At the dawn of their career, the group IAM released “L’école du micro d’argent”. Dropped in 1997, this album became an undisputed classic of French rap, widely considered IAM’s magnum opus. Tracks like “La Saga”, “Demain c’est loin”, “Quand on allait tu revenais”, and “L’Empire du côté obscur” have since entered the canon of French hip-hop legends.
Like many groups of their generation, IAM drew deeply from pop culture to shape their references. Much like the Wu-Tang Clan—with whom Shurik’n and Akhénaton collaborated on “La Saga”—the group was heavily inspired by kung-fu films, especially “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin”, which also infused “Enter the Wu: The 36 Chambers” with its mythos. Shurik’n even mentions Shaolin monks in “Quand tu allais on revenait”. From “Ombre et lumière” to “L’Empire du côté obscur”, IAM also wove in strong inspiration from the Star Wars universe.
In an interview with “Brut”, Akhénaton explained that discovering the first Star Wars film back in 1977 was “a major shock”. He saw it as a binary world where good and evil were predefined with no nuance. With this track, he wanted to show that sometimes “hope rises from the dark” (as Shurik’n raps in “L’Empire du côté obscur”), and that those who preach purity or morality aren’t always on the right side. This reflection echoes the final scene of Spike Lee’s film Malcolm X.
Without diving into racial discourse, it’s clear that history has long associated darkness with negativity. “L’Empire du côté obscur” is more than just a nod to Star Wars—it’s a powerful statement against black-and-white thinking. In an age where complex issues are boiled down to “you’re either with us or against us” (as Orelsan puts it in “L’odeur de l’essence”), the track’s message feels more relevant than ever.
The track opens with an iconic voiceover that has become legendary in French rap. But where does that sample come from? It’s taken from an audio version of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, narrated by Jean Gabin with music composed by Jean-Michel Jarre. A rare gem that has since become a cult piece, though now hard to find.
