As great and popular as Shalai was in 1999-2000, the international success of Trop c'est Trop seemed to overshadow it completely and ending up being the group's peak. 

Doudou Copa, Espé Bass, Herman Ngassaki, Oxy Oxygene, Abilissi, Papy Jah, & Papy Bastin on vocals.


Ah, Espe kamola Bass. Amazing bass work.

The arrangement reminds me of a QL group song just a bit as it diverts from the usual Extra style. I'm also still impressed that it was Roga Roga who did all the arrangement and instrument tuning.

@Matebu

I agree, Espe Bass had perfect timing with his fret slide at the 2:40 mark! Quick question...on the album cover for Shalai, who are the two men pictured under Oxygene?

Can't forget about Espe Bass funky bassline at the conclusion of Lassier Passer (credited to Kila Mbongo), its a nice constrast with Roga Roga's playful solo partition.

By the way, what are they chanting at 7:22 onward?

@Matebu

I agree, Espe Bass had perfect timing with his fret slide at the 2:40 mark! Quick question...on the album cover for Shalai, who are the two men pictured under Oxygene?

Can't forget about Espe Bass funky bassline at the conclusion of Lassier Passer (credited to Kila Mbongo), its a nice constrast with Roga Roga's playful solo partition.

By the way, what are they chanting at 7:22 onward?

Gildas Pozzi & Christian Kingstall

"Ya Pas Match". Because that people were comparing them to Extra Musica International, which couldn't do in their opinion.

@Wenge1995, yeah the sound work on the album is pretty amazing, especially listening with home stereo. Artists should understand that you get the sound right (with minimal synthesizers), then the album sound will not age.

It sounds better than the stuff Roga Roga is putting out now.

On this song one would think it's someone like Alain Makaba on solo, but it's Sonor. For this album Roga Roga bought a Steinberger M series guitar, which was the prefered choice for Makaba since the Wenge 4x4 TT days.

 extra really spoiled us in that period, etat major shalai and trop c est trop  thats some serious work then it started changeing from obligatoire

This was when Extra Musica was at its peak. It was about before the album Trop c'est trop when Roga Roga began to get more and more power in Extra Musica and wanted insert "the boss attitude" as we see now too often and it is disgusting.

Them producing Etat Major, Shalai & Trop c'est Trop was also because they had alot of pressure on their shoulders, since that Extra Musica International was hitting them. So they to prove the people that they were the best. On Obligatoire they didn't had the pressure,because Extra Musica International and Z1 International were all down. Which also explain why that album doesn't have the power like the 3 others. With Doudou Copa and Oxygene started to look to other options.