Yoko Embraces Summer on “Purple Tropicana”, His Brightest Release Yet

Yoko is steadily establishing himself as one of the brightest young prospects signed to Morning Glory, the label founded by DJ Bellek. Hailing from Sarcelles, the rapper reached a major turning point in his career with his “Freestyle Signature”, the release that officially introduced him to the label, now distributed by Believe. Over the past few months, Morning Glory has built one of the most exciting rosters in the French rap scene by investing in a new generation of artists. Alongside Bag Jeune B, Décimo, Ze and Favé—currently the label’s biggest success story—Yoko represents one of its most promising new faces.

Despite his young age, Yoko already displays remarkable maturity as a songwriter. His storytelling ability, sharp delivery and clear-eyed perspective on his surroundings have allowed him to build an artistic identity that is instantly recognizable. Since joining the label, every release has followed the same creative direction: dark visuals, sometimes shot in black and white, melancholic atmospheres and deeply personal stories rooted in life on the housing estates. Rather than relying on empty bravado, Yoko chooses to portray the realities faced by young people growing up in difficult neighborhoods. It’s impossible not to think of the iconic line from NTM: “Laisse pas traîner ton fils” (“Don’t let your son wander”), before he becomes another victim of “the mother of the lost children.”

With “Purple Tropicana”, however, Yoko takes a completely different direction. For the duration of one song, he leaves behind the grey apartment blocks of Sarcelles in favor of a sun-drenched escape. Surrounded by tropical landscapes and a laid-back summer atmosphere, the rapper embraces a lighter mood without losing the authenticity that defines his music. The approach echoes one of Charles Aznavour‘s most famous lines from “Emmenez-moi”, later referenced by Oxmo Puccino in “Soleil du Nord”: “It seems to me that poverty would be easier to bear under the sun.”

Yoko embraces the summer with “Purple Tropicana”

As is often the case at Morning Glory, the production is handled by the label’s in-house trio: DJ Bellek, Skillano and Lusoneo, whose work has become one of the label’s defining trademarks. In an interview with Raplume, Favé highlighted the crucial role played by DJ Bellek in shaping his artistic evolution. Meanwhile, Lusoneo has produced tracks such as “Comme Avant”, “Alabama Barker” and “Tout donner” for Favé, as well as “Oumar” and “Smarties” for Décimo, and “Brique par brique” for Bag Jeune B. While Morning Glory‘s artists frequently collaborate with outside producers, this trio remains at the heart of the label’s signature sound.

“Purple Tropicana” is built around rolling basslines and Baile Funk-inspired percussion, creating a warm, uplifting summer vibe. The track is an invitation to escape. In the music video, Yoko enjoys the sunshine by a swimming pool surrounded by friends and family, temporarily leaving behind the harsh realities that usually define his lyrics.

For one song, the rapper puts everyday struggles on hold:

“It’s smoking in the neighborhood, I’m changing countries just to unwind.”

The music video is directed by SCT, one of the busiest directors on the French rap scene in recent months. The filmmaker captures Yoko beneath the sun with softly desaturated cinematography enhanced by an elegant film grain. After directing the visual for “Tant d’années”, SCT also recently helmed Dosseh‘s comeback video for “Cher ou illégal”, further cementing his reputation for polished, cinematic visuals.