D-Natural returns as a candidate in the municipal elections in the Robert-Giffard district of Quebec

D-Natural is back, but as a candidate in the municipal elections in the Robert-Giffard district of Quebec.

Respect Citoyens leader Stéphane Lachance presented five new candidates for his party on Wednesday.

The name Benoît Bourdeau goes somewhat unnoticed, but his former stage name still resonates even several years later.

D-Natural is part of teenage folklore in the late 1990s in the Quebec City area. He had his first success in 1995 and a fairly lively final year in 2003, thanks to a few weeks at the top of MusiquePlus's French charts. The story even goes so far as to say that he needed protection for a while.

At the time, the rapper attracted all sorts of reactions. After a brief comeback in 2019, Mr. Bourdeau is still making waves on the streets. The music videos for " D-Natural is my name" and " D-Natural is back" are still available online.

On the occasion

"It happens occasionally, but the buzz is less there! I've changed and my head is white. There are still people who recognize me, but it's less frequent than when I was on MusiquePlus four times a day," he explains in an interview.

According to the aspiring politician, D-Natural will now remain in folklore, legend, imagination, and memories. "People love me, but I understood that the public was not going to pay to come and see me! I accept the verdict and it was necessary to move on."

In Robert-Giffard, Benoît Bourdeau will be battling outgoing councillor Isabelle Roy, formerly of Québec d'abord, the official opposition party at City Hall. Will D-Natural be an asset or a liability during the campaign?

"I don't deny it. It opened doors for me. It makes me a little more well-known, but you have to separate the two. D-Natural is a character, and Benoît Bourdeau is the one who presents himself."

In the past, the 50-year-old candidate had also mentioned that politics interested him.

Priorities

"It didn't work out with the PCQ. When Respect Citoyens came to see me, I joined them. It's my childhood neighborhood."

The latter also states that he wants to restore a true sense of listening to residents. In addition to his talent as an artist, he presents himself as a citizen, a Canada Post worker, a father, a union member, and a taxpayer. From a social perspective, he is still involved in dek hockey in the Quebec City region.

In Giffard, Mr. Bourdeau is already targeting several priorities three months before the election. And the adventure is only just beginning, he says.

"There's a problem with street alignment. There's also a problem with safety and speeding in residential areas. And for Respect Citoyens, Dufferin-Montmorency will not become an urban boulevard."