Rap History
Kery James at Générations: The Story Behind the 2009 Altercation
In April 2009, just as Kery James released his album Réel, an altercation broke out at the offices of Générations…
Focus
Analysis, reviews, samples and long-form stories that put music back into context.
Review
Mauvais Djo’s Pilé: The Michael Jackson Story Behind the Hit
At first listen, the chorus of “Pilé” sounds like one of those absurdly catchy gimmicks designed to get stuck in…
SAMPLE
Tonton du Bled: The Story Behind Rim’K & DJ Mehdi’s Classic
Some tracks never really grow old — they become part of a culture’s musical heritage. Tonton du bled now firmly…
CHRONIQUE
With Devant les flammes, Sauveur Eloheem Delivers the Ultimate Anti-Summer EP
While the music industry spends the summer churning out catchy hooks, dance-ready beats and Latin-infused tracks, Sauveur Eloheem has chosen…
CHRONIQUE
Red Bull Music Academy: A Continuing Legacy
Ollie Oshodi is a brand and culture expert and strategist who helps founders, brands and organisations realise their cultural ambitions.…
Review
From Summer Hits to Afro-Urban Dominance: How Rap Became the Soundtrack of Summer
Every summer has its own soundtrack. For decades, the formula for a summer hit was fairly straightforward: a catchy melody,…
Review
RVZMO: “I’m Not Trying to Make a Viral Song That Disappears Overnight”
Interview – RVZMO Opens Up on À Cœur Ouvert His roots You come from Saint-Ouen, a city that has produced…
Review
How French Rap Learned to Embrace Melody: From the Rejection of R&B to the Auto-Tune Revolution
**How French Rap Once Looked at R&B with Suspicion** At the turn of the 2000s, one striking contrast emerged when…
MUSIC FOCUS
From Africa Jungle to Sans Visa: The Collaborations and Producers Behind Soolking’s Success
To tell Soolking’s story is to follow a trajectory shaped by both urban roots and mainstream reach. A former member…
MUSIC FOCUS
The Mystical and Warlike Return of Sevran Trap
A Sevran totem reopening its eye A cardinal figure in French rap, Kaaris has embodied, since his earliest days, an…
MUSIC FOCUS
The Debate Around Jul: Between Tradition and Modernity
A Dividing Line: From Basement Studios to the Streaming Era The case of Jul perfectly embodies a divide that continues…
Review
Flem: “L’Éveil Is Simply Me in 2026”
Introduction / Artistic Direction The new project “L’Éveil” marks a new chapter in Flem’s artistic journey. A project created with…
Review
Is Rap Right-Wing?
I. A Culture Born from Protest: From the Bronx to Symbolic Revenge Asking the question “is rap right-wing?” already simplifies…
CHRONIQUE
From the 75 to the 93 — and Beyond : Thirty Years of French Rap Geography and the Transformation of Urban Culture in the Regions
Traduit moi ce texte en anglais en t'adaptant aux particularités de la langue anglaise:Le rap français ne s’est jamais développé…
CHRONIQUE
MH Entertainment Agency and the Rise of Data-Driven Music Promotion
As the music industry continues to shift toward digital-first consumption, visibility has become one of the main challenges for independent…
Review
Interview – Pit Baccardi: “Rap is good when it’s done right, no matter the era.”
25 Years and the Olympia Question: You’ve just celebrated 25 years of career on the stage of the Olympia. What…
The Field
Rohff: Twenty-Five Years of Rage, Clarity and Revolution Through Rap
You can tell the story of Rohff through his albums, his successes, his tragedies or his conflicts. But you can…
The Field
Eminem: the life, fall, and resurrection of a genius told through his writing!
Eminem is one of the rare artists whose personal journey can be read so clearly through his writing. For him,…