For the past few months, I’ve made it a habit to explore albums outside of rap, to open my mind and step out of my hip-hop bubble.

I started strong with Robyn. Didn’t like it. So I switched gears and went for a rock classic from the ‘70s: Hotel California by Eagles.

An album with undeniable cultural impact, perfectly capturing the essence of ‘70s America—especially Los Angeles, with all its madness, prestige, and excess.

Listening to this kind of music as a rap ... read more

Les projets de producteurs ont le vent en poupe en ce début d'année. Cinq jours seulement avant que Tarik Azzouz sorte son projet, Ghost Killer Track sortait le sien.

GKT est un des beatmakers star à la française. Popopop de Gambi, c'est lui. Captain Cook de PSO Thug c'est lui. Il est aussi connu de nos voisins européens pour avoir composé des titres à succès avec Kidd Keo ou encore le duo londonien de légende : ... read more

I never thought the day would come when I'd listen to a bad Boldy James album.

With Permanent Ink, his 7th project in less than a year (!), Boldy decides to jump on trap music.

A disconcerting choice, when you're used as I am to hearing him excel in a more “griselda” register, on Nicholas Craven and co. type of beats.

Instead, we're treated to an unsuccessful mix of Boldy's cool-attitude on the mic with minimalist trap music production not even worthy of the ... read more

Just one month after serving three and a half years behind bars, Rio Da Yung OG is back, hungrier than ever.

His album title, Rio Free, couldn’t be more fitting—both strategically and symbolically. Dropping a lead single with the same name was a smart move, grabbing the attention of curious listeners, especially those drawn to Rio’s gritty storytelling.

But he’s not just banking on his time in prison to sell records. His real strength lies in his ability to deliver ... read more

Depuis 2021, JeanJass s’est bâti une discographie solo solide, tout en cultivant une certaine hype grâce à ses placements en tant que beatmaker.

Voilà maintenant qu'en fin 2024, il décide de proposer son troisième solo. Un album court (ce qui est appréciable) mais qui je pense, ne me laissera pas une empreinte marquante. Juste son amour inconditionnel du ballon rond. Autrement, les sujets abordés le sont mieux dans ces ... read more

Avec High et Fines Herbes, Caballero et JeanJass ont réussi le pari de créer un rendez-vous incontournable dans le paysage rap français. L’idée de voir plusieurs acteurs du rap FR dans une baraque de rêves pour échanger autour, de la graille, la musique et la fumette a trouvé succès.

Tellement qu’on en oublierait presque que chaque saison est accompagnée d’une mixtape du même nom, qui rassemble elle aussi ... read more

Mine de rien, Tarik Azzouz fait partie de ces français qui font briller la France à l'étranger, et tout cela à partir de son studio à Aulnay.

Après avoir collaboré en tant que beatmaker avec des grands noms de l’industrie américaine (Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Meek Mill pour ne citer qu’eux), Tarik Azzouz tente l’aventure française.

En étant globalement méconnu de la sphère rap française ... read more

The Weeknd is over. Or at least, that’s what he claimed ahead of the release of Hurry Up Tomorrow.

And if this really is his farewell, he’s making sure to go out with a grand showcase of everything that has defined his career. Hurry Up Tomorrow is a whirlwind tour through his eras, seamlessly blending the murky, drug-fueled haze of his early trilogy with the shimmering disco-tinged pop of his recent albums.

The influences are vast, but one stands out above the rest: Michael ... read more

Late last year, SZA gifted us an early Christmas present with LANA, originally meant to be the deluxe edition of SOS. But let’s be clear: this project is much more than just an extension.

SOS had already propelled SZA to the ranks of an era-defining pop star, blending genres with fearless experimentation. In contrast, LANA stands out with a more cohesive aesthetic, bathed in warm analog synths and soulful ballad tempos. It draws from Latin jazz, new age, psych-rock, and ‘90s ... read more

Crazy as it may sound, Sundial reveals an even more mature Noname than Room 25.

Five years have passed between these two projects, yet I feel like she has never been this free and irreverent. So free that she takes the liberty of criticizing Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Kendrick Lamar—none of whom have responded. But Noname is even harder on herself.

Like when, as a good little socialist, she attacks capitalism while admitting she’s trapped in it despite herself. A paradox she lays ... read more

A few months ago, while talking music with a friend, the name Noname came up. Instantly, I wondered what had become of the artist who, in 2020, publicly humiliated J. Cole after George Floyd’s death.

It’s a bit unfair to define her by that moment alone, but it was my last memory of her. So, I revisited Room 25, one of the most acclaimed albums of 2018, across all genres. And after listening again, I completely understand why.

Noname is an artist of rare intelligence, and you can ... read more

Between her first and second albums, Tierra Whack kept a low profile. Why, after releasing such an original project, did she decide to disappear from the radar? Maybe it wasn't her fault, but six years of absence in an industry that moves at the speed of light is risky business.

In the end, she was right, because at the beginning of 2024, she delivered a super-solid album. Gone are the revolutionary ideas of her first opus; this is a real album, and to say the least, it's a great ... read more

In 2018, this project was critically acclaimed. Specialized media often tend to overrate this kind of different project.

Because yes, Whack World is different, to say the least. It's the first mixtape from a talented young rapper: Tierra Whack.

A mixtape means more freedom. And for her debut project, Tierra has taken the liberty of delivering a 15-track project lasting just 15 minutes. I've never seen anything like it in my life as a listener.

While I applaud such ambition, I find ... read more

Redman signed his return in 2024, on the finish.

Redman is the rapper with one of the most underrated catalog in rap history. He has arguably 3 classics to his credit, including the iconic “Muddy Waters”. So it comes as a surprise when Redman puts an end to the long story by releasing the sequel to his classic 28 Years Later!

What does Redman sound like in 2024? The same thing that made Redman such a success in '96: fun, beautifully executed rap. Amid hilarious interludes, ... read more

With The Thief Next to Jesus, Brooklyn rapper Ka offered us his last album before his tragic death.

Right from the cover and title, the tone is set: a dark, raw and masterfully written project, where Ka explores his religious torments and questions the perception of Christianity within the black American community. A subject rarely tackled in US rap, Ka, true to her style, treats it with a pen as audacious as it is hermetic.

His writing is fascinatingly abstract, and at times disconcertingly ... read more

The post-beef album everyone's been waiting for.

$ome $exy $ongs 4 U is Drake's project that comes during the most chaotic period of his career due to You-Know-Who. So here we have a “Drake with the melodies” accompanied by his protégé PARTYNEXTDOOR. The latter, in an amusing Instagram story, had indicated that this project was designed for guys who fuck girls and not for those who see music as mathematics. And he's right, this is an album to be taken ... read more

Et si je vous disais que Kaaris a commencé sa carrière en 1999.

Il a débuté en posant sur les compilations Niroshima avant d'enchainer des featurings sur des mixtapes indé ici et là.
En 2011, Kaaris profite d'une mise en avant qu'il n'a jamais joui auparavant en posant sur Autopsie 4. Il en profite donc pour sortir Z.E.R.O. Un street-CD. Format aujourd'hui désuet, qui oscille entre l'album et la mixtape.

Ici ... read more

Plus de 10 ans que Gims truste les premières places des charts en France et plus de 10 ans qu'il propose de la musique de camping.

Bien lui a fait. En effet, il est difficile de lui en vouloir tant sa recette a fait de lui l'un des chanteurs préférés des français et le "rappeur" avec la Sacem la plus enviable de l'industrie.

Gims a depuis longtemps réussi son pari. Après avoir conquis les familles françaises, il ... read more

Avant d’adopter une approche plus détendue sur J.000.$, Josman avait tenté un format plus long et calibré pour les standards actuels.

Le résultat ? Un album qui coche des cases, presque comme s’il avait été conçu pour accélérer son ascension. Mais Josman avait-il vraiment besoin de ça ? Ses chiffres parlaient déjà pour lui, notamment avec un single comme "J’aime bien", qui cartonnait ... read more

Josman c'est juste un mec chill qui kiffe la life.

Sans être forcément spectaculaire au micro, Josman a le talent pour nous exprimer les détails de son ascension sociale. Ce projet est la suite de 000$ sorti en 2017 dans lequel on pouvait entendre un Josman en quête de sous et motivé à tout niquer.

Maintenant que cela est fait, il nous l'expose sur des beats soigneusement choisis, mais avec une écriture qui tourne vite en rond.
Une ... read more