"Québec History X": Re-Visioning the Past Through Rap 1

• Published in: The American review of Canadian studies Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 12 - 29
• Main Author: Ransom, Amy J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Loco Locass; Quebec; rap; Samian (Samuel Tremblay); Webster (Ali Ndiaye)
• ISSN: 0272-2011; 1943-9954
• DOI: 10.1080/02722011.2013.769018

This article examines how contemporary rap texts invoke historical events to contribute to a vision of the imagined community of Québec as a diverse and accommodating, "transcultural" society. It examines how the recent anthem rap songs of the controversial, franco-nationalist rappers Loco Locass actually reflect the attitude of accommodation found in the recent Bouchard-Taylor Report. Similar sentiments of reconciliation appear in their collaboration with franco-Algonuin rapper Samian, "La Paix des Braves" (Face à la Musique, 2008) which commemorates the Great Peace of Montréal and the more recent agreement between Québec and the Cree in 2002. In contrast, Webster, a black rapper from Québec City, suggests in "Quebec History X" (Sagesse immobile, 2008) that such visions elide historical incidences of racial oppression and conflict, and that Québécois society still has progress to make in terms of revealing its past in order to enlighten the present.