Jul continues to carve out a completely unique legacy in the history of French rap. With the release of his new project “Oubliez-moi”, unveiled on Friday, May 15, the Marseille artist adds yet another chapter to an already massive discography. Made up of around twenty tracks without a single feature, the project once again highlights Jul’s incredible ability to dominate public attention without ever relying on current industry trends. Every release from the rapper turns into a major cultural event, proof of the almost unmatched connection he has built with his audience over the years.
Since the very beginning of his career, Jul has occupied a space entirely his own within the French music landscape. When he first emerged with songs like “Dans ma paranoïa” and “Je trouve pas le sommeil”, his sound stood in complete contrast to the standards of French rap at the time. Heavy use of vocoder, melodic hooks, airy productions and an almost euphoric atmosphere: Jul gradually introduced a new way of approaching Marseille rap. Long criticized by part of the old-school rap audience, this style would eventually influence an entire generation of artists far beyond Marseille. During an interview with Clique TV, the rapper even explained that this influence had spread internationally, reaching countries like Sweden. Back then, several iconic figures from older generations of French rap struggled to understand this musical evolution. Akhenaton, in particular, spoke about this generational divide during an interview with Kombini.
But one of Jul’s greatest strengths lies precisely in his ability to constantly defy expectations. Behind the image of the ultra-productive hitmaker stands an artist capable of navigating between multiple musical worlds with remarkable ease. Over the years, he has also delivered much rawer rap performances, especially during appearances on Planète Rap on Skyrock, where he could rap for several minutes straight without autotune. He also helped shape a major moment in modern French rap history through large-scale collaborative projects like the now legendary “13 Organisé”, which brought together several generations of Marseille rap artists on the same record. Seeing figures such as Akhenaton, Shurik’n, members of the Fonky Family, and the younger generation sharing the same project represented a true milestone in Jul’s career.
Capable of producing instrumentals in just a few minutes while also shifting effortlessly from festive anthems to deeply introspective tracks, Jul continues to evolve artistically with “C’est dur d’aimer”, a song that reveals a more vulnerable side of his musical identity.
Jul reveals a more intimate side with “C’est dur d’aimer”
The instrumental composition of the track is produced by Kakou, a Marseille-based beatmaker who has become one of Jul’s recurring collaborators. Together, they have already worked on several standout records such as “JCVD”, “Mon bébé d’amour”, and “Je suis loin”. Kakou also contributed to the massive success of “13 Organisé”. Here, the production immediately stands out thanks to a powerful guitar melody that breaks away from some of the rapper’s usual musical patterns. Over this more emotional instrumental, Jul adopts a different vocal approach, sounding almost fragile at times and revealing a level of sincerity rarely pushed this far in his discography.
“Arguments need to slow down
We’re tearing each other apart little by little
By constantly playing this little game”
Through these lyrics, the artist portrays the gradual collapse of a romantic relationship consumed by tension, silence and emotional distance.
“I can feel you getting cold, come let’s talk and try to fix things
It’s true I haven’t really been around, baby, I know how to admit my faults”
While Jul has always allowed certain emotions to appear in his music, he has rarely sounded this vulnerable. The track presents a more introspective artist, capable of transforming personal fragility into raw musical material. The visual perfectly complements this artistic evolution. Directed by William Thomas, a highly active figure in the French rap video scene, the clip embraces a sober and immersive aesthetic. The director had previously collaborated with Jul on the track “Parasites”, as well as with Niska on “Adriano”. Once again, the visuals extend the emotional atmosphere developed by the Marseille rapper with impressive coherence.
