UZI AND PROJECT X PARIS
Uzi, melody, street, style and "Coeur abîmé" (Damaged heart)
On February 19, Uzi unveiled his first studio album. A compact 16-track project, with no featuring, as the young rapper has things to tell. Things that happen mainly in the streets of Noisiel, where he grew up, and apparently played the 400 coups with his associates. Stories of land or disappointed love, he has them in spades with a rather visual and precise writing style that quickly gets us inside. If some lend him a resemblance with Ninho Uzi has cultivated his difference on this album and in his videos. In terms of his rapping style, he has a rather distinctive vocal timbre, often oscillating between sung choruses, as in "A la fête", and kicked passages, sometimes even shouting, as in his track "La Guitare". "Cœur Abîmé" offers a wide range of moods, sometimes sunny ("Délégué"), sometimes much colder, but always playing on the melodic side ("Bâtiment", "Madre Mia").
It's this mastery of melody that has made him the phenomenon he is today. His album reached number one in the streaming charts on its release, and number three in the album charts across all media. His effective, well-calibrated refrains have found their way into playlists, ears and heads. It also has to be said that he has surrounded himself with some of the best producers in French rap, with Junior Alaprod, Bersa, Heezy Lee, Shabz Beatz, Josh Roshinet, Hoodstar and many others. Names that are used to certifications, and know how to make a track catchy or melancholy. Add to this Uzi's raw, direct and effective writing, and the cocktail is bound to work.
The rapper's attitude also catches the eye: insolence, a real sense of pose, style or staging (as in the video for his hit "A la fête"), we got a glimpse of this side of the artist's palette during his collaboration with PXP. PROJECT X PARIS As for you, you've no doubt read that when he decides to do something, he goes about it with a sense of purpose: at his album release party in his La-Ferme-Du-Buisson neighborhood, a hundred or so people came to join him for a meal and a little home-made fireworks. Uzi took the opportunity to thank the street for all the support it has given him since the days of his "Drive By" and "Akrapovitch" freestyles. From now on, we'll have to rely on the young rapper from 77, who confirmed all the hopes placed in him with "Cœur Abîmé". He has a bright future ahead of him, and we hope to see him establish a lasting place at the table of the big names in French rap and urban culture in general.
WHY THIS UZI x PROJECT X PARIS COLLABORATION?
Uzi is into streetwear and fashion, as are many of today's rappers. Clothes and aesthetics are now an integral part of the rapper's panoply, and he makes his mark as much through his music and lyrics as through his style. It was in this very streetwise, natural and contemporary spirit that the rapper collaborated with Project X Paris. He wore the new PXP Men's Collection with style and elegance, and it's a perfect fit, especially in the entire tracksuit range. Whether it's the unisex set with multiple PXP logos, which looks just as good in both colors, or the tie-and-dye set with its futuristic design. Casual but classy, yet streetwise, the result is highly effective, like the Arsenal outfits the rapper used in the video for his hit "A la fête", which has since been certified a platinum single.
The shoot took place in a large, luxurious mansion hidden away somewhere in Paris, to showcase the rapper and the latest PXP collection to best advantage. It was clear that the brand and the artist were on the same wavelength. We were treated to a variety of moods, from chillin' on a sofa in a track suit, to daring with even more original pieces. The denim jacket with the PROJECT X PARIS logo on the torso above the left pocket is a must-have of this season. new Homme 2021 collection. Lightweight, elegant and with camo motifs, it's one of the pieces that best suits Uzi, always with that mix of streetwear and elegance.
But of course, what stands out most about this collaboration between Uzi and PXP is his love of sweatshirts In addition to hoodies, the brand is also bringing checkered patterns back into fashion. The plain red sweatshirt, with the brand's logo embroidered in black, is flawlessly effective, while the two-tone check outfit (white/black) is more original, but never tasteless. The streetwise, extravagant look of the outfit, to which Uzi has added a hoodie, fits in perfectly with his universe, even if this kind of timeless piece was already fashionable among East Coast MCs in the '90s.
In any case, it was a pleasure to be able to collaborate with an artist such as Uzi, who is approachable, very straightforward and has a real taste for fashion that carried over into the choice of pieces for the collection. His energy and positive attitude, which make him the darling of the public at the moment, make us look forward to collaborating with him again. But in the meantime, we wish him every success as he continues to raid record stores and streaming platforms. With 7,000 sales in just one week, his album is already a success, but we feel that he's still got it and can go even further, which is why we at Project X Paris are delighted to have worked with this young hope of French rap.
WHO WE ARE
Project X Paris is the wager of two young French designers to combine the art of urban living with current trends. It's a delicious blend of fashion, culture and minimalism. Combining Lifestyle and streetwear, the young brand born in 2015 conquered major cities such as Dubai, Berlin, London and Los Angeles before settling in Paris.
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