Rocca (French rapper)
Rocca (full name Sébastian Rocca) is a French-Colombian rapper and producer born on 27 April 1975 in Paris. Rocca is known as one of the best lyricists in French Rap. He gained recognition as a rapper during the 1990s as a part of the influential rap group, La Cliqua. He also was a member of Tres Coronas. He is a cousin of Juan Pablo, Gabriela, Camila, and Juanita Rocca. Biography. The La Cliqua years. As a part of La Cliqua, Rocca 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. Rocca delivered, for the first time on record, his then eccentric rhyming style alongside his microphone associates: Daddy Lord C, Kohndo (Doc Odnock), Raphaël (Raphton), Egosyst (Aarafat), Dj Jelahee (Gallegos), Lumumba, Le Chimiste and Mush le Phonky Bwana. Kohndo, Egosyst and Lumumba formed the group Coup d'État Phonique, while Daddy Lord C and Rocca teamed up as La Squadra. 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 City 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, Rocca's rhyme partner on "Coup d’Etat Phonique" decided to leave La Cliqua. The Tres Coronas years. Tres Coronas formed in New York City in 2001 by Rocca, fellow Colombian rapper P.N.O. with Dominican rapper Reychesta Secret Weapon. La Cliqua Reunion. In April 2008, Rocca and the other members of La Cliqua (minus Raphael) came back together for a performance at the Festival l'Original in Lyon. This successful, unexpected, reunion which resurrected on stage some of La Cliqua's classic repertoire, was followed in January 2009 by a  sold out concert in Paris, at the Elysée Montmartre. Discography. As A Solo Artist. 2001 : Elevación (Barclay) 2003 : Amour Suprême (Barclay) 2012 : Le Calme Sous La Pluie (Musicast) 2015 : Bogotá-París (El Original Production/PIAS Recordings/Believe Digital) Appears in CAN I KICK IT ? #2 Tu le reconnais with Alpha Wann