Best known as one half of hip-hop outfit Les Grande Gueules, socially conscious rapper Demi Portion (real name Rachid) followed the moonlighting career path of most French MCs by balancing his band duties with his own solo output. Hailing from the Mediterranean seaside resort of Sete, he formed the underground urban duo with childhood friend Karim (aka Sprinter) in 1995, but it wasn't until 2008 that the pair released their first material. Two volumes of mixtapes On Ne Peut Pas Plaire a Tout le Monde and 8 Titres et Demi were followed by 2009 full-length studio album Au Paradis d'Enfer, but keen to further showcase his talents, he later also signed a solo deal with Y&W. Produced by the likes of El Gaouli, Muzo, and DJ Saxe and featuring a collaboration with his bandmate ("Toujours Ensemble"), his debut album, Artisan du Bic, was released in 2011. ~ Jon O'Brien