Made in France

Mehdi Favéris-Essadi, better known by his stage name DJ Mehdi, was a key figure in the emerging French rap and electro scenes in the 2000s. Thirteen years after his untimely death, director and close friend Thibaut de Longeville sheds light on a pioneering artist. From an early age, Mehdi listened assiduously to his parents record collection and started making his own music from his bedroom.

DJ Mehdi was a key figure in the emerging French rap and electro scenes in the 2000s. Thirteen years after his untimely death, director and close friend Thibaut de Longeville sheds light on a pioneering artist. Episode 2: Mehdi and Kery James produce the iconic album Le combat continue (The Fight Goes On), which tells the story of the streets and the unvarnished reality of the French suburbs.

DJ Mehdi was a key figure in the emerging French rap and electro scenes in the 2000s. Thirteen years after his untimely death, director and close friend Thibaut de Longeville sheds light on a pioneering artist. Episode 3: As DJ Mehdi pursued his music-making with Kery James, his curious ear led him to discover the French electro scene through Cassius, the musical duo he collaborated with when composing for MC Solaar. At the height of the “French Touch” movement, he meets Pedro Winter (then manager of Daft Punk), who helps him get into the elitist French house and electro scene.

DJ Mehdi was a key figure in the emerging French rap and electro scenes in the 2000s. Thirteen years after his untimely death, director and close friend Thibaut de Longeville sheds light on a pioneering artist. Episode 4: A joyous manifesto for the art of sampling, cultural mixing and poetry, 113’s Les Princes de la ville becomes the soundtrack of a generation.

The story of DJ Mehdi, a pioneering artist in the French rap and electro scenes. Episode 5: After the success of their previous album, the members of 113 were running out of inspiration. DJ Mehdi suggests they reach out to Thomas Bangalter from Daft Punk for the eponymous track from the album 113 Fout la merde: an unprecedented collaboration, at a time when the helmeted duo refused to make music for Madonna, Janet Jackson, Björk or any other world-famous artists.

The story of DJ Mehdi, a pioneering talent in the French rap and electro scenes. Episode 6: In 2003, Pedro Winter creates Ed Banger Records. DJ Mehdi had come up with the name for the label and brings all his drive and creativity to it. Around this time bands such as The Strokes are pounding out their heady rock and the French Touch is fading. The two friends, accompanied by So-Me, the label’s artistic director, turn to a new musical style following in the footsteps of Justice and other talented new bands.