Houari Reunites with Jul on “J’avais pas prévu tout ça” as the Marseille Sound Keeps Growing

Back in 2014, Jul reshaped the French rap landscape with the release of his debut album, “Dans ma paranoïa”, distributed by Musicast. At the time, the Marseille rapper was anything but a unanimous favorite. His unconventional style divided listeners just as much as it fascinated them. During an appearance on the weekly show hosted by local radio station Urban Hit, he sparked heated debates among rap fans. Yet within just a few weeks, audiences began embracing his sound. The station was flooded with calls from listeners eager to find out more about the artist with the unmistakable voice. That was the moment when a phrase destined to become iconic was born: “Jul-type beats” (known in France as “les sons à la Jul”).

Several years later, journalist Mouloud Achour recalled a telling moment on his TV show Clique. While speaking with a group of young artists in southern France, they explained that they weren’t simply making rap—they were making “Jul-style music.” The expression perfectly captured the scale of Jul’s influence. A decade after his breakthrough, his melodic, sun-soaked sound had become one of Marseille‘s defining musical signatures before spreading far beyond the city. From Paris to Spain, where artists like Morad have embraced a similar approach, through parts of the Maghreb and even as far as Sweden, Jul’s musical DNA continues to inspire a new generation of rappers.

Houari has been one of the earliest contributors to that movement. Like Jul, he hails from Marseille and first emerged as a member of the group Ghetto Phénomène, where the two artists crossed paths before launching their respective solo careers. Remaining a close collaborator of Jul over the years, Houari released the deluxe edition of his album “Insomnia” on Friday, July 11. The expanded project is led by a brand-new collaboration with Jul, “J’avais pas prévu tout ça”, a track that brings together all the elements that have made the “Marseille sound” one of French rap’s most recognizable formulas.

Houari reunites with Jul on “J’avais pas prévu tout ça”, taken from the deluxe edition of “Insomnia”

The instrumental was produced by Houari himself. Built around an Afrobeat-inspired bassline and layered with bright guitar melodies, the production delivers a warm, summery vibe. Staying true to the signature style that has defined their careers, the two artists effortlessly trade verses, favoring catchy melodies and feel-good energy over the aggressive clichés often associated with street rap.

“We don’t rap about balaclavas and AKs—we’d rather not show off too much.”

The music video was shot in Marseille and directed by William Thomas, one of Jul‘s longtime creative collaborators. He previously directed the visuals for “C’est dur d’aimer” and “Parasites”, as well as “Fiak” by Kerchak. Thomas had also worked with Houari on the video for “C’est la Cali”, once again highlighting the artistic consistency shared by key figures of Marseille’s thriving rap scene.