Svinkels

In the mid-1990s in the Paris area the rap project Svinkels was formed, led by MCs Gérard Baste, Nikus Pokus and Mr Xavier, joined on the decks by DJ Pone and, from 2008, DJ Myst. Rooted in French hip‑hop but often associated with alternative rap, Svinkels developed a style marked by humour, subverting rap conventions and a taste for rock and punk references, with lyrics built around puns, offbeat imagery and party narratives. After several maxi‑singles in the late 1990s, the band released its first album Bons pour l’asile in 1999, followed by Trois points de suspension in 2001 and Dirty Centre in 2004, which established Svinkels on rap and rock stages, with numerous festival appearances and a presence in the independent circuit. During this period the members multiplied collaborations within the French alternative hip‑hop movement. Svinkels halted activities around 2010 before reforming in 2017; this new phase resulted in the 2018 release Rechute, which kept the group’s festive, ironic rap orientation while incorporating more contemporary sounds.