Born in Buffalo, United States, Kamenga Mbikay arrived in Quebec as a child. “I was the only English speaker at school, the only Black in Sherbrooke. It was difficult,” says S.P.
Around the age of 10, he discovered hip-hop through breakdancing. A few years later, while he now lives in LaSalle, Montreal, he writes his first verses in English and forms a group with his cousins. MC Solar, the French-speaking rap movement and Dubmatique reached his ears when he moved to Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville. “Even though I took it seriously in English, I didn’t feel like anyone was listening to me,” confides S.P. “I started writing in French, then I did the test on a crowd. After two sentences, everyone was freaking out! I announced to my cousins: “I’m rapping in French from now on.” »
But, in the mid-1990s, it was difficult to envisage a rap career in Quebec. “Before the first album, it was street life. I wasn’t necessarily around role models, admits S.P. Music saved my life, I think. She gave me a purpose. »
It was at secondary school in Saint-Bruno that he met Jean-Philippe Guillaume, aka Ti-Kid, today Le Youngin. Haitian, the latter mixes French and Creole in his texts. Under the name Sans Pression, attributed to the duo by the organizer of an amateur show at school, it delivers raw stories of a reality almost unknown here over heavy beats. Quickly, the unique sound of the tandem generates attention. “The record company didn’t want any Creole on the album. It was a risk for them. I really had to fight,” says S.P. 514-50 in my network sold more than 30,000 copies following its release in May 1999.
However, various factors prevent the leader of the group from appreciating his success.
“Soon after the release, I parted ways with Ti-Kid and gave up rapping. I felt like everyone in the street wanted to kill me. I had enemies everywhere. Just before, I got punched by bikers. That’s why it’s a drawing on the cover, I was disfigured. »
In 2003, the birth of his son refocused S.P. and inspired him to pick up his pen again. “One day I saw Eminem’s Lose Yourself video and it seemed like he was talking to me. I dropped my boy off and wrote No choice but to go for it and Behind my smile. » He also mentions the emergence of the 83 collective on stage at the ADISQ Gala to demand more visibility for rap, in 2002, as a source of motivation.
Two years later, at this same gala, his album Répliques aux offusqués, praised by fans and critics, was not mentioned. Loco Locass is awarded the Félix for rap album of the year, but gives it to S.P., as a sign of respect.
His subsequent works, including La tendance se maintien and Vagabond ma religion, did not receive the same recognition, but were well received by the hip-hop community.
Even if he believes that his contribution to Quebec culture is not fully appreciated, possibly because he is “not politically correct at times”, S.P. is grateful to still be active. “I still do shows. When I record a good song, I’m happy. […] No one expected to see me in front of a crowd singing. I’m a reserved guy. My parents knew me through my music. »
In anticipation of his next album, S.P. is accumulating songs. He recently launched the piece Fragile in addition to his collaborations with Dual-IT, Cobna, Dan-P and SeinsSucrer.
“My album, The Godfather, will perhaps be divided into four parts. You’re the first one I’ve told about it! » We would like to suggest three chapters, like Francis Ford Coppola’s trilogy. “It didn’t fall on deaf ears. »