 5] Meanwhile, TV as well as radio shows and webzines dedicated to hip hop galsen multiplied, increasing the diffusion of the movement and its musical productions.

[5][nb 7] Between 2007 and 2009, there was a real booming of new structures created by hip hop artists and motivated by the desire to be locally independent in terms of musical production.