A couplet is a pair of lines of meter in poetry. It usually consists of two lines that rhyme and have the same meter.

Background[link]

While traditionally couplets rhyme, not all do. A poem may use white space to mark out couplets if they do not rhyme. Couplets with a meter of iambic pentameter are called heroic couplets. The Poetic epigram is also in the couplet form. Couplets can also appear in more complex rhyme schemes. For example, Shakespearean sonnets end with a couplet.

Rhyming couplets are one of the simplest rhyme schemes in poetry. Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales are written in rhyming couplets. John Dryden in the 16-17th century and Alexander Pope in the 18th century were both well known for their writing in heroic couplets.

Because the rhyme comes so quickly in rhyming couplets, it tends to call attention to itself. Good rhyming couplets tend to "explode" as both the rhyme and the idea come to a quick close in two lines. Here are some examples of rhyming couplets where the sense as well as the sound "rhymes":

True wit is nature to advantage dress'd;

What oft was thought, but ne'er so well express'd.

— Alexander Pope

Whether or not we find what we are seeking

is idle, biologically speaking.

— Edna St. Vincent Millay (at the end of a sonnet)

On the other hand, because rhyming couplets have such a predictable rhyme scheme, they can feel artificial and plodding. Here is a Pope parody of the predictable rhymes of his era:

Where-e'er you find "the cooling western breeze,"

In the next line, it "whispers through the trees;"

If crystal streams "with pleasing murmurs creep,"

The reader's threatened (not in vain) with "sleep."

Couplets in Chinese poetry[link]

Chinese couplets or "contrapuntal couplets" may be seen on doorways in Chinese communities worldwide. Couplets displayed as part of the Chinese New Year festival, on the first morning of the New Year, are called chunlian. These are usually purchased at a market a few days before and glued to the doorframe. The text of the couplets is often traditional and contains hopes for prosperity. Other chunlian reflect more recent concerns. For example, the CCTV New Year's Gala usually promotes couplets reflecting current political themes in mainland China.

Some Chinese couplets may consist of two lines of four characters each. Couplets are read from top to bottom where the first line starts from the right.

See also[link]

• Distich
• Elegiac couplet
• Closed couplet
• Chastushka
• Coupletist

Notes[link]

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Couplet

Kery James
Show in France, in Rennes (2008)
Background information
Birth name	Alix Mathurin
Born	(1977-12-28) December 28, 1977 (age 34) Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, West Indies
Genres	French rap, hardcore rap, conscious rap
Occupations	Rapper, songwriter, dancer, record producer, philanthropist
Years active	1992–present
Associated acts	Mafia K'1 Fry, Idéal J
Website	keryjames-officiel.skyrock.com

Alix Mathurin (born, December 28, 1977) better known as Kery James, is a French rapper, singer, songwriter, dancer and record producer, who was born in West Indies from Haitian parents. His mother raised him in Orly, a suburb of Paris. Nowadays with his three solo albums, he is one of the most respected French rappers. The media labelled him "the rapper repented through Islam". Kery James is aware of it, he really assumes this image. " I prefer to be the one who hold this role rather than somebody else. Numerous young Muslims are tempted to be intolerant or extremist. If I can open their eyes it is a good thing for them."

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Kery James arrived in continental France at the age of seven. He started at a young age to rap, dance, and write his own texts. The famous MC Solaar noticed him when he was only 10 years old in a cité (suburban housing estate) of Paris. He described the setting as "A place where the Islamic faith was omnipresent. All my friends in , and the symbols of the religion.

At around thirteen years old, he became a member of the group Idéal Junior (later abbreviated to Idéal J). They garnered a few singles with explicit titles like Hardcore, Pour une poignée de dollars and a first album titled Original MC’s sur une mission. In 1992, their single La vie est dure was released showing great promise though one of the talented artists, Alter, promptly left the group. In subsequent years while colleague Mehdi progressed as a prominent producer, Kery worked extensively on writing new material, his texts reflecting a life that involved altercations with the police, street rivalries and an omnipresent fear of death.

In 1996 the band's first album under the moniker Ideal J led the group to became renowned and respected as amongst the top French rappers with well-known singles like Ghetto français, Show business and, Je veux du cash. Ideal J multiplied their appearances on Maxis and as featured acts, reaching a surprising maturity with the single J'désole mes parents present on the compilation Nouvelle donne. However, Kery's career was put temporarily on hold in 1999 when his close childhood friend Las Montana was shot and killed. Kery took refuge in religious faith and took the name Ali as a symbol of his full conversion to Islam.

Solo career[link]

In October 2001 his solo album "Si c'était à refaire" with, among others, the tracks "28 décembre 1977", "Si c'était à refaire", "Soledad", "Y'a pas d'couleur". Released in 2001, this album is very personal and benefits from numerous collaborations: Nubians, Salif Keita... The rap is influenced by African, Arabic, Cuban musical influences, without forgetting the use of percussions and original instruments for this music style as the xylophone. He sings his African roots but also the problems of society like money, violence, and moral values. This album reflects the surprising maturity of Kery.

In 2004, Kery James' second album, Ma vérité continued to underline social and political militant messages taking positions on such subjects as the war in Iraq and on reality TV. However, at the same time, duets with very popular stars such as Diam's Mélanie Giorgadès and Amel Bent, started to distance him from his underground image.

In March 2008 this metamorphosis to mainstream popularity was underlined by a new album À l'ombre du show business whose title track was a collaboration with legendary French chanson star Charles Aznavour. Other tracks included Le combat continue part III, Banlieusards and Vrai Peura. On its first week of release the album reached third place on the French charts with 24,459 albums sold. For the music videos of this album, he worked with Luc Besson, Matthieu Kassovitz, J.G Biggs and Chris Macari.

Discography[link]

Albums and EPs[link]

Solo albums

• 2002 : Si c'était à refaire
• 2004 : Savoir et vivre ensemble
• 2005 : Ma vérité
• 2008 : À l'ombre du show business
• 2009 : Réel
• 2010 : À mon public (live album)
• 2012 : 92.2012

with Ideal Junior

• 1992 : La vie est brutale (Maxi-single)

with Ideal J

• 1996 : O'riginal MC's sur une mission
• 1998 : Le Combat Continue

with Mafia K'1 fry

• 1997 : Les liens sacrés
• 1999 : Légendaire
• 2003 : La cerise sur le ghetto
• 2007 : Jusqu'à la mort (+ reissue)

Singles[link]

Solo

• 2001: "Y'a pas d'couleur"
• 2004: "Relève la tête" (Kery James pres. Lino, AP, Diam's, Passi, Matt & Kool Shen)
• 2012: "Lettre à la République"

Collaborations[link]

1991

• MC Solaar feat. Raggasonic & Kery James - "Raggajam" on MC Solaar's album, Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo

1995

• Ideal J - Mauvais garçon on the soundtrack of Raï (1995)
• Ideal J - Ce soir, on est down on the soundtrack of Raï (1995)
• Ideal J - Orly City Bronx on the mixtape Orly City Bronx

1996

• Ideal J - Attaque/Contre attaque on the mixtape Invasion

1997

• Kery James feat. 113 & Rohff - "Dans Ta Race" on the compilation Mysta D. presents L'invincible armada
• Different Teep feat. Kery James - "Ras" on Different Teep's album, La rime urbaine
• Ideal J - "Cash Remix" on the compilation L 432

1998

• 113 Feat Kery James - Association sur le EP du 113, Ni Barreaux, Ni Barrières, Ni Frontières
• Manu Key Feat Lil Jahson & Kery James - "Triste point en commun" sur l'album éponyme de Manu Key
• Ideal J Feat 113 & Intouchable - "La voie que j'ai donnée à ma vie" sur la compile Nouvelle Donne

1999

• Alibi Montana Feat Kery James - "Le monde a cracké" sur l'album d'Alibi, T'as ma parole
• Prodige Namor Feat Kery James - "L'année de tous les dangers" sur l'album de Prodige Namor, L'heure de vérité
• Daomen Feat Kery James - "J'émerge" sur l'album de Daomen, Underground Classic
• Kery James Feat Rocca, Shurik'N & Hamed Daye - "Animalement votre" sur la mixtape Première classe vol. 1
• 113 Feat 113 Clan - Main Dans La Main sur l'album du 113, Les Princes de la ville

2000

• Kery James - "J'émerge (remix)" sur la compile Nouvelle Donne Collector Vol.1
• Kery James - "Les frères ne savent pas" sur la compile Time Bomb Session Vol.1
• Kertra Feat Kery James - "Face à face" sur l'album de Kertra, Le labyrinthe

2003

• Mafia K'1 Fry Feat Kery James - "Nuage de fumée Part II" sur l'album de la Mafia, La Cerise Sur Le Ghetto

2004

• Rim'K Feat Kery James - "Intact" sur l'album de Rim'K , L'enfant du pays
• Kery James Feat Booba - "Chacun Sa Manière" sur la compile Street Lourd Hall Stars
• Rohff Feat Kery James - "Mal aimé" sur l'album de Rohff, La Fierté Des Nôtres
• Kery James - "Laissez" sur la compile Des 2 cotés

2005

• Kool Shen Feat Kery James & Sinik - "That's my people" lors du dernier concert de Kool Shen au Zénith de Paris
• Tandem Feat Kery James, Faf La Rage, Diam's, Tunisiano & Kazkami - "Le Jugement" sur l'album de Tandem, C'est toujours pour ceux qui savent
• Kery James - "Je N'crois Plus En L'illicite" sur la compile Illicite Projet
• Mac Tyer Feat Kery James - "Patrimoine Du Ghetto" sur la compile Patrimoine Du Ghetto
• Kery James Feat Manu Key & A.P. - "Humanity" sur la compile Zone Caraïbes
• Kery James - "Attention" sur la compile Rap Performance
• Samat Feat Kery James & Larsen - "Le repentir" sur le Street CD de Samat, Samat Feat Hip Hop de rue
• Kery James - "Outro" sur la compile De la poudre au Rap

2006

• Heckel & Geckel Feat Kery James - "Moins de 20 ans" sur l'album d'Heckel & Geckel, Street Show

OGB Feat Kery James - "Ninety Four Side" sur l'album d'OGB, Enfermé Dehors

• Mac Tyer Feat Kery James - "Suicide carcéral" sur l'album de Mac Tyer, Le Général
• Rim'K Feat Kery James - "T'as Le Choix" sur la compile Illegal Radio
• Apash Feat Kery James - "3 horizons Differents" sur le Street CD d'Apash, Du Bon Son Pour Une Bonne Cause

2007

• M. Toma Feat Kery James - "Ouvrir ton cœur" sur l'album de M. Toma, Identité
• Kery James - "Symphonie d'amour" sur la B.O. du film Taxi 4
• Kery James - "1 pour la cause" sur la mixtape Ghetto Truand & Associés
• Manu Key Feat Kery James, F.dy Phenomen, Die & Tiwony - "Babylon System" sur l'album de Manu Key, Prolifique Vol.2
• Melissa M Feat Kery James - "Lettre à la tristesse" sur l'album de Melissa M, Avec tout mon amour
• Kery James Feat K'libre 13 - "Avance" sur la mixtape Opinion sur rue 3
• Kery James Feat Heckel & Geckel, Youssoupha, Smoker, Kamel L'ancien, Ben-J, Pit Baccardi, Diam's, Kalash L'afro, Ikbal Vockal, Seth Gueko, Sear Lui Même, Baba, Dosseh, Salif, James Izmad, Despo Rutti, Mister C, Alibi Montana, Mr Toma & Mac Tyer - "On ne sait pas abandonner" en hommage à l'émission Couvre Feu sur Skyrock
• Rohff Feat Kery James & Dragon Davy - "9.4 Mental" sur le Street CD de Rohff, Le chauchemar du Rap français
• TLF Feat Kery James - "Le box" sur l'album de TLF, Rêves de rue
• Kamelancien Feat Kery James - "J'résiste" sur la réédition de l'album de Kamel L'ancien, Le charme en personne
• Bakar Feat Kery James - "N'incite pas" sur l'album de Bakar, La rose du béton
• Idjal Feat Kery James & Farenheit - "Victimes du passé" sur l'album d'Idjal, Enfant du monde
• Légende Urbaine Feat Kery James - "D'humeur guerrière" sur l'album de Légende Urbaine, L'école de ma rue

2008

• Grand Corps Malade feat Kery James & Oxmo Puccino - "À la recherche" sur l'album de Grand Corps Malade, Enfant de la ville
• Zap Mama feat Kery James - "Apres La Pluie," A L’Ombre Du Show Business

External links[link]

• (French) Site officiel, sur Skyrock.com
• (French) « J'aurais pu dire », version audio
• (French) « J'aurai pu dire », version vidéo
• (French) Biographie et airplays de Kery James