
MC Solaar
Known for Acting · 56 credits
- Born
- 1969-03-05 (age 57)
- Place of birth
- Dakar, Sénégal
- Also known as
- Claude MC · M.C. Solaar · Claude M'Barali
Biography
Claude M'Barali, professionally known as MC Solaar (born 5 March 1969), is a French rapper of Senegalese and Chadian origin. He is one of France's most famous and influential hip hop artists. Some consider him as the best French rapper of all time.
MC Solaar is known for his complex lyrics and distinctive flows, which rely on word play, lyricism, and inquiry. In the English-speaking world, Solaar was signed by London-based acid jazz record label Talkin' Loud and recorded with British group Urban Species and the late rapper Guru, who was a member of the critically acclaimed New York-based rap group Gang Starr. Solaar has since released eight studio albums and one live album. His eighth studio album, Géopoétique, produced by Alain Etchart and mixed by sound engineer David Gnozzi, won best album of the year at the Victoires de la Musique awards in 2018.
Claude M'Barali was born in Dakar, Senegal, to parents from Chad. When he was six months old, his parents immigrated to France where they settled in the Parisian suburbs; initially in Saint-Denis, subsequently Maisons-Alfort and finally Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. When he was twelve, he went to live with an uncle in Cairo, Egypt for nine months where he discovered the Universal Zulu Nation and became fascinated with the rapping styles of Afrika Bambaataa. Upon his return to France, he passed the baccalauréat. The constant support from his mother was one of the reasons that he was able to pass the baccalauréat and still make music. He coined the stage name "MC Solaar" during his adolescence from his graffiti tags "SOAR" and "SOLAAR".
He studied languages at the Jussieu university campus and was a postgraduate in philosophy. He released his first single in 1990. MC Solaar went to Paris in the summer of 1991 with his friend Jimmy Jay in hopes of succeeding in the music industry. Success came quickly when his first single, "Bouge de là" ("Get Out of There"), based on a sample from Cymande's song "The Message" (1973) became a hit in the early 1990s. Many rappers who came out of Africa at the time spoke a lot about slavery and other topics in order to bring the history of their people into light. Nevertheless, the song went platinum in France and reached number 5 on the national chart.
After the success of "Bouge de là", Solaar went on to support the American rap group De La Soul when they performed at the Olympia in Paris in September 1991. At the close of 1991, Solaar released Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo which went on to sell over 400,000 copies in France. With the success of his debut album in France, Solaar embarked upon extensive tours of Poland and Russia. In December 1992, he performed in twelve countries across West Africa, where his French rap style proved popular with African music fans. ...
Known For
TV Shows (16)

Sacrée soirée
1987
as Self

Le monde est à vous
1987
as Self

C à vous
2009
as Self - Guest

Taratata
1993
as Self / Self (performer)

Star Academy
2001
as Self

Victoires de la musique
1985
as Self

Clique
2013
as Self - Guest

Stars 90
1990
as Self

Coucou c'est nous !
1992
as Self

On n'est pas couché
2006
as Self - Guest

Les Nuls, l'émission
1990
as Self

La chanson de l'année
2004
as Self

NRJ Music Awards
2000
as Self

Basique, le concert
2018
as Self

Stars à domicile
2001
as Self

DJ Mehdi: Made in France
2024
as MC Solaar
Movies (40)

Les Enfoirés 2002 - Tous dans le même bateau
2002

Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui
2014

Vos 40 chansons préférées des Enfoirés
2025
as Self (archive footage)

Les Enfoirés 2013 - La Boîte à Musique des Enfoirés
2013

Les Enfoirés, 15 ans d'Enfoirés
2005

Zaï Zaï Zaï Zaï
2022
as Membre du comité de soutien

Les Enfoirés 2026 - La Ballade des Enfoirés
2026
as Self

Les Enfoirés 2016 - Au rendez-vous des Enfoirés
2016

Les Enfoirés 2001 - L'odyssée des Enfoirés
2001

Taratata fête ses 25 ans 100% live au Zénith
2017
as Self

Les Enfoirés 2020 - Le Pari(s) des Enfoirés
2020

Les Enfoirés 2015 - Sur la route des Enfoirés
2015

Les Enfoirés 2022 - Un air d'Enfoirés
2022

Les Enfoirés 2010 - Les Enfoirés... la Crise de Nerfs
2010

Les Enfoirés 2008 - Les secrets des Enfoirés
2008

Quincy Jones, Music Man
2025
as Self - Narrator (voice)

Les Enfoirés 2019 - Le Monde des Enfoirés
2019

Les Enfoirés 2018 - Musique !
2018

Les Enfoirés 1997 - Le Zénith des Enfoirés
1997

Taratata fête les 40 ans de Bercy
2024
as Self

Les Enfoirés 2017 - Mission Enfoirés
2017

Lest We Forget
1991
as Self (segment "Pour Kim Song-Man, Corée du Sud")

Les Enfoirés 2025 - Au pays des Enfoirés
2025

Les Enfoirés 2014 - Bon anniversaire Les Enfoirés
2014

Illegal Love
2011
as Self (voice over)

Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool
1994
as Self

Vianney en concert à l’AccorHotels Arena
2018
as Self

RapLine
1993
as Self

MC Solaar feat Symphonique Philharmonie de Paris
2022
as Self

Taratata l'histoire
2023
as Self

French Game
2019
as Self

Les 4 visages de Kery James
2012

Angélique Kidjo : 40 ans de carrière
2025
as Self : Guest

Symphonic Hip Hop
2016
as Self

Le Grand Rendez-Vous de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
2023
as Self

Concert hommage à DJ Mehdi à la Gaîté Lyrique
2024
as Self

Symphonic Hip Hop 6
2021
as Self

La bande son des années 90
2024
as Self

Waxx en concert aux Folies Bergère
2025
as Self

MC Solaar - Basique, le concert
2024
as Self
About MC Solaar
Claude M'Barali, professionally known as MC Solaar (born 5 March 1969), is a French rapper of Senegalese and Chadian origin. He is one of France's most famous and influential hip hop artists. Some consider him as the best French rapper of all time. MC Solaar is known for his complex lyrics and distinctive flows, which rely on word play, lyricism, and inquiry. In the English-speaking world, Solaar was signed by London-based acid jazz record label Talkin' Loud and recorded with British group Urban Species and the late rapper Guru, who was a memb… With 56 credits spanning from 1985 to 2026, MC Solaar has appeared in 40 films and 16 TV shows.
Fans searching for MC Solaar movies, MC Solaar filmography, or the latest projects starring MC Solaar can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular MC Solaar Movies
- Les Enfoirés 2002 - Tous dans le même bateau (2002)
- Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui (2014)
- Vos 40 chansons préférées des Enfoirés (2025) — as Self (archive footage)
- Les Enfoirés 2013 - La Boîte à Musique des Enfoirés (2013)
- Les Enfoirés, 15 ans d'Enfoirés (2005)
Where to Watch MC Solaar Films
Most MC Solaar movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring MC Solaar, check our movies catalogue and browse page.