SOSO MANESS: The Rising Star of Marseille

Soso Maness's crazy year

After ten years spent in the shadows of the rap game, Soso Maness has managed to take advantage of 2020/2021 to become an essential figure in French rap and urban culture. Album, collaboration with Project X Paris, multiple appearances in features or YouTube concepts, a look back at this crazy year of the new Marseille star.

Soso Maness, the rising star of the 13

Those who know a bit about his life are aware that for Soso Maness, this current success resembles a fighter's journey. The one who started rapping at 11 years old with his childhood friends, before featuring very young on Intouchables' album (the track "La Relève" in 2000), took a long time before acquiring this status of a big name in rap. This was due to a sometimes chaotic personal journey, and the lack of spotlight that long existed on young talents of Marseille rap post-Psy 4. But now, he's established at the top of the charts. He had already fired a first warning shot in March 2020, with the release of a true hit, "So Maness". A track that scored excellently, while highlighting the rapper's humor and good mood. He could have even better exploited this title if COVID hadn't come to disrupt his plans, on stage or in clubs. The second wave comes shortly after with the release of his album "Mistral" in June, a project that will allow him to multiply appearances and interviews, making him one of the most appreciated personalities in the game. The project should go gold in the near future.

Finally, the last step in his conquest of French rap: the track "Bande Organisée", unveiled on August 15th. A hit-teaser for a 100% Marseille collaborative album, with the biggest names of each generation. The track, with Naps, Jul, SCH, Kofs and others, is a real tidal wave. But it's especially thanks to Soso Maness's incredible verse, the famous "Zumba Cafew", that it became cult. A rain of certifications then falls on the Marseille natives, to the point that all mainstream media are forced to talk about it. As a result, we find Soso everywhere on YouTube: in interviews, but also joking around on Rap Jeu, or with YouTuber Loris Giuliano. The rapper has managed to become a real street personality appreciated by almost all media, without ever changing his personality or softening his speech. It can even provoke jealousy from some haters who think that "Soso, we see him too much". But they're wrong. Good mood, honesty, humor, authenticity, and with a real sense of style: we never get tired of Soso Maness.

The Soso Maness X Project X Paris collab

Besides rap, the artist has also worked quite a bit on his look during this year. It's the basics for a rapper: you can't do 100 interviews in a year and wear the same clothes, otherwise, you're sure to get roasted on social media. Anyway, he had always had an interest in fashion, as he confided to us during the collaboration between him and Project X. With, as often with Marseille natives, a little sense of provocative, eye-catching and daring look that we really like here at PXP. As a big streetwear enthusiast, he didn't hesitate before choosing the unisex blue tracksuit with numerous white logos. A rather daring piece, but that's not going to scare him, who has always owned this somewhat "big mouth" side and different from others. This collab was especially an opportunity to discover his love for everything Jean, in pants or in jacket, he who has always had a great passion for rockers. But also his love for sweatshirts and hoodies: unisex, blue tie-dye, or rather "basic", he will have tried and adopted them all. We obviously look forward to renewing the experience for a future collection.