We announced it recently: Hip Hop Citoyens gave us an appointment from December 2 to 11, 2016 for the 1st edition of Paris Hip Hop Winter. Accustomed to summer editions, they offered us this year a winter version of the festival highlighting the new French rap scene. Five days of conferences and concerts, to close it all, the PHHW has bet on a program more than enticing. On view last Sunday: Josman, Take A Mic, O'Boy and Makala.
Justfocus comes back for you on the closing night of the festival!
Josman hit the nail on the head
Credits: The Jayneral
For this edition at La Maroquinerie, the organizers do not skimp on the warm-up. Eazy Dew, new French producer, is on the decks to gently warm up our little ears. The young man, sometimes rapper, sometimes producer, is in full breakthrough. Eazy Dew is the beatmaker we've been waiting for. It distances the competition, and for good reason! We are never disappointed by his collaborations and especially those with his colleague Josman. On Sunday, he was there to host the Jeezy.
Josman, a 23-year-old rapper, didn't wait long to make himself known to the public. Winner of the "End of the Weak Paris" in 2015, and by dint of effort and work, the original Vierzonnais is squarely in place. After a first EP "Positive Failures" which he justifies the association of the antonyms of the name by his experience, he announces live this Sunday to have completed his second project. What good news for us listeners! We will be able to travel by metro again and again with this special voice in our ears.
Some artists do not wait years to confirm their artistic maturity. Josman proved to us this Sunday that he was more than capable of making his arm in the air by lighting a Doobie. This sound, released very recently, is already at more than 180,000 views on Youtube.
The concert is punctuated by its biggest sounds. For Jeezy, no room is left for pussy boyz, and he confirms this by making us sing the lyrics of the sound at the top of our lungs. With each title, it is a new symbiosis between the rapper and his audience. We are delighted! Josman does not have his tongue in his pocket, the man has things to say and things to do, and intends to speak openly; Wink "bad news".
The Oly Boy
Credits: The Jayneral
Since the release of his mixtape OlySide last April, O'boy has slowly (but surely) settled into the world of French rap by imposing his cloud rap flow. More and more popular on the networks, the live performance of O'Boy was clearly expected.
Hooded, glasses on the eyes: the accoutrement of the rapper is enigmatic. He reminds us without thinking well of Hamza and his cabalistic style. O'boy arrives almost timidly despite his nonchalant attitude.The frenzy of the public after Josman slowly descends to give way to a more serious, heavy atmosphere, like his dark prods. O'boy chooses not to finish his tracks and the transitions are cut sharp, which mitigates the excitement between each track. It was gone for a small disappointment signed O'Boy but fortunately, the atmosphere literally changed to the first notes of Rollin Up. The rapper finally takes his place in front of his backer too present. Dark and vaporous atmosphere for the title Black, lights off and flash on, the dark atmosphere is there. The Oly Boy offered us several excluded during his performance, and for our greatest pleasure, we could hear his title Yayo, with warmer vibes, leading to an irresistible hip.
Despite a mixed performance, O'boy was present and we will continue to follow him closely for 2017. We would have preferred to see more of O'boy and less of his sidekick.
Take A Mic: The Terrible Niño
Credits: The Jayneral
We no longer know if it was the Maroquinerie that invited the 94 or if the 94 was simply in the spotlight tonight.It is the turn of Take A Mic to take over to continue the hostilities. The young rapper from Orly already has 4 mixtapes, 3 EPs and many freestyles. Le Niño masters the stage like the greatest, accompanied and supported by his crew Eddie Hyde on stage. He will deliver us a strong performance. Take A Mic has concocted a new opus Bipolar (its first paid project) to be released on January 20, 2017 and already No. 1 in pre-order. To be followed very closely. The rapper leaves us boiling at the peak of the evening, waiting for the arrival of the Genevan Makala to close the festivities.
Makala: the burning ending
Credits: The Jayneral
OK. Makala is clearly the revelation of the evening. Little known to the audience present that evening, no one was ready to receive the stage slap he delivered. Straight from Switzerland, Makala is brimming with a contagious energy/rage. The leather goods ignited under the "Ouh Ouh Ouh" of the rapper. He offered us a Dantesque savagery accompanied by his acolytes Slim K and Pink Flamingo. Makala put an end to the festivities by delivering a most boiling performance.
Makala in reverse, it also makes the Kama. La Kama, a name too close to "La Came". Hey, imagine that it is clearly the good musical "cam" that we consumed with the Genevan this Sunday.Makala's lyrics take us far with "Capela" for example which depicts his vision of the world.
Makala has just signed with BMG France. Our ears just have to stand well, we feel the beautiful project that is coming!
Credits: The Jayneral
This first winter edition of Paris Hip Hop Winter ends on this beautiful note tinged with hope for these promising artists. Thank you to the Hip Hop Citizens team, without whom all this would not have been possible. They already give you an appointment for their summer edition in June 2017 that we will not miss. Rap concerts in summer are like raspberry ice cream in the mountains: it puts a good slap.Thanks also to The Jayneral who was able to capture the energy and share at the right time.Finally, we will thank French rap in general for offering us new talents every day and for being able to diversify our tastes.
Article co-authored with Nisreen ELY.
