Nekfeu: Le Grand Journal

An appearance on the Le Grand Journal TV show last night by rapper Nekfeu, an artist who looks
likely to be one of the key hip hop acts of 2015

Nekfeu's a member of rap act 1995, who have released two  EPS and one album since their 2011 La Source debut.

His first solo album Feu was relased earlier this month, and it's been met with both critical and commercial success.

It set a record for number of downloads for a debut album by a French artist.

Singles released ahead of the album included Égérie, On verra, Nique les clones (Pt II),and  Tempête.

As Maître Gims did last year, Nekfeu is making a move from French rap scene figure into mainstream commercial success.

Nekfeu - Nique les Clones - Le live du 16/06

 

Nekfeu - On Verra - Le live du 16/06

Sneazzy feat Guillaume Griefjoy - SNZ

An interesting track that combines some of France's cutting edge electro with some of the country's top rap acts.

Sneazzy , sometimes Sneazzy West, is one of the six members of rap act 1995, one of France's foremost hiphop acts.

Meanwhile,  Guillaume Griefjoy is from the four piece act that shares his surname, whose album Griefjoy was released in 2013.

The last release by 1995 was their Paris Sud Minute album from 2013, a  number three album in France.

Sneazzy has a solo album scheduled for later this year.

Victoires de la Musique 2014

This weekend saw France's most significant music awards ceremony, with the Victoires de la Musique ceremony being held for the 29th time.

The good year for Stromae continues, with the Belgian picking up three awards, and Vanessa Paradis, Phoenix, Johnny Hallyday and Woodkid picking up some new ornaments for their trophy cabinets.

Male artist: Stromae
Female artist: Vanessa Paradis



Breakthrough album: La Femme - Psycho tropical Berlin



Breakthough artist: Woodkid

Chanson album: Stromae - Racine carrée



Rock album: Phoenix - Bankrupt

Urban music album: 1995 - Paris sud minuit


World music album: Ibrahim Maalouf - Illusions



Electronic or dance album: Kavinsky - Outrun

Original Song:  Johnny Hallyday - 20 ans


Musical / tour / concert: M - Îl(s)

Video: Stromae - Formidable



Music DVD: Shaka Ponk - Geeks on stage



It seemed a fairly obvious selection of winners. It wasn't hard to predict that Stromae might do quite well, for example.  But the list of winners doesn't really give the whole picture by any means, as there were some great performances during a programme that showcased some of the best music that France has to offer.



Among the performances were the likes of Cats on Trees, Zaz,  Etienne Daho, Indochine, Christine and the Queens and Grand Corps Malade, along with Vanessa Paradis, La Femme and Shaka Ponk.



I'm sure it's easy to criticise the list of winners, but the talent on show during the ceremony shows that French music is without a doubt in great shape and that there are acts that are not only delivering the best work of their careers at the moment and there are new acts creating some of the best work around.



In short, a great showcase for France's musical talent after what has been an historic year for French musical talent.

Festival: Vieilles Charrues

Details of the acts playing at this year's Vieilles Charrues festival in Brittany have been released, with acts ranging frm Bob Dylan to Martin Solveig playing at what has become one of France's most significant music events.

The Cure, Sting, Portishead and Justice are also set to play.

The event features three main stages each day, each named after major Breton figures, Glenmor, Jack Kerouac and Xavier Grall.

It's the 21st time the festival's been held, and it features some big names in French and international music, as well as many more interesting acts.

The first day, Thursday July 19, sees Portishead, Keziah Jones, Don Rimini and Django Django on the Glenmor stage, and on the Kerouac stage LMFAO, Zebda, Stuck in the Sound and Rover. The Grall stage features Beat Assaillant, Breakbot, La Rumeur, Baadman and Im Takt.

Friday night sees The Cure, Martin Solveig, Thomas Dutronc and Brigitte taking to the Glenmor stage. Metronomy, Bloc Party, Youssoupha and Other Lives appear on the Kerouac stage, and M83 tops the bill on the Grall stage.

Meanwhile, Saturday features Sting, Justice, Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine and Kiril Djaikowski on the Glenmor stage, Selah Sue, Rodrigo & Gabriela and  C.U.B.A., The Rapture and Irma on the Kerouac stage

The final day sees Bob Dylan, Gossip and Garbage on the Glenmor stage, with  Kasabian, Amadou and Mariam and Santigold on the Kerouac stage. The Grall stage sees Orlesan and 1995 and others on the bill.

The event takes place between July 19-22 at Carhaix in Brittany.

Live: 1995 at the Jazz Café

With the release of their new Ep La Suite earlier this month, 1995 look set to be the breakthough act in the French hip hop scene this year.

They play in London at the Jazz Cafe this week, in what will be their UK debut performance.

I've already featured the six piece last month, their new release being much-anticipated following their strong debut La Source least year.

I'm sure their live show will be every bit as dynamic as their releases.

1995: La Suite

A track by hotly tipped French rappers 1995 ahead of their new release next month.

The band - a six piece featuring five MCs and a DJ - Alpha Wann, Areno Jaz, Fonky Flav’, Lo’, Nek le Fennek and Sneazzy - quickly became the name to watch in French hip hop since their debut release last year.

Their first release La Source came out in June 2011.

The band takes their name from the year that saw the Wu Tang Clan break into the mainstream and change the face of rap, while the file La Haine took the issues of the banlieues to the big screen.

Their music is and imaginative and innovative funky flow, and that band looks set to be the next big name to emerge from the French hip hop underground to mainstream attention.

The album, also called La Suite, is released on March 5.