By imagining his own universe, Puccino uses his own gangster legend, part of the feared ‘Black Mafia’, as a device for portraying his experiences and relationships from growing up in one of France’s roughest ghettos. He takes the listener on a dark and melancholic path, with touches of humour and sarcasm he highlights the contradictions of our modern society against the backdrop and reality of everyday life in the ghetto. With his unique view on life and imaginative delivery making him a stand out lyricist and poet, it is no surprise Puccino is open to alternative flows musically and has begun to push himself out of convention. Nicolas Lug, from the prestigious Blue Note record label, contacted him in June 2005 with the proposition of an acoustic jazz project, the kind of genre blending that we at 17th Letter are very fond of.
``He highlights the contradictions of our modern society against the backdrop and reality of everyday life in the ghetto.`` In 2006 Oxmo formed the Jazzbastards with the help of Vincent Segal, an equally talented multi-instrumentalist. Considered a revolution by many, their first album Lipopette Bar draws heavily from jazz with lyrical storytelling at its heart. Continuing his journey to explore different ways of delivering his flow, Oxmo performed an acoustic tour with Vincent Segal and Edward Ardan, revisiting many of his songs accompanied by guitar and cello. It is hard not to feel inspired by this King of French Hip-Hop so the news starting to get us excited here at 17th HQ is Ox’s next release is due out on September 17th! The new LP, titled Roi Sans Carrosse (King Without a Coach). Check out his web page www.oxmo.net for the preview video Le Sucre Pimenté (Spiced Sugar). - HA 56 - Q3 / September 2012 - XVII