The Flames 2023: The Ceremony That Set French Rap on Fire

After being eagerly awaited for so long, it’s finally here: the ceremony made by the rap world and for it, was born in 2023. For the first time, industry players united to offer an original ceremony. A look back at this evening full of emotions, decorations, and crazy outfits with incredible style.

"Les Flammes", the Made-in-French Rap CeremonyThe relationship rap has with awards is quite particular. Whether in the United States, where Eminem, Kanye West, and many others have harshly insulted the institutions that awarded them (especially during the Grammys), or in France, where every year for 25 years the Victoires de la Musique create discomfort when it comes to rewarding rappers (some were even placed in "World Music" one year...), one can say the rap game is not very friendly with "mainstream" award ceremonies. This is probably due to its resolutely underground and rebellious nature. For all these years, rap fans and the urban scene have sought a way to reconcile the game with award ceremonies by creating an evening where this culture and those who continue to create it could be celebrated every year. Thus were born "Les Flammes", the first French-speaking ceremony dedicated to rap and popular cultures, initiated by several big names in the scene, like the media Yard and Booska P, whom you all know.

We obviously had a category for Song of the Year, but also for "Rap Performance Song of the Year". An interesting category focusing on the art of kick and wordplay, a rap style too rarely rewarded. But we also had RnB Song, Afro Song, and Caribbean Song of the Year, each with a category to represent the diversity of these cultures. Music videos were also rewarded, as well as covers, composers, labels, and even launch strategies, each with a category. Special mention to the two categories "The Flames of Social Commitment of the Year" and "The Eternal Flame", which naturally touch us deeply. One rewards someone who acts concretely to do good in their community, and the other decorates a legend of the game, who receives too little recognition from a new generation that sometimes neglects the founding fathers of this culture. The whole was broadcast live on Youtube, simultaneously on 6Play, and rebroadcast later in the evening on W9. We told you, the team went all out to make this ceremony unforgettable.

"Les Flammes", the Most Stylish Ceremony?And we can say this evening was quite unforgettable. First, thanks to the happiness it brought to all players in the current popular music scene, even when they were only nominated and not rewarded. You could see they all were aware of participating in something historic, as well as a great moment of celebration and sharing. That’s why everyone dressed to the nines. We saw incredible outfits, notably SCH with his oversized quilted gray suit, Orelsan wearing a tie & dye piece, Dinos with his black suit and large fur-style cape, with Gucci loafers. Also Gazo, all shiny and smiling after the crazy year he just had. We saw many inspired outfits that night, and it’s probably the first time we see so much style at an award ceremony in France. And you know us, at Project X Paris: this matters a lot to us.

Moreover, besides being very stylish that night, some artists with whom PXP collaborated were awarded. This is notably the case of Kalash, who received the Caribbean Song of the Year Flame for his feature with Maureen, "Laptop". A banger made for hot parties, very rhythmic, with a clip smelling of the tropics. The rapper also took the opportunity to perform a medley of his most striking titles on stage, wearing a rather sober outfit, all black, except for the huge gold chain around his neck. Another very successful outfit and performance for Kalash, who is getting used to it. But he’s not the only Project X Paris ambassador to be awarded, as Ronisia also won the Female Revelation Flame of the Year. We told you she would be one to watch! She performed "Nha Terre" and "Mélodie" live, two tracks from her album released last year. With a very stylish scenography, in short, another great job from her.

We also want to congratulate the big winners of this edition of "Les Flammes", notably Gazo (Spotify Album of the Year), Tiakola (New Pop Album of the Year, Afro Song of the Year, and RnB Song of the Year), Dinos (Rap Album of the Year and Feature of the Year), and Aya Nakamura (Female Artist of the Year), all rewarded in the most competitive categories. If some victories sparked debate, that’s always the case, and maybe that’s the purpose of an award ceremony. The biggest victory goes to popular cultures represented on May 11 in all their diversity. Even the good old Rat Luciano, iconic member of the Fonky Family, one of the founding fathers of Marseille rap in the 90s, was awarded the Eternal Flame for his incredible body of work. This first ceremony was very successful, and we hope there will be more!