MISTER V // Interview

What about Mister V, who's considered a little legend in France? This 26-year-old man from Grenoble in the South-East of France, who was discovered for the first time on YouTube in 2010, and who has conquered a large audience, has now become a fully-fledged rapper.

Many have wondered how one can make humorous and self-deprecating sketches on Youtube and Rap in a serious and structured environment at the same time. If we don't yet know the magic recipe to finding the perfect balance between humor and musical punchline, Mister V seems to have understood how to find the compromise between these two universes.

Yvick – by his real name – talk to A Rap & A Cup Of Tea with great sincerity, modesty and, of course, humour. He has always excelled through humour, and has even recently found himself making a video alongside Will Smith - on the latter’s own channel. Always on the move, working on his various projects, Yvick took the time to find the right words to describe his incredible journey. He told us everything about his dazzling return with his last album MVP released on January 31. Indeed, he wasn't afraid to highlight his fragility and how it allows him to give the best of himself to his art.

Mister V is, first and foremost, one of the only French who managed, with a masterful hand, to conquer the USA . Indeed Yvick is the only French or European celebrity modeled in NBA 2K20; same for his music, which is available on the B.O of the NBA 2k20. He has accumulated more than 15 million followers through his various networks, Yvick returned to his career and his evolution in the French Rap game.

I wanted to congratulate you on this new album, which is very lit, and we see that you left nothing to chance. Were you not fairly worried about coming back with a second album?

Of course, I was. It’s something you think about every day in the sense that you’re in the studio, you’re working crazy hard, and you sometimes wonder, "Wait, I’m doing what?” Especially as most people know me from another domain [e.d: his YouTube channel]. When I met people on the street, they ask me:"When are you going to release a new video?" And I knew I was working on a new album. As people aren’t in your head and don’t know what kind of mindset you’re in, you can become a little schizophrenic. Because you come back with a Rap album, where you’re serious, and you’ve really worked on it, etc., and people are still waiting for your new humorous videos.

Do you ever worry about people locking you in the “Youtuber” box again, without being taking seriously in Rap, or do you feel like things have changed?

As far as I’m concerned, I see that it changed because people really felt my sincerity. They understood that I had worked, and that I wanted to give them a nice project. I think opinions can really change when people feel your sincerity and your desire to do the right thing. Those who come from YouTube like me, have also diversified quite a bit - some make comics, books; some become beatmakers, producers etc. We created our own work, and had to learn to manage several tools. In my case, I'm a fan of many things, and by making videos I discovered even more of my passions. Despite everything, I’ve been making music for 11 years, I’ve always incorporated it into my sketches, and I realized that I really like doing it, and my people have also encouraged me to do it. I didn’t wanted to die without trying to make music.

Precisely speaking of 'Youtubers' we see more and more of them who try to get into Rap. For example, there was Seb La Frite who just released his new single like Squeezie did. Do you feel that you’ve paved the way for those who come after you?

I don’t know if I did help, but if I did, that’s cool. Honestly, I don’t want to be the spokesperson for anything. I do my stuff and it’s fine with me. If it has allowed other people to get into this field and legitimize the image of “YouTuber-Rapper” that’s fine with me. I think the most important thing is that things are done really well and not just as a marketing product, otherwise it loses all its value.

You still try to clarify things in your video 'Make a second album' where you say that on stage, you won't do sketches, for example. Do you think it’s hard for people to say to themselves, “He’s going to be serious this time”?

My humor is based on self-derision, and I'm aware that when I'll be on stage, there will always be people who have in mind the image of me with dreadlocks that makes an imitation of Koba La D. I would be lying and be in denial if I said the opposite. I prefer to laugh at the situation, because I know who I am, and especially where I come from. This video was also important to make in the sense that I really wanted to warn people that on stage, they will see a new side of me. Explaining it to people also allows them to better understand that Mister V also makes music, and that he's a rapper as well. I’m convinced that without this video, there would have been plenty of people who wouldn’t even listen to the album, because they wouldn’t necessarily understand. It was really important for me to show that I was really invested in this project, and that I was doing it out of passion.

I didn’t wanted to die without trying to make music.

And now that the album has come out, how do you feel?

I'm very happy, because I’ve had a very good comeback, and I see that this album has found its audience. I had this apprehension about how the public was going to react. With my first album, there was definitely more tolerance, in the sense that people said “He gets a shot, we have to leave him enjoying it”. It’s different with a second album, we need to prove ourselves more and 'prove' what we tried to show with the first opus. In all honesty, the results are well above my expectations. I find it crazy when I see Instagram stories from a nightclub where my songs being played. (laughs)

Speaking of fans, do you think your Rap audience is different from your YouTube one?

In my opinion, it's a common audience, even though it's true that I also have an audience in each area. But of course, there are some who don't understand that I'm active in two different fields. (laughs)

Moreover, we see the evolution that there was between your first opus and the second, you say in ‘Clinton’ that what changed is “the substance but not the form”. How do we reach this level; with an album congratulated by all, which has no flaws, and where all see the work you have devoted to it, when you have many other projects next to it?

Actually, there are no secrets - I just worked. It was really important to me to make this new album and to respect the traditions of Rap. I really tried to give myself the means to do so. I didn’t want to do anything sloppy where I rap in front of a wire and that's it. I really wanted to give the best of myself, and I worked for it, simply because I like it. I’m passionate about Rap, and I wanted to do things right. I surrounded myself with exactly the same people I made the first album with and we worked hard together. I’d say that we really “wore our balls” to work hard and do feats with artists like Jul, Dosseh and PLK. I really wanted to do something that could be game-changing.

In 'Femme De Ménage' you say that “Rap is an option.” How did you tell yourself “Come on, I’ll start working on a new album again”? Did you feel a need?

In Rap, there’s a lot of guilt-tripping, you know. (laughs) But seriously, Rap is not my first area of activity, we all have a plan A, B, C, etc. I’d say that for YouTube, is my plan A, and the Rap went from plan E to plan B. (laughs) Rap is an option in the sense that I wasn’t supposed to do it.

There's a lot of sincerity in your songs, like for example in ‘Tudo Bem’ where you say “I lose loved ones in combat, all my hatred I keep to myself.” You also say that in your profession, sincere love is not easily found. Is that the kind of thing that you couldn’t express through humor that made you want to write, and get into Rap?

Yes completely. Imagine, if I did videos where I said: "Well, I’m struggling a bit, it's not easy at the moment but let's hope it's gonna be better soon enough", that would make a flop. (laught) It’s one thing I love about doing music and being in the studio; being in able to see myself. Music is a universe in which you must be sincere towards yourself, but also towards others, and it feels good sometimes to indulge in this way. I didn’t want to tell fake stories or anything, I wanted to be honest and tell things I care about. When I make a song, I reveal myself, and show more personal and profound things about myself, but once I get out of the recording booth, I start making jokes again, if you know what I mean. (laughs)

Do you think music is an outlet?

I think so. It's something I love about music; it's beautiful when an artist lets a facet of him appear that we don't know about, through his songs. For example, there are artists that you see in an interview and you think, "Wow, I wouldn’t want to meet him at a party because he has nothing to say" and in the end you listen to his songs and you say, "Oh damn, there's a lot going on inside him."

I'd say that we really 'wore our balls' to work hard and do feats with artists like Jul, Dosseh and PLK. I wanted to do something that could be game-changing.

There's a lot of modesty in you. You have an impressive track record; you do incredible things and you remain very humble about your successes. We can see it when you show that you started from nothing by saying “I think back to all those who laughed at me, today, they all make me laugh” in the song 'Tudo Bem' or in 'Lidl' when you say “Now I hang out with my idols, it’s true. It's crazy to think that I was supposed to end up working at Lidl.” Do you ever worry that people won’t take you seriously when you expose yourself in this way, by showing a certain fragility they don’t necessarily know?

People will always have their own personal interpretations of things. When you’re in the studio, you lock yourself in your bubble - writing, recording, etc., and you don’t really think about that. You write what’s in your heart, and then you remember that you also have the humorist hat, and that people might think you’re joking when you’re not. Honestly, that second album really exposed me. You know, you usually have a challenging phase. The one where you wonder about the choices you make, or you made, and I never really had that with YouTube. But, in music, with this second album, I took the time to sit down and ask myself what I really wanted to reveal about me with this new project.

We have often seen you in the company of rappers like Nekfeu, Damso, PLK...who are pillars of French-speaking Rap. Are they giving you advice, or are you anxious to get their take on your music?

The thing is, I’m trying not to jump the gun. When I spend time with my rappers' friends, I only share simple moments with them. To be honest, and it's even rare that I talk about music with rappers. Even if it's people I usually hang out with, I don’t see myself going to them and asking them for a feat because I’m not playing in the same yard at all. I’m not from a Rap background, so I can't imagine myself sitting at the same table as rappers like Fianso, Booba or Maes and saying, "Okay, guys, let’s do a feat!" (laughs) If something has to be done, like the song 'Jamais' with PLK, it will happen, and I'll be always the most surprised.

On socials, there are quite a lot of established rappers who gave you support during the release of your album, and they all said “Yvick is a true rapper”. What did you feel at that time?

It’s always nice, of course. Each of them have their own vision of me, but if people understood all the work that was put into this new album, I'm glad to see that the 'job' has been accomplished. To be honest, it’s not because so-and-so has ‘validated’ me that I will rely on my achievements.

Who would be the artist, you'd dream to work with?

I’d say Drake. He’s got a crazy track record. He started acting with Degrassi, and it was a different world, far removed from Hip-Hop, and now he has marked the history of music in a global way. But we’re talking about a dream, obviously, not something achievable in my head. (laughs)

When I spend time with my rappers' friends, I only share simple moments with them. To be honest, and it's even rare that I talk about music with rappers.

It seems like you’ve already lived several lives between all your projects. Don’t you want to take a break?

I don’t have time; I’m going on tour. (laughs) [e.d: few ones are delay due to Covid-19]. That in itself makes me feel like I had a break, because for almost a year, I devoted myself to music and it was different from my videos. I'm someone who fights my demons and my stress through work. I’m more relaxed by being busy than by doing nothing. Maybe after my tour, I’ll take a break, who knows? Already I intend to spend a month in the United States, but for now, I'm working all guns blazing.

You will start the Zenith tour in October and it's also the first time you're going on tour. Aren’t you nervous?

I’m not going to lie to you, I guess I am a little bit. But on the other hand, I’m super excited because I know I’m going to have the best time of my life. Everyone who goes on tour has always told me that the best moments happen on stage, because it's a kind of “recreation”. Especially compared to all the work and the whole creative process that you provide in the studio.

We have often seen your grandmother on socials, and you also mention her in the song 'Facetime'. Is that your safeguard in the face of all the pressure you sometimes feel?

Yes completely. Generally speaking, I'm very close to the people I grew up with, and when I came to Paris seven years ago, it was complicated for me to find a circle of friends where I would feel good and where I could be myself. I also grew up with Grandma, and I have a special connection to her. It's also a strength because having grown up by her side, and with my parents, who are very distant from this world of fame, etc., it has always allowed me to keep my feet on the ground. They have always shown me that it's work that enables success and that modesty is the key to everything.

Instagram: @Yvick

Words © Fanny Hill Scott

Photography © Fifou