In this new segment to our site we will highlight some of the Music Albums or Artists that had a major impact on our lives.

Imperial Asiatiques Men or Invasion Arrivée de Mars was known to most French rap fans as IAM. They first formed in 1989 but after a few minor hits like Bad Boys de Marseille and Je dans le Mia they hit the big time and gained international recognition with Ecole du Micro d’argent an album inspired by the unique mix of Asian Martial arts, Islamic teachings, Egyptian history and Star Wars which went on to become one of the best selling French albums ever.

IAM has always been very vocal in their criticism of French government and their treatment of immigrants and the racism and socio political challenges they face because of  that they had a die-hard following of fans of which I am one espcially growing up. Since the days IAM and NTM (their contemporary rivals) the face of Hip Hop has changed and I do sometimes wonder what the state of Nicolas Sarkozy‘s France would be if IAM had the force behind them as they earlier in their career.

Like their American counterpart the Wu-tang Clan the group the individual members of the group were able to etch out solo careers with varying degree of success with Akhenaton and Shurik’n standing out. (Although you can never dismiss the rest of the gang most notably Freeman and DJ Kheops‘ Sad Hill)

But the real magic happened whenever they came back together as a group. They’re latest album was Saison 5 which you can listen to on their official website. IAM went on to have a huge influence on fashion , language and music production in France and Europe. There hasn’t been influential, intelligent and politically aware  group like them since.

In the words of Trevor Nelson IAM: The Upodcast team salutes you!

Demain C’est Loin: sheer poetry, especially Akhenaton final verse

Bad boys de marseille: Their first breakout hit

Ecole du micro d’argent

Samourai, Shurik’ns massive solo Track 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BilFJB3H10s 

This one wasn’t an IAM track but was produced by Akhenaton for his movie Comme un Aimant

What were some of your favorite IAM tracks? Let us know in the comment section below!