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The Silver Microphone School, a legendary and emblematic album
This opus redefined the standards of French rap and solidified IAM's position as a pioneer of the genre.
IAM, the French rap group that no longer needs an introduction, left its mark on our generations with the release of their third studio album, "L'école du micro d'argent", on March 18, 1997, under the labels EMI, Delabel and Virgin.
This opus redefined the standards of French rap and solidified the group's position IAM as a pioneer of the genre.
Recorded twice
The creation of this album was not without its pitfalls. IAM encountered several challenges during its design. The first version, recorded and mixed at New York under the direction of Nick Sansano, did not fully satisfy the group. Aware of the need to reinvent itself, IAM returned to the studio to refine the album with the valuable help of the producer Prince Charles Alexander has ParisThis collaboration allowed the album to have a punchy and refined sound, while preserving the very essence of the group.
" The Silver Microphone School » opens with the eponymous title track, offering an immediate immersion into the dark and introspective universe of IAM. The journalist Laure Narlian, in an article of the Inrockuptibles, highlighted the exceptional quality of the rappers' writing and performances, describing the album as a mix of dark minimalism and disturbing humor.
This album is a testimony to the social and political commitment of IAMThe band members drew inspiration from the turbulent current events of the time, addressing themes such as racism, fascism, and the evolving political scene. They also drew on Chinese mythology to enrich their artistic universe, marking a significant evolution from their previous albums.
Reception of the “fans”
" The Silver Microphone School » quickly became a pillar album of French rap, acclaimed by critics and the public. It was hailed as one of the best albums of the genre, receiving the Prix du Best album of the year at the Victoires de la Musique in 1998. Personalities such as Olivier Cachin and Julien Valnet praised its artistic ambition and impeccable production.
Among the album's iconic tracks, " Tomorrow is far away", a 9-minute work without verse or chorus, has left its mark as a classic of French rap. Certified platinum disc in December 1997, " The Silver Microphone School » was a phenomenal commercial success, with sales exceeding 1.5 million copies.
" The Silver Microphone School » is more than just a rap album, it's a masterpiece. It's a timeless work that redefined the standards of the era and solidified the position of IAM as a living legend of French rap.
Tracklist for "Silver Microphone School"
On a second edition of the album released in 1998, "Libère mon imagination" was replaced by "Independenza".
- The Silver Microphone School (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 3:52
- Dangereux (featuring Bruizza and Rahzel) (Producers: Akhenaton, Imhotep, Kheops) – 3:46
- Nés sous la même étoile (Producers: Akhenaton, Imhotep, Cheops) – 3:50
- La Saga (featuring Sunz Of Man) (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:02
- Petit frère (Producers: Akhenaton, Imhotep, Cheops) – 4:44
- Elle donne son corps avant son nom (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:12
- The Empire of the Dark Side (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:27
- Regarde (Producers: Akhenaten, Imhotep) – 3:57
- Hell (featuring East and Fabe) (Producers: Akhenaton, Kheops, Shurik'n) – 4:52
- Quand tu allais, on revenait (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:48
- Chez le mac (featuring Nalini) (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops, Shurik'n) – 4:42
- Un bon son brut pour les truands (Producers: Akhenaton, Imhotep, Cheops) – 3:50
- Bouger la tête (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:43
- Un cri court dans la nuit (featuring Daddy Nuttea) (Producers: Akhenaton, Imhotep, Kheops) – 3:52
- Libère mon imagination (Producers: Akhenaten, Imhotep, Cheops) – 5:20
- Tomorrow is far away (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops, Shurik'n) – 9:00
Total: 73:56
Bonus CD
- Hold-Up mental (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:53
- Donne-moi le micro (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:35
- Complexe (Producers: Akhenaton) – 4:13
- Il faut taper (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 5:17
- Sans issues (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:56
- Sales hypocrites (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:11
- Doin' Our Thang (featuring Smooth Lordion) (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:21
- La Réalité (Producers: Akhenaton) – 3:39
- It's clear I'm dark (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 4:26
- La 25e image (remix) (Producers: Imhotep, Kheops) – 5:31
Total: 46:02
Samples Used in IAM's "Silver Microphone School":
Nés sous la même étoile : The sample comes from “Murder in the First” by Christopher Young.
Elle donne son corps avant son nom : The sample is taken from "I Hate I WalkedAway" by Syl Johnson.
Chez le mac : IAM used the sample of “Bills” by The Counts for this track.
Un bon son brut pour les truands : The sample used is taken from “Passacaglia” by YusefLateef.
Petit frère : IAM's famous track "Little Brother" samples Wu-Tang Clan's "CREAM".
L’empire du côté obscur : The opening line is taken from an audio version of Jules Verne's novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," featuring Jean Gabin and music composed by Maurice Jarre.
La saga : IAM sampled Ramsey Lewis's "Memphis in June" for this track.
Hell : The sample used comes from “Dirty Harry – End Titles” by Lalo Schifrin, taken from the film “Dirty Harry” by Don Siegel.
Bouge ta tête : The song uses a sample of “Les Lyonnais” by Olivier Marchal.
Reissues of “The School of the Silver Microphone”:
After sixteen years since its initial release, the September 30, 2013, IAM released a special reissue of " The Silver Microphone School". Two versions were released:
Limited Edition: This release features four CDs, including the original album and three bonus CDs featuring B-sides, rarities, remixes, and instrumental versions. The set is presented in an 80-page coffee-table book format, featuring song lyrics, rare photos of the band, and a new interview conducted in July 2013, discussing the album's genesis.
Digipack Edition: This version includes 3 CDs, with the original album and 2 bonus CDs.
A vinyl reissue (triple vinyl) was released on December 18, 2015, by Warner / Parlophone.
This reissue was prompted by strong fan demand and to counter a poor-quality German bootleg reissue released in early 2015, which crudely imitated the original album's artwork.
It follows strong demand from fans and especially a German pirate reissue at the beginning of 2015 which crudely imitates the visual for the album cover and whose sound quality is very poor.
Right now, IAM made the HH History Tour, the group's die-hard supporters responded to the legendary's call IAM.
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