Netflix introduces the "Nouvelle École" of rap!

While rap continues to establish itself as a leading cultural phenomenon in France, Netflix hit the mark by offering a brand new program 100% dedicated to rap that was a big hit. A jury of stars, contestants who want to win it all, and 100,000 euros at stake: welcome to the "Nouvelle École" of rap!

The very first televised Rap contest

If we go back just 10 years, it’s hard to imagine that a program entirely dedicated to French rap could have been such a big hit. But things have changed in 10 years, and very quickly. Rap and street culture have infiltrated everywhere, in films, TV shows, but also in series like "Validé". And almost every time, a huge success follows. This year we can say Netflix did well, unveiling a really ambitious program for a French-speaking audience that could have been a bit hesitant in the past, but now seems passionate about the rap game. With "Nouvelle École" Netflix offers a French adaptation of a show already cult in the United States, "Rhythm + Flow", which is also a real hit, carried by the trio of judges T.I., Chance The Rapper, and Cardi B. A jury of stars and industry experts, with three very different profiles. For the French-speaking version, the casting had to be on point as well. It was, with 3 headliners: the leader of the Charo Niska, the most famous Bad Girl from Belgium Shay, and the Marseille native at the top of his art for years now, SCH. The concept is simple: the judges have to find talents in their respective cities. These talents will compete through various rap-related challenges, like freestyles, music videos, battles on stage. The prize: a nice check of 100,000 euros for the winner, and a solid reference on their CV for their career ahead.

The jury

SCH (Marseille)

NISKA (Paris)

SHAY (Brussels)

Beyond the competition between all these talents and the 3 jury stars, we saw many rap game personalities.

Soso Maness, notably, who was involved in the castings in Marseille but also Naps, and Jul. We also saw Gradur or Isha lending a hand to Shay for the castings in Brussels. Finally, we also had Guy2Bezbar making an appearance, Tiakola, Ninho, and Fianso, who came to give advice to young rappers for their future. In short, a great panel of artists who all know what they’re talking about, each with their sensitivity and background, came to validate the program and empower the youth. And that’s the biggest success of "Nouvelle École": giving a big boost to a new generation eager to emerge.

A real springboard for the new generation Through this sometimes very tense competition, we discover a whole range of personalities who will undoubtedly be part of the rap landscape in the coming years. The names with interesting artistic proposals are numerous: BB Jacques, Leys, Fresh, Houssbad, KT Gorik, Vink, Elyon, and many others brought a breath of fresh air at a time of year when major rap releases were rare. As a result, the public became passionate about the journey of all these artists, and the series quickly became the most talked-about subject. A victory for culture but also a victory for all these young artists who gained visibility counted in millions, as well as contacts with very important people in the industry. We imagine collaborations are planned between rookies and stars of the game, some have already started, and that’s great.

Of course, not everything was perfect for this very first French-speaking season, and that’s normal. Decisions made during castings can raise questions, like for poor Ben PLG who gave a great performance. We can also regret that some candidates were put in easier conditions, with a private studio casting, while others had to rap in parking lots or in front of an audience. We can also regret some slightly negative attitudes sometimes (but candidates’ emotions are strong, it’s normal), as well as a slight lack of preparation for some artists on certain challenges. But overall, this first season is very, very successful, as evidenced by the program’s audience and the streaming numbers of the competing artists, which continue to rise. We can also salute the level of female rappers, as girls showed that even if they are still underrepresented in the industry today, they have absolutely nothing to envy to their male counterparts, even when it comes to rapping hard. And while some contestants "only" adopted very trendy currents in rap, others tried completely new things, like KT Gorik, BB Jacques, and a few others. A real positive point to add to the credit of this "Nouvelle École" because at Project X Paris, what we prefer above all is originality. Moreover, with the presence of Jacky Brown or Driver, the show brought together all rap generations in a very positive atmosphere, which was nice to see.

The cast

FRESH

BEN PLG

HOUSSBAD

BB JACQUES

KT GORIQUE

WHITE N

And much more…

We already know that due to the success of this first edition, Netflix decided to renew the experience for a second season. With "Nouvelle École" the platform might have a program as important as "The Voice," but for French rap. A great achievement, we hope season 2 will start soon! By the way, if you’re tempted, know that castings are already open.