Albums Reviews

Adios Bahamas // NÉPAL

01/2020 © Triple 4 Gear

What can we say about this new masterpiece that Népal gave us as a final gift finalized before his tragic passing last November? It’s simply a message of infinite wisdom transmitted in music.

There’s one thing overwhelming in this album: all the message of hope delivered in each song. Like a philosophical and spiritual ballad that would take us to another universe. It’s a call to the inner journey to probe the depths of our soul. Népal makes a strong call for reflection, as for example here with “Nobody learns to think for himself, the answer is in the question” in the song 'En Face' featuring Nekfeu. He also continues his reasoning by prompting us to question ourselves as here: “If hell is other people, why do we want to do like everyone else?” in ‘Sundance’.

Between reflection and hope, the instrumentals are worked and intense. They all alternate between several emotions that reinforce the artist’s questions. Between melancholy and appeasement, the journey also goes through melody, ‘Crossfader’ being the perfect example.

Népal was - without a doubt - someone who thought a lot about the meaning of words and the construction of his texts. Nothing’s left to chance, there’s always a hidden message. Adios Bahamas is an album that delights over time. Even when we think that we have fully understood the intensity of the message transmitted by the artist, we discover a new message that the rapper wanted us to get every time we’re listening to it. The infinite textual richness of Népal will undoubtedly be missing in French Rap. Rest in peace.

Words: © Fanny Hill Scott

Nouvo Mode // SNEAZZY

03/2020 © All Points

After his trilogy DBSS – which is also very successful and should be massively listened to during this quarantine time – Sneazzy releases his third project brilliantly.

“I only like to write when I’m at my lowest, I only like sad subjects”. Like this quote from the song 'Zéro Détail' featuring with Nekfeu, we discover a new side of Sneazzy more expressive than before throughout this album. Nouvo Mode is surely the album of the maturity in terms of feelings and past experiences for the artist from the collective 1995. Through this project, the rapper regularly evokes love, regret, awareness but also the absence of a father in his life.

Some tracks shoot us like a “Pogba hit” and we can say that Sneazzy didn’t go the soft way. On the song 'Règles', the rapper clearly had fun on it by delivering an impressive technical Rap without a chorus, to give us the ten life’s rules to follow, based on his punchlines and legendary flow. ‘Comme Avant’ shows us the rapper’s achievement with the combination of strong lyrics and catchy music. We no longer retain only his punchlines, but his whole work.

A very good alchemy on his feat with Laylow, Lefa and Arma Jackson on powerful tracks, even more emotion was given with S.Pri Noir on 'Mon Père C'est Ma Mère' talking about their missing fathers. Impossible not to mention the powerful song 'Étincelles' in feat with Alpha Wann, S.Pri Noir and Nekfeu, a collaboration surely better than a fusion of Son Goku and Vegeta. This is probably the biggest banger of the year so far. It’s clearly a full score for this “new mode” album.

Words: © Samson Gorski

Split // JOSMAN

03/2020 © Sideline

A year and a half after the release of J.O.$, Josman came back with his second album named Split and we can say that he hit hard. As its name suggests it, the album is inspired by the movie Split in which the character of Kevin Wendell Crumb played by actor James McAvoy has 23 different personalities. Josman took up this concept by offering his audience 23 songs where each of them would represent a different mood.

Josman also worked on the album artwork which once again illustrates this concept. We can see the rapper from several angles expressing different outlook. The album is enjoyable like a captivating thriller. The artist manages to change his flow while keeping his personality, a bit like Travis Scott could do it.

We also find a very good casting level featuring with Hamza, Leto, Seth Gueko, Chily and Zed (a member of the collective 13 Block). The track 'B!tch' in featuring with Hamza is particularly interesting, Josman manages to keep his inimitable flow while surfing on the R'n'B vibe of Hamza - the same vibe that made famous the Belgian rapper.

Special mention for the crazy banger 'Bruce Wayne' where Zed made a reference to the song ‘Fuck le 17' of 13 Block by pointing the police once again. Josman also released a fabulous verse on it. In brief, this album is likely to turn your brain upside-down.

Words: © Samson Gorski

Trinity // LAYLOW

02/2020 © Digitalmundo

Laylow’s new project has just marked the beginning of the year 2020 on the French Rap and we can congratulate the incredible quality of it that borders on the genius.

Trinity, which means 'three elements' is not just an album, it’s a software, a sensational adventure and even a digital experience. True to himself, Laylow offers us a dazzling project with 22 tracks inspired by the greatest science fiction movies. This album is a worked history that follows a meaningful journey felt by the artist. Throughout the album, we are discovering the relationship between Laylow and Trinity an artificial intelligence.

Heavily influenced by the film Matrix, Laylow also released three futuristic clips 'Trinity Ville', 'Megatron' and 'Poizon' that take us into a dark and melancholic universe. Listening to this album has the effect of an emotional roller coaster between hope and sadness. Laylow often describe himself to a kind of Cyborg who can no longer feel emotion due to his mechanic side and it’s the reason why he decided to push the emotions transmitted in his songs to a deep level to make sure it can be fully felt.

There are also surprising feats such as the one with Alpha Wann, Jok'air or S.Pri Noir and Lomepal on ‘Burning Man’. Always ahead of his time with a unique style and always looking for innovation, Laylow will never cease to surprise us.

Words: © Gloria Dominiak

Chaise Pliante II // HATIK

03/2019 © Low Wood

Hatik added a second chapter to the saga Chaise Pliante started in 2018 and we can say that he smashed everything again!

The one who has seen his career take a decisive turn since his appearance in the TV show Validé - the first series on French Rap produced by Franck Gastambide - dazzles us once again. This new project tinged with different atmospheres proved once again the talent of this rapper from the Parisian suburbs in the Yvelines (78).

A perfect balance between banger where the flow is fast and jerky as in the tracks 'La Rue' and 'Cercle Vicieux' and a sweet melancholy on 'Ferme Les Yeux', this album is a true gem. We must admit that Hatik wasn’t afraid to take the pen to open up to his audience. Big crush for ‘Adieu Mon Amour’ where Hatik, whose real name is Clément Penhoat, evokes a painful and emotional break up in which many people can recognize themselves.

Always benevolent and ready to speak up on the subjects he wants to defend, the rapper did not hesitate to make a song kinda “feminist”. Indeed, he expressed his support for women on ‘Je T’aime’ saying “You are the future of this world, they want to decide for you / I know you have your own ideas and many abilities / A few men who belittle you and I feel pain for you”.

His respective featuring with rappers Jok'Air and Médine bring a truly special touch to this already excellent mixtape.

Words: © Fanny Hill Scott

Ma vie est un film II // INFINIT'

03/2020 © Don Dada Records

After his last project called Ma Version Des Faits in 2018 – which is also a very good album – it has been 7 years since the first opus of the project Ma Vie Est Un Film was released. Infinit’ is now back more powerful than ever with the second part of the project with 14 tracks and 6 featuring including artists such as Alpha Wann, Deen Burbigo, K.S.A., or Gros Mo.

For this new album, Infinit’ has chosen to shoot the songs 'Programme', 'On Sconnait Pas', 'D'en Bas' or 'Cigarette 2 Haine' in featuring with the dazzling rapper Alpha Wann - surely the best connection ever.

After a long absence, we find back rapper Deen Burbigo featuring on the vibrant track ‘Médicine’ and we have to admit that we’re glad that he’s back. Infinit’ shows us a new side of him through the song 'On Sconnait Pas' in featuring with Gros Mo where he evokes a woman who seems special to him. The rapper originally from South of France, also talked about a pleasant woman that he’s attracted by with singer Yeshe on ‘Pensées’. Being a perfect mix between soft sounds and banger such as ‘J’y Vais’ where rappers Barry, Veust and Infinit’ have a strong kick. Alpha Wann appears a second time on this project on 'UMLA tour' featuring with K.S.A. and this track draws the Alpha’s tour Une Main Lave l’Autre on which both rappers were invited as the support act.

The album’s name meaning “my life is a movie”, the project of Infinit’ is so good that I clearly want to watch this film a second time, no pun intended.

Words: © Samson Gorski

Eternale Atack // LIL UZI VERT

03/2019 © Atlantic Recording Corporation

Lil Uzi Vert, the flagship artist of the Soundcloud scene that emerged around 2015, stayed quiet for almost 3 years without any projects. We saw a hype rarely seen in the Rap game around his album Eternal Atake whose release was postponed many times because of record label issues.

After a long lack of communication, he releases his album on a whim in the middle of the day on March 6, 2020. The result? The first week of sales reached 288,000 copies only in digital. This enabled him to acquire the status of superstar.

Also, the artist confirmed theories explaining a structure of the album in 3 parts of 6 singles each. The first being Baby Pluto: an alter ego of the rapper strongly influenced by Future’s album: Pluto. On the menu: Trap and Egotrip seasoned with aggressive beats and ‘spatial’ sounds. It sounds kinda ‘generic’ but still interesting with a successful first track. The second is the other alter ego Renji: more jovial, recalls the goods vibes that propelled Uzi and make him unique in the Rap game. The third and last part represent the rapper himself who mixes his styles and spreads his versatility.

Whatever the part, the productions are perfectly executed and transcribe a space universe as desired by the rapper. The themes remain wealth, fashion, women and Uzi’s rockstar lifestyle but brought by fresh music of which he’s the only one to have the recipe. Even after a long time away from the music scene, Uzi is still at his peak.

Words: © Miguel Neves Da Costa