REVIEWS // Albums

État D'Esprit // S.PRI NOIR

04/2020 © Mi6 / AllPoints

Wow! What a striking force! Once again, S.Pri Noir smashed the Rap Game very hard with this new album without any false notes. Right away with the intro 'Multiplayer', the artist gives the album tone by explaining the reasons that led him to name this opus "state of mind". He starts to confess himself to his audience going even deeper with his confessions with the masterpiece song '100 regrets' - which plays on the ambivalence of the term "without regret / 100 regrets".

The rapper from Les Fougères district in the 20th arrondissement of Paris shows his talent through these powerful tracks to the sound blowing a fresh wind on the rapper’s musical register, 'Salades' presented as one of the real favourites of the album with an alternation of three voices types from the palette of the artist’s talents. The rapper goes even further on the artistic side and decided to create a real storyline through the album through his interludes like 'Pin Code 878' which follows the evolution of a love story between S.Pri Noir himself and one of his crush.

Like a true chameleon, the rapper who’s both artistic director of his music videos and fashion muse, shows us once again how versatile he is and how he uses all the strings to his bow to create a project powered by different sources of inspiration. S.Pri Noir knows how to delight his audiencewith dancing vibes like 'Night And Day' featuring French Afropop band 4Keus, summer hit 'Maman Dort' with rapper Alonzo, and hard-core Rap like 'Le Plan' featuring rapper Laylow.

Released during the quarantine time, this album has made us travel and escape during these difficult times. Always where we do not expect him, S.Pri Noir proves once again that he has nothing more to prove about the infinity of his talent.

© Appoline Montier

Famous // LEFA

07/2020 © 2L Music

Lefa, one of the best French Rap lyricists, has just reissued his last album Fame released in 2019. Named Famous, this new edition includes many features worthy of Lefa’s talent.

The member of the Sexion D'Assaut took care to add 13 new titles, including 6 featuring with artists like PLK, Bosh, Laylow and Josman. The artist also chose to portray feats with Leto on “Incassable” and “Smile” with SCH. As for Fame, Lefa managed to adapt to the guest's style with such versatility that we could even compare him to Paul Pogba’s shot. Always introspective, the artist has once again been able to express his deep thoughts with songs such as “Anonymat” and “Solitude”.

After making himself known thanks to the Sexion D'Assaut, he actively participated on two albums of the band before taking a break from Rap in 2012 before coming back on stage in 2015 with Gims in “Longue Vie”. He will then release his first solo album in 2016 Monsieur Fall. After releasing his second album Visionnaire in 2017, he left the label Wati B and created his own independent label 2L Music on which he recorded his two-last projects.

Even more technical and self-critical than when he started, Lefa no longer counts the number of his successes with titles like “230” featuring PLK and “Elle Aime” with Laylow or “Reste Avec Moi” one of the most moving track from Famous.

© Samson Gorski

Enna // PLK

08/2020 © Enna Music France / Panenka Music

What a crazy thing PLK just did! It’s so incredible that it has just been certified gold in just 13 days. What a record for this talented artist!

The versatility of PLK is no longer to prove, and once again he shows us that it knows how to adapt to any type of prod without any difficulty. From the sax in “Chandon et Moët” featuring rapper Heuss L'Enfoiré to the drill on “Dégaine De Bandit”, PLK clearly shows the range of his talents.

It’s also one of the most personal projects of the 23-yearold Parisian artist who shows his big attachment to his family. The album title Enna comes from the contraction of the first name of his siblings Enzo and Lena. He also made a touching song to his grandmother, with whom he has lived since he was 14 years old in “Mamie”.

The Polish and Corsican rapper also made lit hits with “On Sait Jamais” featuring rapper Niska and “Pilote” featuring Belgian artist Hamza. PLK was able to brilliantly adapt himself to the guest rappers’ style to the delight of his fans. A special crush to “Toutes Générations” the feat with Rim’k, considered the “Unkie of French Rap” with whom he revives the Rap from the 90s and allows the new generation to discover sounds from the golden age of Rap. He did it again with the track “3 en 1” where we can hear three different types of prod showing the Rap evolution in terms of beat.

Still powerful with deep punchlines, PLK met his fans’ expectations who were hoping for a 100% Rap project - and in my eyes - it’s clearly the album of the year.

© Samson Gorski

À Moitié Loup // SEAN

04/2020 © Nice Prod / Bendo Music

What can I say about Sean, this artist far too underrated in my opinion? A captivating voice, a fascinating universe, sounds different from other artists... In short, Sean has everything to be the new muse of French Rap.

With powerful lyrics like in the track “30 ans”, the themes of a fallen love and palpable bitterness seem to be the subjects that stick to the artist skin. Noted that the Parisian rapper never falls into the tragic but offers us an introspective vision of what seems to rhythm his current life throughout his mixtape.

It’s also impossible not to mention one of the key tracks of the project “Temps D'un Été” which punctuated the summer of several people - including me. Between the heady melody and the strong lyrics, Sean made a no-fault on this song.

Even if this new mixtape seems to be more melancholic than his previous EP Mercutio, the rapper who started at the age of 13 brings a real wind of freshness on the French Rap. His project is harmonious, and we never tire of seeing the ease with which Sean changes his voice to give a much deeper dimension to each sound. Like a permanent duality between spleen and hope.

Massive crush for songs like “Couleur” and “Prix À Payer” on which Sean shows off his ambivalence to switch from one style to another with a master’s hand. We can say that he offered us one of the best projects in 2020 so far.

© Fanny Hill Scott

Andy // RALEIGH RITCHIE

06/2020 © Alacran Records

Is there a life after playing in one of the most famous and adored series of the decade such as Game of Thrones? Listening to Raleigh Ritchie’s new album who had played Grey Worm in the series, we can say yes!

What a comeback, four years after his last album! We must admit that the artist has worked hard, and this is felt throughout the album with songs all better than the others. On this second album, he started with the track “Pressure” both moving and genuine: “Nobody asks me if I’m okay and even if they did I would lie and just say "I’m fine, good vibes, goodbye, good day sir".”

Jacob Anderson - from his real name - opens the doors of his secret musical garden filled with introspective thoughts that even let listeners think about their own situation. Raleigh Ritchie is greatly inspired by Hip-Hop, whether on “STFU” or “Sadboi” or Gospel vibe on “Worries”. With his deep voice tone reflecting sincerity, the British artist manages to bring us to his past where he was in search of peace on “Shadow”.

In short, Andy is a very personal album – the name also comes from the nickname his grandfather gave him - Raleigh Ritchie knew how to show brilliantly the complexity of his person always on Pop R'n'B vibes. Although the album is tinged with dark moments, he’s above all a message of hope and joy. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for him!

© Appoline Montier

Twice As Tall // BURNA BOY

08/2020 © Atlantic Recording Corporation

What a project, what an album, what a success! From the prestigious feats from Stormzy to Chris Martin - singer band member of Coldplay - including the Senegalese artist Youssou N'Dour, to the future hits in the making... We can clearly say that Burna Boy is back on top and willing to share his musical universe.

The cover already says a lot about the intentions of the artist where he appears more disproportionate than ever and in full possession of his means. The album seems to be under the sign of revenge and conquest. From the introspective song “Level Up”, the Nigerian artist says he was pretty downcast by his failure at the Grammy Awards. The Academy had named him in the Best Album World category but had finally chosen Angélique Kidjo. «I remember when I couldn't level up / 'Cause the Grammys had me feeling sick as fuck / Throwing up and shit / Asking questions like, "Why it wasn't us?”».

The “afro-fusion” giant does what he knows best but adds a few more strings to his musical bow to conquer a new audience. We find hybrid sounds like “Monsters You Made”, between African percussion, Reggae and Pop vibes. There are also sounds typically derived from Afrobeat with a saxophone addition as in “Alarm Clock”. We also have to name hits songs such as “Wonderful” and “Way Too Big” considered as world summer hits.

The artist who became one of the most bankable ones of the current music scene seems determined to continue to dazzle us for his fans' delight. This new opus confirms his status as a giant.

© Lilas Delourme

The Goat // POLO G

05/2020 © Columbia Records / Sony Music

After its first album Die A Legend in June 2019, that reached the platinum certification a year later with one million units in the United States, Polo G released The Goat in May 2020.

While the first project allowed him to exteriorize his suffering due to the death of his close people, the second one instead allows him to express his new successful life by stopping using hard drugs. He shows that despite the money earned, nothing will bring back his friends.

Indeed, the rapper grew up in a difficult district of Chicago, and he faced his friend’s death Gucci — whom he honours by the “G” of his pseudonym — who was shot at only 15 years old. He also gave tribute to Juice WRLD on the song “Flex” that featured this beloved artist. He took his last shot with him, and it brought him down when the rapper with whom he got along very well, died of an overdose. Now being hard drugs free, he hopes that he can give his son the childhood he never had using music as an outlet through the trap, melodies often resorting to the guitar and well-crafted texts.

With a first week reaching almost 100,000 sales and a nomination to the 2020 XXL Freshman list, which highlights the booming rappers, the 21 years old rapper has met a dazzling success.

© Miguel Neves Da Costa