Reviews

Song

‘Dégueulasse’ JEANJASS & CABALLERO

28/11/2018 Double Hélice - Polydor France

I really wanted to talk to you about a piece of music that troubled me a lot. This is a new song called ‘Dégueulasse’ (which means ‘disgusting’ in French) by Caballero and JeanJass – the Belgian duet rappers.

The lyrics draw our attention towards problems in society that we are being ignorant of, such as welcoming immigrants into our countries or the airstrikes in Syria, and talk about our daily concerns in a falsely innocent tone and with disconcerting accuracy. Continuing on into a chorus that simply reminds us that ‘‘Life is really beautiful’’.

We can also recognize the melodic sounds and style of Stromae – the legendary Belgian artist know in Europe thanks to ‘Papaoutai’, ‘Alors On Danse’ and ‘Formidable’ – which makes me very happy. Indeed, Stromae co-produced and co-wrote this masterpiece. It’s also important to watch the video clip and recognise the irony in it - it’s really not disgusting as the song name implies. It’s quite the contrary actually: it’s really beautiful.

© Anna Jégo

Concerts

MHD

O2 Forum Kentish Town London 14/11/18

‘‘The little Prince has become King’’

That’s what MHD - whose real name is Mohammed - says in his song ‘Bravo’, and in seeing the atmosphere he created in London, the energy provided, and all that love for Afro Trap music that he made us feel, I would say that the artist was right in saying that the little prince has become king.

I’ve rarely seen such an excited audience at a concert. In fact, Iʼve never seen a gig like that at a gig either. It was half concert, and half tempo of Afro music. What is certain is that the English public and the French people present in the room is that they were united as one that evening. MHD has made a name for himself in France thanks to the tracks he posted on YouTube in 2015 and it has come a long way since then. Heʼs become one of the pillars of Afro music in France.

The atmosphere is already electric and it goes up a notch when Wizkid appears on stage for the track ‘Bella’, that was eagerly anticipated by the public. I would say that MHD has given a very warm feeling to his audience that makes him appeal well. I sincerely think that the English public, having discovered this artist from Paris on that night, is not ready to forget this artist who blew them away during this powerful and euphoric live experience.

© Fanny Hill Scott

BIGFLO & OLI

Zénith of Lille France 18/10/18

Ohlala it was crazy! Everything was amazing from top to bottom! Whether it is the typical and familiar scenery; made of a house and building through to a grandiose set of lights - everything was incredible.The energy released on stage by the two young rapper brothers of 25 and 22 years of age from Toulouse in the south of France was unbelievable. They knew exactly how to ignite this Zénith in Lille crowd of more than 8,000 people.

Their raw talent gives them no need to prove anything to other rappers, or even to the French-speaking public, who continue to support Florian and Olivio - their real names - still, for almost two years at the Top of French Charts since the release of their second album La Vraie Vie. They also let us in on part of their history with an animated film broadcast at the beginning of the concert which retraced their career so far.

This concert took on a playful appearance when they played humorous scenes alongside their faithful friend and world champion Beatbox Wawad. There was a lot of emotion to and during this live performance when they performed their biggest successes, such as ‘Dommage’, ‘Daddy’ or ‘Alors Alors’. It was a truly amazing concert that created the feeling of family for us and gave us many memories to remember.

© Fanny Hill Scott14

Albums

Nuit JAZZY BAZZ

07//2018 3.14 Production

Two years after P-Town, his last album, Jazzy Bazz returns with Nuit, the amazing work of a long evening of twilight at 5:00 a.m.

Throughout this journey, Jazzy Bazz keeps us awake with incredible instrumentals that perfectly reflect the feelings of the author between melancholy, drunkenness and onirism, particularly in ‘Sentiments’, ‘Minuit’ or ‘Rue Du Soleil’.

Through rhymes always more sought and sophisticated, he delivers his worries and reflections on the world and the people that surround him, such as the insomnia that is meant to be a real wandering introspective in the streets of Paris. This sound in featuring with Alpha Wann proves his attachment to the members of The Entourage - a Rap Collectif - of which he makes himself part, along with other guests of this collective, such as Nekfeu in ‘Eternité’.

With this new album, Jazzy Bazz proves once again his talent as a poet, who wants to satisfy all the dreamers in search of new dreams.

© Léa Savin

Enfant Lune GRINGE

02/11/2018 7th M8gnitude - Wagram Music

Wow! I would say that the surprise element is really there with this album! Many of you will have been reluctant to hear a Gringe solo album without his eternal accomplice at his side, Orelsan - who has won three awards at the 2018 Victory Awards. But think again because this album is really good! Really excellent, I would say!

There are lots of emotions on display, especially in songs like ‘Pieces Détachés’ and ‘Scanner’, where the 38-year-old rapper from Poitiers in the West of France gets lyrically naked without restraint. From the first song of the album ‘Memo’, where Gringe does a review of his career, we already know what quality music and lyrical content can be expected. There is also some excellent production work done on songs such as ‘On Danse Pas’ and ‘Déchiré’, in duo with Orelsan, who makes two appearances on this opus and brings the revival of the beloved group Casseurs Flowters that we also saw in the movie Comment C’est Loin.

I really recommend this album, itʼs full of surprises like this duet with Nemir - that you must have heard in the song ‘Princess’ featuring Nekfeu - ‘Jusqu’où Elle M’aime’. In short, it’s a very nice musical discovery for 2018.

© Fanny Hill Scott

Jeannine LOMEPAL

07/12/2018 Pineale Prod - Grand Musique Management

Wow, it was crazy! We had missed Lomepal and his return was a great pleasure! Always the king of the egotrip in French Rap, Lomepal - real name Antoine - once again manages to captivate us with his stories. More introspective than his latest first studio album, Flip released in June 2017, seems to be a real outlet for the 27-year-old artist.

He talks about his eccentric family and this crazy grandmother called Jeannine - where the title of the album comes from. It also evokes his sorrows and the feeling of being finally where he feels best: under the spotlight. The young rapper from Paris speaks several times of the feeling of having finally fulfilled his dreams of glory and he’s now between fire and ice.

This new album, is full of musical treasures like ‘Plus De Larmes’, ‘Evidemment’ or ‘Trop Beau’. There are also great featured artists including the song with Roméo Elvis - the Belgian rapper - on the title ‘1000°’ which had announced thelong-awaited return of Lomepal. We can also find the rapper’s impressive collaboration with the French artist Philippe Katherine. There is a lot of emotion in the album and it’s a very beautiful opus with sincerity that brings this musical year of 2018 to a close.

© Fanny Hill Scott

XX5 GEORGIO

23/11/2018 Panenka Music

It was phenomenal! This new album is, in my eyes, one of the most beautiful albums of Rap to end the year 2018 with. It had everything: emotion, energy, sincere and sharp lyrics. The charisma of Georgio - he knows how to be genuine on his tracks, still as sincere as in his latest album Hera.

Often nicknamed the ‘'Poet of the French Rap'’, it seems that this nickname sticks to him and is truthful, especially when listening to songs like ‘Prisonniers’ and ‘Aujourd'hui’. Always devoted and melancholy, there are beautiful pieces in which the young rapper of 25-years-old is naked as ‘Akira’ and ‘31 Janvier’, which is a magnificent declaration of love that he makes to the one who he shares his life with.We also recognize the signature melodic sound of the beatmaker Elite - known as Nekfeu, and S-Crew’s friend and DJ during their concert - and his BlackBird label on some tracks. As usual, the rapper from Paris isn’t afraid to put forward social truths like in ‘Coup Pour Coup’ and ‘Monnaie’.

I strongly advise you to listen to this album as it stands out from others thanks to the communication of emotion and the haunting and remarkable production. This album is a big favourite of mine!

© Fanny Hill Scott