Jul is set to release yet another album on May 15. Nothing unusual under the Marseille sun: with a relentless pace of two projects a year — often alongside collaborative albums and compilations — Jul has established himself in just a few years as the most prolific artist in the history of French rap. His cumulative sales have now surpassed those of legendary acts such as IAM and MC Solaar. Yet back in his early days, very few people could have predicted such a trajectory.
At the time, part of the old-school rap establishment viewed his rise with skepticism. During an appearance on Kombini, Akhenaton openly criticized his heavy use of autotune. A few years later, however, the story took an unexpected turn: the Marseille rapper would eventually collaborate with members of IAM on 13’Organisé, over a sample of the classic “Marseille la nuit”. There was only one condition from Akhenaton and Shurik’n: the track had to be recorded without vocoder effects.
Jul has done more than stack up hits — he has created an artistic identity and a sound that are now recognizable far beyond France. While much of contemporary rap leans heavily into excess and luxury-driven imagery, the Marseille artist has cultivated something far more grounded and approachable. There are no weapons, supercars or hyper-staged displays of wealth in the visuals of Jul. His universe is built instead around everyday energy, spontaneity and a direct connection with his audience.
Whether through his music or public appearances, Jul often gives the impression of operating entirely on instinct, without calculation or artificial posturing. Despite years of criticism surrounding his use of vocoder effects, he has managed to remain at the very top of French rap without turning his success into a permanent display of power or wealth. An unusual path in a music industry where ego-driven narratives have largely become the norm.
Jul addresses the “Parasites”
The instrumental production of the track brings together ProvoKind, Arian (FRA) and ElMiR. Longtime collaborators of Jul, the producers have already contributed to standout tracks such as “Wouaw”, “2 coups d’avance” and “Ma Puce”. Meanwhile, ElMiR previously made his mark with “Après l’apéro”. Together, they craft a production that feels unmistakably Marseille-inspired: melodic, sun-soaked and instantly recognizable.
On “Parasites”, Jul returns to the formula that built his artistic identity: instinctive songwriting, simple yet highly effective melodies, and an extremely personal way of expressing his state of mind.
“J’fais des fautes, nique sa mère l’dico, on a galéré demande à Tchyco”
It is difficult not to interpret the line as a direct response to the recurring criticism surrounding his spelling and grammar, particularly since the release of the album “Je trouve pas le sommeil”, whose intentionally incorrect phrasing was widely mocked across social media. But with Jul, sincerity has always mattered more than academic correctness. Much of his success comes precisely from that raw, unfiltered way of speaking — one deeply rooted in the codes and language of his environment.
“À cause des jaloux, j’ai vendu ma gari, changé de look, j’ai changé de vie
J’ai changé mon train-train dans la zone parce que les gens, ici, ils t’envient”
The animated music video was directed by William Thomas, a filmmaker who has become a familiar name within the French rap scene. Used to moving seamlessly between independent artists and mainstream acts, he recently directed the visuals for “Fiak“ by Kerchak as well as “Adriano” by Niska. A visual direction perfectly aligned with the colorful and highly accessible universe that Jul has been building over the years.
