Soso Maness collaborates with Project X Paris
Soso Maness: a child of the northern neighbourhoods
If we had to pick just one name from the year 2020 in French rap, Soso Maness would obviously be at the top of the list. Because he put happiness in our ears, during the first confinement, with his hit "So Maness". But also thanks to his verse "Zumba cafew" in the 100% Marseilles project "13'Organisé". He's got a way with words, a great sense of humor and an incredible style that goes from a simple black t-shirt to a mobster's floral shirt: a portrait of the enfant terrible of the Quartiers Nord.
Soso Maness, from field to gold disc
Few people know it, but Soso Maness has been involved in rap, on and off, since he was almost 10 years old (he's now 33). Even as a youngster, the Marseilles native was cradled and nurtured on the rap of big brothers IAM and the Fonky Family, and managed to land a featuring with the group Intouchables (members of the legendary Mafia K1 Fry) on their first studio album, "Les Points sur les I", released in 2000. An early spotlight that should have put Soso on the map of the rap game, but the youngster had other desires, other projects...
Today, the rapper still gets emotional when he talks about some of his loved ones, shot dead or in prison for 30 years. He finally repented after his second sentence, in 2016/2017. Better still, he took full control of his life, using his time in prison to learn and grow, and emerge stronger for it. Since then, he's been working hard, and successfully, to break into rap. On top of that, he's become a real, engaging media figure, who people love to have on set: on Clique, Vice, Konbini or various Youtubers, the rapper causes a sensation wherever he goes. His outspokenness, his way with words, his incredible experience, but also his great musical and artistic sensitivity in general, are all the things that make us appreciate him. And of course, it was an instant hit with Project X Paris, a brand that looks for original profiles and strong personalities to present its clothes. When it comes to style, Soso is far from lacking: her incredible outfit for the "On The Corner" video, shot in her neighborhood of Fond Vert, is a case in point.
Soso Maness has real ideas when it comes to visuals. In his "TP" video, he created an entire clip "in the first person", as if in a video game. The cover of his album "Mistral", released in June 2020, is also hyper-stylish. Floral shirt, crisp white pants, sunglasses with a crazy pair of sneakers, and that orange flag fluttering at the back, it's all very successful. As for the music, most importantly, he's learned to diversify his palette, with a little singing, a little autotune, a lot of rap, and sometimes very surprising atmospheres, as in "So Maness" or recently in "Bande Organisée", and its few lines that made Twitter explode.
Soso Maness X Project X Paris, more than an obvious choice
For his personality and sense of style, Project X Paris chose Soso Maness to represent its streetwear collection. The choice was not made by chance: it's part of the brand's commitment to supporting talent from Paris to Marseilles. Especially since there are already 3 streetwear stores in Marseille (Grand littoral shopping mall, the port terraces and, for the past few months, the famous Avenue Saint-Antoine), and the Marseilles people's attraction to fashion, and particularly streetwear, is palpable. It's almost as if they've brought tracksuits back into fashion, as well as the glamorous gangster looks of Miami. They're very much influenced by the dress codes of 80s gangster films, with all the extravagance that comes with them. For Soso, it's just a question of exploring one of his passions, underwear, and we're delighted to be able to give him this opportunity. Especially as he knows a thing or two about textiles, having launched his own merchandise line in 2020, "Franc-Manesserie".
So it was in good spirits that we met up with the Marseillais at Le Quartier Général in the XIth arrondissement of Paris, a well-known venue for anyone looking to book rooms for a big hype event. A rather large venue with plenty of space, but this space was entirely occupied by Soso Maness, his charisma and his humor. A charmer, the rapper knows how to be, especially on certain TV sets or when it comes to donning a brand-new red hoodie from Project X Paris. He's not afraid to surprise, even if it means bringing out the denim jacket and pairing it with a sweatshirt Project X. In addition to rap, Soso also cultivates a love of rock'n'roll and French music, notably Renaud, a great ambassador of the denim jacket in France.
But even with the most daring pieces, like the tracksuit ensemble with lots of PXP logos, he looks good. It's hard not to be photogenic, with his frank smile and sunglasses. The blue tie-and-dye sweatshirt with shades of white is perhaps the one that suits him best, since it's in the colors of Olympique de Marseille, his club of choice, of course. He even looks good in jackets, which are not always easy to pull off for a man of his size. Bold, smiling, available and never afraid to take risks, Soso Maness has done this new Project X Paris collection proud.
WHO WE ARE
Project X Paris is the desire to carry the streetwear movement since 2015 with increasingly stylish collaborations.
A trendy French clothing brand available in over 30 stores, at more than 1,500 retailers worldwide and on projectxparis.com 24/7
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