Lord Kossity

by Evan C. GutierrezFrench hip-hop front-runner Lord Kossity began his recording career in the early '90s as a member of the group Contrast, alongside his cousin Dr. Jekyll. His introduction of raga into the zouk music that dominated French Antilles' radio made him an artist to watch early on, making his mark on the local recording industry in 1993. Though he was born in the suburbs of Paris, his parents returned to live in their native islands when Lord Kossity was a child. Having lived in the Caribbean since the age of 11, he made a bold move in 1995 in returning to the city of his birth to seek out fame in Europe's rapidly emerging hip-hop community. His debut work, "Ma Benz," got Kossity noticed by Paris' major players almost right away. Lord Kossity started up with established artists like Joey Starr in his group B.O.S.S. and with Kool Shen in his group IV My People before ultimately signing a deal for the release of his solo record Everlord (2000). Recorded in France and Jamaica, the album demonstrated Lord Kossity to be an artist of a different stripe, staying true to his French Caribbean roots. The Real Don (2001) and Koss City (2002) were similarly successful. Lord Kossity's mainstream breakthrough album Booming System (2005) earned him a slot at the top of several national charts and placed in Billboard's Top European 100 category. Subsequent releases Jamaican World (2005) and Danger Zone (2006) have managed to maintain the artist's momentum, now enjoying status as one of France's premier hip-hop acts.