Sniper

by Jason Ankeny French hip-hop group Sniper formed in the suburbs of Paris in 1997. Rappers El Tunisiano (born Bachir Baccour) and Aketo (Ryad Selmi), dancehall toaster Black Renega (Karl Appela), and DJ Boudj originally adopted the moniker Personnalité Suspecte, but changed the name prior to the 2001 release of their debut album, Du Rire aux Larmes. Following the release of 2003's Gravé Dans la Roche, Sniper came under attack from French Minister of the Interior Nicolas Sarkozy, who filed a lawsuit to combat their street-smart, often political lyrics, which he dubbed "violent, racist and abusive." A judge later dismissed the case, but the resulting controversy made the group a cause célèbre and galvanized record sales. Trait Pour Trait followed in 2006.