Steve Jolin founded Disques 7ième Ciel when the music industry turned its back on rap; 20 years later, his label won the Félix Award for Record Company of the Year.
“I never took no for an answer,” says rapper and businessman Steve Jolin, founder of Disques 7ième Ciel, with whom Le Journal spoke. “Abitibians have always been perceived as pioneers and that’s how I see myself,” explains the Rouyn-Noranda native, who always felt that rap would take its place in our province’s music industry.
“We had to educate broadcasters and festival organizers to make them understand that rap was on the rise,” remembers Anodajay, his stage name. “It wasn’t easy, but by hitting the nail on the head, the message finally got through,” says the man whose label now represents big names like FouKi and Souldia.
Keke Calixte, co-host of the Rapolitik podcast and active in the world of Quebec rap for several years, describes Disques 7ième Ciel as an example to follow when it comes to artist management.
“From the beginning, this label has managed to give its artists the same exposure and notoriety as others [labels] who represent more commercial styles,” he notes, referring to rappers like Samian and Koriass, who had great success in the label’s first years of existence. “Steve [Jolin] “He has a very good instinct for recognizing talent, he is a very thoughtful and very intelligent guy,” he praises afterwards.
Koriass, Steve Jolin, Souldia and KNLO from Alaclair together in the stands at the Bell Center. Pierre-Paul Poulin / Le Journal de Montréal / Agence QMI
A nice pat on the back
Steve Jolin says it himself; We don’t work for trophies. However, the man who is preparing to enter the Bell Center with his team for his label’s 20th anniversary show is happy about the recognition that the company and its members are receiving.
“We work very hard, so it is rewarding to be recognized and to see that we have earned an enviable place in the industry,” says humbly the founder of Disques 7ième Ciel, who has just received the Félix for Entreprise de Record Production and Record Company of the Year at the ADISQ Gala.
In addition to these awards, Souldia, FouKi, Zach Zoya and Shreez, four of the label’s standard bearers, were also among the nominees at the annual gathering of the musical elite.
Come together to celebrate
The show on November 10th at the Bell Center is intended to celebrate the two decades of existence of Disques 7ième Ciel, but also coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of rap and the fortieth anniversary of this musical genre in our province.
“Rap is collaborative music, so we will celebrate the history of the label through our artists, but we also want to celebrate Quebec rap as a whole by inviting artists who are not signed to us,” explains Steve Jolin.
In addition to star musicians such as Koriass, FouKi, Souldia and members of the Alaclair Ensemble, Quebec rap fans will have the opportunity to see veterans of the caliber of Manu Militari, Imposs and Loud perform at this event.