Reviews

ALPHA WANN

Don Dada Mixtape Vol.1

12/2020 © Don Dada Records

How can I describe this incredible project, which made it possible to end 2020 with a masterful hand? With the big heads of French Rap such as Nekfeu, Kaaris, Kalash Criminel, Deen Burbigo and Freeze Corleone; breakthrough rappers like Lesram and Infinit; and finally with rappers from his own label Don Dada like Veust, K.S.A and Ratu$, this project is phenomenal. Alpha Wann has literally just dropped a missile on the French Rap, and we must say that we were not ready for that, not ready at all!

“French Rap? I’m not going to miss it, it’s too far behind / It takes more than the afternoon to catch me up.” A sentence from “Mitsubishi” the first song of this mixtape that makes a real echo of the whole project. The former member of the collective 1995 recalls his status as a Rap prodigy since his last album Une Main Lave L'Autre. Having reached the full power of his talent, he never ceases to impress us. He knows what his audience likes about him and he didn’t skimp on the means to offer his fans a real “auditory caviar.”

Alpha Wann likes to innovate and be different from others. At a time when artists like to embark on largescale albums with a huge promo, Alpha decided to drop a mixtape where he reunited his mates without taking the lead while offering us a quality project. I can’t wait for the second volume!

Words © Samson Gorski

KEMMLER

Gris Coeur

01/2021 © Island Def Jam

How to describe such a powerful album? In 2018, he releases his first album Rose and he gets signed to Def Jam shortly after. It allowed him to come back gradually with an evolutionary album, which has been fully released in January 2021: Gris Coeur. This title definitely suits the crazily intimate album. Kemmler reveals his fears, sorrows, worries, regrets and it feels good!

Among 21 tracks, Kemmler speaks from the heart without any doubt as 4 tracks are named after it. “Coeur Mouillé” featuring Chilla is one of them and it clearly shows how easily he changes of perspective to tackle love in this album. From the emotivity of “Au Singulier” to the lightness of “Reste Avec”, he delivers a strong introspection of himself. It also shows a great style of diversity which is a genuine proof that Kemmler masters rhetoric on every level.

If he came back with a darker mood, he seems to have found his true trademark through questioning his own life. There is no doubt about it while listening to masterpieces such as “En Même Temps” or “Gris Coeur” where he states: "I don’t care about being pretentious, or well, I do, sadness shows in my eyes. I have everything to be happy but I think it’s not enough for me."

If “Ça Me Gêne” remains the most famous track so far, every single song is worth being listened to with much attention as we get to know him a bit more throughout the whole album. The only thing left to say is: "Stream Gris Coeur, you won’t regret it."

Words © Laury Peyssonnerie

JOSMAN

MYSTR J.O.$

01/2020 © Sideline

Josman’s back with a 6 track EP, 10 months after his album Split which had made a lot of noise. Interesting fact: this one is made in common with his beatmaker brother MYSTR. This mysterious project was announced only a week before its release, therefore, the promo around it was very low.

Personally, I found this project very qualitative, we feel a certain alchemy between Josman and his brother and we can say that’s very pleasant. On this opus we find the long-awaited track “Fucked Up 4” which completes the first 3 ones already present on the artist’s old projects. The song “SEC” is also a sound that I appreciate a lot, Josman speaks very sincerely of his youth which has marked him a lot. Big shout out to the project’s outro: “Goal” which is a favourite of mine too.

Between kick and melody, Josman delivers a performance worthy of the greatest, and it’s definitely pleasant. This EP could make us think of a sort of “sequel” of his J.O.$ album released in 2018 and certified gold shortly before the release of this new project. His cover is somewhat similar to it, same as its title: MYSTR J.O.$.

In conclusion, this project is really a success and this format suits Josman very well. What a pleasure it is to see more and more EP coming back, even if the artists have already established their reputation. We want more! We want to see the collaboration between the two brothers on future projects too.

Words © Van's

HUGO TSR

Une Vie Et Quelques

02/2021 © Chambre Froide

Une Vie Et Quelques contains only ten tracks and it’s a pure pleasure for your ears and mind! The rapper who likes to cultivate the mystery about him delivers a raw and without artifice album. The feeling that emerges from the first listening is indeed a striking one: Hugo didn’t seek to sublimate the ordinary of our lives, he only wanted to transcribe it in the most truthful way possible. We honestly say to ourselves, “He raps our true lives” and that’s what’s great about this album. No ego trip, no drugs, no sex or any of the common topics in Rap. Hugo TSR talks about what’s not easy but hard and redundant things instead. If it’s true that this kind of Rap can be “repulsive” for some people, it’s above all realistic and it feels good.

His pessimistic words echo in us such as the interlude “2222” which tells the story of our civilization following its collapse. Either here with “If I have to write about the future, I’m making a blank page” in “Des Voix Raisonnent” or again with “Facing the future, I’m hiding my eyes because no one believes in it anymore” in “Les Mains Devant Les Yeux”. It’s raw, but it’s true.

Hugo has this authenticity that many seek but that too many fail to get by trying to reproduce current trends. Thus, the name of Hugo TSR will continue to be named in the discussions of the purists' lovers of French Rap, and it feels good!

Words © Samson Gorski

YOUV DEE

La Vie De Luxe

02/2020 © Aurore // Caroline France

We were waiting, for it a lot and Youv Dee has finally released his first album: La Vie De Luxe. First album certainly, but it’s far from being his first project in the Rap Game. Between EP and mixtapes, either in solo or with his band L’Ordre Du Périph, we had the opportunity to fully appreciate the palette of Youv Dee several times.

First surprising fact: out of the 15 tracks offered, there is no featuring! The artist justifies himself by saying that for his first album, his objective was to show his universe at 100% and he kind of needed to be alone on it for that. It’s a winning bet because no sound is alike, the artist has really managed to diversify each song.

The intro “Boussole” is a quiet and relaxing one, which allows you to start listening to the album in the best way possible. But calm will be short-lived… Youv Dee being a big fan of rock, his love for this music will be assumed with the tracks “Les Sous” and “YEAH” where the prods will be rhythmic by electric guitar and drums, and it’s a treat! Big up for “La Vie De Luxe” the eponymous track of the album and “Sur Les Toits” which are qualitative both in terms of lyrics and melody. I strongly recommend that you listen to them!

This first album is therefore overall a great success, although there’s no collaboration with other artists, the project remains very effective. We can see that Youv enjoyed doing this album and he had 100% confidence in his music. I look forward to a new opus to impress me again!

Words © Van's