Here we go again. After a first season that blew everyone away, and established rap as a major discipline in France today, the rap version of the TV talent show, "Nouvelle École", is back. And again this year, it's sure to be a big hit. We explain why.
The "Nouvelle École" of French rap honored
It took a long time for rap to finally be considered a major genre in France. Even when Franck Gastambide was breaking all records with his "Validated"In the early days of rap, people would still say it was "because of the confinement", or "because people had nothing else to look at". A few years later, however, the facts are simple: rap dominates the music production industry. In terms of sales, listeners, productivity and even diversity, since many rap "sub-genres" have emerged in recent years, making it even richer. This year even saw the first awards ceremony organized by and for the rap game, "Les Flammes". French rap is inescapable, and Netflix has understood this. By adapting the American show "Rythm + Flow" with "Nouvelle École", they probably didn't expect such a huge success.
Nouvelle École Season 2 official poster
But the French-speaking public was extremely interested in this kind of program. So it's with great curiosity and genuine impatience that we await the arrival of "New School"Season 2. The show is due to start airing on May 17, still on Netflix. The program has become a sure thing for the streaming platform, and promises to attract even more people, following the audience success of season 1. The ingredients are still the same: a jury of rap stars, including Niska, SCH and Shay, a competition lasting several rounds, pitting a dozen candidates against each other, and above all, a huge cashprize for the winner, who will take home 100,000 euros, if we keep to the same standards as last year. Enough to give you peace of mind for the rest of your career.
Fresh la Peufra - Nouvelle École Season 1 winner
But it's not just a classic TV talent show, where the winner takes all the limelight and the others fade into oblivion. Just look at how the artists who took part in Season 1 have evolved. Obviously, Fresh, the big winner, was able to ride the wave of his victory with two projects and singles that hit hard. But the other candidates also continue to shine, thanks to the advice given by professionals in the field. We're thinking in particular of BB Jacques, who has continued in his own universe, scoring high marks with each release. Or Ben PLG, although not the most talked-about candidate on the program, who won everyone over with his "Réalité Rap Musique" trilogy and subsequent project. Great examples of how a show like this can boost you to the top, even without winning.
"Nouvelle École", France's biggest rap competition
It's no coincidence that this kind of rap show is all the rage. It's mainly due to a real demand from the public. But also to the quality of the French breeding ground when it comes to rappers and artists in general. It's a much wider breeding ground than just the Île-de-France region or the Marseilles suburbs. At Project X Paris, we saw proof of this this year, when we launched the "Your Project, Your Trace" competition in partnership with Trace. Supported by huge influencers such as Nasdas and Kader Diaby (who also tried his luck at the Rap Contenders), the contest brought us several thousand entries, with freestyles from "anonymous" artists each heavier than the last. The French rap pool seems inexhaustible.
Nouvelle École Season 2 official poster
For season 2 of "Nouvelle École", the production team pulled out all the stops when it came to casting. In the jury, with Niska, Shay and SCH It's all down to the choice of candidates. There are 19 of them at the moment (but there may be a few surprises in store!), and they all have their own artistic identities. Slkrack, Coelho, Dau, Yuz Boy, Nayara, Bayass, Arka, Elso, Lpee, Warend, Comme1Flocon, K2 Shab's, Yonn, Ash to the Eye, Josué, La Valentina, Redhat, Jeremiah and Vadek will be competing for the 100K prize, and given the talent of each of them, it's hard to say who will win in the end.
SCH, Shay and Niska, the Nouvelle École jury
Beyond the 100,000 euros, it's above all the respect of the judges, who are all great artists, and the recognition of the public, that the artists come to seek. In the past, rappers have always managed to put out records, even when there was no money. But being validated by SCH, Niska or Shay isn't for everyone. Neither does having access to good advice from real professionals. So we can't wait to see the competition get underway, in true hip hop spirit. And we're especially eager to find out who will succeed Fresh la Peufra, who brilliantly won the first season of "Nouvelle École". All bets are off!