Infamous French rap group La Rumeur returned to Paris last night, June 28, after four years of absence, during which lead rappers Hamé et Ekoué studied film at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and finished studies at Paris’ Sciences-Po, respectively.

But the real story surrounding their absence involves the internationally publicized lawsuit between now French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Hamé. After Hamé, in 2002, published a pamphlet along with their first album–L’Ombre sur la mesure–that specifically accused the national police of brutality (and legal immunity) towards immigrant peoples in France, Sarkozy (then Interior Minister) sued Hamé for public libel. After years of acquittals and appeals, Hamé was definitively acquitted of all charges (on freedom of expression) just in 2010. Sarkozy’s reign has been characterized by a tense relationship with the banlieues, the suburbs of France mostly inhabited by working-class immigrant peoples–so La Rumeur‘s political consciousness is certainly not unfounded.

But Sarkozy is not alone in his attack on rap music. There have been more than a few rappers sued by the Interior Ministry in the last decade alone (none successful), revealing the politically marginalized position of rap music in France not unlike the United States (just remember the recent uproar after Common was invited to the White House poetry slam).

Another reason for La Rumeur‘s absence from Paris is probably their very specifically anti-establishment spirit, shunning the popular media and using only live performance as a promotional tool. However, their return last evening was certainly an exciting event. La Rumeur returned to the Parisian spotlight sporting white button-downs and black ties while commanding the stage with a menacing high-energy performance reminiscent of OFWGKTA antics. Their image certainly reflected the sophisticated nature of their music while the performance itself didn’t abandon the hardcore nature of their subject matter.

It was certainly exciting to watch their return, especially in light of their now premiering television series, L’Encre. Directed by Hamé, L’Encre follows the young, female ghost-writer of a major label rapper, satirizing the commercialization and hypocrisy of the rap industry.

With such artistic ambition, one can only hope for more from La Rumeur.

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