Marseille is more than ever at the forefront of the urban scene, and Naps has a lot to do with it. Between his eagerly-awaited albums and his starring role in "13'Organisé", the rapper not only flies the colors of his city, but is also a connoisseur of fashion and streetwear. Project X Paris has asked him to be the face of the new 2021 collection.
Naps, a Marseilles icon
In the space of just a few years, Marseille has once again become a major city for French rap. After IAM, the Fonky Family and the Psy4 de la Rime, the next generation was a little slow in coming, but now it's here and well established. This new generation is mainly driven by Jul, of course, and Naps, as well as Soso Maness. Following in the footsteps of Kalif Hardcore, Jul and Naps give their rap that special, sunny sound, with a mix of raw lyrics and autotune. The whole thing is sprinkled with authentic Marseilles slang, with a nice dose of confidence and class at times. Versatile, he uses a number of well-known beatmakers to set the mood for his albums: CDR, Zeg P, Napalm Beats, and he has already collaborated with all the greatest rap artists of his generation. These include Ninho (with whom he shares the same affection for the Project X Paris brand), SCH, Vald, Soolking, Maes, Heuss l'Enfoiré and many others.
Validated by his colleagues, by street and also supported by his entire city, Naps has been raining certifications with his albums released since 2015. If today everyone sees what we're talking about when we say "rap marseillais" or "rap sudiste", it's thanks to the music, but also the attitude. Over the past 5-6 years, thanks to Naps in particular, Marseilles has become a hotbed of sartorial experimentation. With some rather daring outfits: we remember the epidemic of soccer T-shirts from Thailand, with fluorescent colors, and also tracksuit outfits bearing the effigy of major soccer clubs. Marseille has been a veritable inspiration for today's streetwear, and Naps is one of the architects of this trend. Project X Paris was therefore a logical choice to work with the man who has become one of the fashion icons of today's urban culture.
But Naps isn't all streetwear. His aesthetic is also inspired by the Miami vibe, with blinged-out, open shirts and a little chain on the torso à la Tony. All in all, we sense that he drew a great deal of inspiration from the gangster films of the '80s and '90s, in which everyone had an incredible look, either hyper-exuberant or very classy and sober with Italian suits. From the days of "Pochon Bleu", a real commercial success and summer 2017 hit, to his participation in "13'Organisé" and his new album "Les Mains faites pour l'Or", the rapper from Marseilles has imposed his musical and graphic style, much to the delight of his many fans. A sunny, joyful, catchy touch with lots of good humor, just like the city of Marseille, an important crossroads of today's urban culture. So important, in fact, that Project X Paris is available in several boutiques around the city, notably on the famous Avenue Saint-Antoine, or in the heart of the city, on Rue Saint-Ferréol.
Naps & Project X Paris, a logical partnership
Naps is at ease with all styles, whether it's wearing tracksuit bottoms with a sweatshirt or hoodie, or much more classic, understated pieces. With a penchant for very daring clothing, it's only natural that he should team up with Project X Paris for the new 2021 collections. He tried his hand at a number of styles, so we noticed his chameleon-like side, at ease in all the artist's moods.
He obviously loved the pastel ensemble with the jogging bottoms and zip-off hoodie, but he was just as keen on the white outfit, with a simpleunsweat and a huge butterfly motif on both the top and the tracksuit bottoms. These sober pieces contrasted slightly with the Marseille native's usual panoply, but they suited him perfectly. Not the last to put on a show, he lent himself without a care to the shooting game, posing in sometimes rather funny situations: lying down and surrounded by green and purple bills, or posed on his bike, always in a good mood. All this took place in a beautiful house not far from the Louvre, the perfect place to create a contrast between luxury and the extravagant side of streetwear (as well as that of the artist).
But the best part is when Project X Paris makes him wear the most extravagant outfits. Naps is a pretty restless guy, with a great sense of humor, who's quick to catch on, whether in real life or in a featuring track. When he donned the blue or green tie-and-dye ensembles, bingo, it was a perfect match. Not everyone is ready to take on this kind of piece, but he wears them without batting an eyelid, very much at ease, as does the unisex outfit with the many PXP logos, not the most classic of garments on offer. The rapper doesn't shy away from anything, just as he does with his music. He's not afraid to try and dare, and he often succeeds, which is why he's such a good representative of the brand's daring and innovative side Project X Paris.