Alaclair Ensemble

Known for their eclectic mix of traditional Quebecois folklore with contemporary hip-hop and electronic music, the Canadian rap collective Alaclair Ensemble rose to fame in the late 2000s thanks to their irreverent lyrical content and inventive PR stunts. The group has been active since 2008 and its lineup consists of MCs Ogden "Robert Nelson" Ridjanovic, Akena "KNLO" Okoko, Claude Bégin, and Eman, and producer Louis-Nicolas "Vlooper" Imbeau, all of whom release music with their side projects. The concept behind the group's music presents an alternate reality in which the Patriotes emerged victorious from the 1838 Lower Canada Rebellion and formed their own sovereign state. 4,99, their studio debut, was released independently in 2010 and was followed by Le Roé C'est Moé (2011), Touladis (2011), Un Piou Piou Parmi Tant D'autres (2012), and America (2012). In 2013, Alaclair Ensemble got their first taste of recognition when their sixth studio album Les maigres blancs d'Amérique du Noir (a satirical pun on Pierre Vallières's 1968 revolutionary manifesto) was shortlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize. Preceded by the viral single "Ça que c’tait," 2016's Les Frères Cueilleurs finally thrust the group into the spotlight, winning Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2017 ADISQ Awards. Over the course of the next few years, Alaclair Ensemble continued their musical evolution on releases such as Le Sens des Paroles (2018), America, Vol. 2 (2019), and Capitaine Canada (2020).

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