On Thursday, May 11th, Paris saw the inaugural ‘Les Flammes‘ ceremony unfold at the renowned Théâtre du Châtelet. The event was designed to shine a spotlight on French rap and the expansive “popular cultures” that surround it – an unprecedented move in a country that has often overlooked the genre in such settings.
The resonance of this historic moment was not lost, especially when recalling rapper SCH‘s discomfort at the 2022 Victoires de la musique ceremony. The Marseille-based artist voiced his unease about his presence when many of his fellow prominent French-speaking rappers were absent, despite their music dominating the top 10 most-listened-to artists in France.
The red carpet outside Théâtre du Châtelet bore witness to an impressive parade of French-speaking urban music artists, including Damso, Hamza, Aya Nakamura, Orelsan, Shay, and Gazo, among others.
The prestigious guest list was a testament to the influence of the event’s organisers: Yard, Booska-P (both renowned French rap media outlets), and global streaming giant Spotify.
The ceremony was an engaging spectacle filled with live performances and speeches, all available for replay on YouTube. The spotlight shone bright on Gazo, Aya Nakamura, Dinos, and Tiakola, each of whom left with major accolades, with Tiakola bagging three. The Female and Male Revelation awards were bestowed upon Ronisia and Werenoi, respectively.
Two particular honours stood out during the event: Congolese singer Fally Ipupa received an award for his illustrious career, while Le Rat Luciano was presented with an ‘Eternal Flame’ by SCH. On receiving his award, Luciano aptly summarised the evening: “It’s been a long time coming; we’ve been waiting for this evening.”
In celebrating and honouring diverse global musical cultures, Les Flammes sets a refreshing new standard. We look forward to what future editions will bring.
#Peace.Love.LesFlammes2023
