Grand Corps Malade Biography

Grand Corps Malade


Grand Corps Malade was the alias of French rapper and urban poet Fabien Marsaud, a product of Paris' tough northern suburb Seine-Saint-Denis born July 31, 1977. A diving accident suffered on his 20th birthday left Marsaud permanently disabled, inspiring the Grand Corps Malade moniker -- roughly translated, the name means "Large Sick Body" -- and forcing upon him the omnipresent crutch that would become a signature element of his stage act. Upon discovering "slam poetry" in 2003, Marsaud began writing autobiographical verse and entering readings at the Parisian bar Collectif 129H. A friend later suggested he set his poems to music, and in early 2006 he issued the first Grand Corps Malade LP, MIDI 20, a gritty collection decrying the racism, poverty, and isolation endemic throughout suburban Paris. The record proved an unexpected blockbuster, selling in excess of 300,000 copies in less than six months and vaulting Marsaud to national notoriety. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Popular Biographies:

Roddy woomble Biography: Singer Roddy Woomble achieved recognition in the late '90s/early 2000s as the frontman for Scottish rock band Idlewild, which released a handful of albums before Woomble chose to explore his options...

20 fingers Biography: Charles Babie and Manfred Mohr, two Chicago producers, teamed with rapper Sandra Gillette for "Short Dick Man." The clean version of the single ("Short Short Man") reached the Top 20, and Top Five on...

Aerosmith Biography: Aerosmith was one of the most popular hard rock bands of the '70s, setting the style and sound of hard rock and heavy metal for the next two decades with their raunchy, bluesy swagger....

Darkbuster Biography: Boston's Darkbuster formed in 1996 around vocalist/guitarist Lenny Lashley, bassist Mike Gurley, and drummer Eric Edmonston. Fueled by cheap beer and good times, the hard-drinking punk outfit...

Pnau Biography: Pnau -- made up of Brisbane school buddies Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes -- were not the typical Aussie music act when they first hit the stage during the mid-'90s. Instead of rock, they played...

Minor threat Biography: Minor Threat was the definitive Washington, D.C., hardcore punk band, setting the style for the straight-edge punk movement of the early '80s. Led by vocalist Ian MacKaye, the band was staunchly...

My bloody valentine Biography: Like the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, and the Jesus & Mary Chain before them, My Bloody Valentine redefined what noise meant within the context of pop songwriting. Led by guitarist Kevin Shields,...

Three dog night Biography: Three Dog Night scored a succession of 21 hit singles, including eleven Top Tens, and twelve consecutive gold albums from 1969 to 1975, thanks to the slick, sometimes soulful vocal harmonies of...

Bookmark Us