Uzi, the rap sensation of the year

We already talked about him last year. We even put him on our list of rappers to watch for 2022, and the least we can say is that Uzi did not disappoint. He even managed to surprise when he was expected to falter. And since he brought a lot of energy to Project X Paris, we had to look back on this crazy year.

An album full of surprises We left Uzi in 2021, after a very eventful year that saw him explode in the public eye with his single “A la fête” which played everywhere. His rapid big success even allowed him to be invited to the big “Classico Organisé” party. But there were also questions: would he manage to confirm? Because when you get so many views with a track, labels can quickly stick on you, and that can also push you to reuse the same formula to keep it going, a bit of an easy way out. That was obviously not the case with the rapper from 77, who worked to diversify his artistic palette and show the public he could do many things. He proved it with his second solo album, “Meilleur qu'hier.” A 17-track project with big names featured and quite a few different vibes. We obviously have to talk about his feature with Booba, “Trophée,” on the album. Uzi managed to get the Duc on his project, which is not given to just anyone. And on top of that, he bothered to rap without autotune, something rare from him lately.

But he also invited Soolking, OBOY, ISK, Timal, and Lynda. Overall, the project remains very focused on melody, a trademark of the rapper since his beginnings. Very worked productions with beautiful notes, often very clear, whether in the happiest or most melancholic tracks. A melancholy that is still as present as on his first album, so fans won’t be disappointed. Lots of Latino sounds, some much more African rhythms too, in short, Uzi stays true to his music without trying to reproduce the same formula as at the start. A nice risk taken by the artist, which paid off. Obviously, the background remains deeply rooted in the street, stories of rivalry, jealousies, illegal business, but also determination and the desire to succeed that he observed everywhere in his city of Noisiel. Naturally, risk-taking means sales won’t be as huge as before, but it’s still more than enough for him to be satisfied with his second project.

Uzi on all fronts It’s even more satisfying as the rapper is increasingly validated by his rap game colleagues. Recognition from the scene is very important for an artist and he is truly validated by his peers. Proof is the large number of features and collaborations Uzi did throughout the year. On his album, in the “Classico Organisé,” but he was also invited on many other artists’ projects: notably the famous Kayna Samet. A cult singer in French urban music, we remember her feature with Booba (again him), “Destinée,” in 2022. Another big name in the game validating the young rapper, who also seems to unite the veterans, which again is not given to all new artists. He also recently released another original collaboration with a very good rapper, Doria.

The freestyle is called “Changer,” and the video was shot in front of a car, with a black and white filter that adds a lot of intensity. What’s even more original is the mode of release: the video was released only on TikTok and Instagram, where it was a hit. Finally, another big Uzi collaboration, he featured with Bosh, who has become a true star of French rap since his notable role in the series “Validé,” where he plays a very brutal and aggressive character. But for their feature, called “Militaire,” Uzi managed to bring Bosh into a musical universe quite outside his comfort zone, successfully. The result is a very melodic track, which you can listen to on the compilation “Redvolution vol.1,” released at the end of October. By the way, at the pace Uzi has been appearing these last weeks, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him announce something, maybe for 2023, who knows? Stay tuned!

The Uzi & PXP collab While waiting to know more, we will also look back at the collaboration between Uzi and Project X Paris. A collab whose pieces remain more relevant than ever, like his checkered set which still looks incredible. A checkered overshirt with black and white and pants in the same colors, all worn with a white hoodie and a pair of glasses, the rapper has a crazy style, with an outfit that might seem hard to wear at first. But the rapper fears neither extravagant pieces nor flashy styles, he dares, and you know us at PXP, we love that. A tracksuit set and Signature hoodie in a futuristic tie and dye version, which he wears while enjoying a bowl of cereal, the rapper likes the good things and we love this attitude and energy.

Like all street warriors, you can feel Uzi has a little preference for our hoodies, whether classic versions like the black signature hoodie or the red “Project X Paris Crew” hoodie, one of our recent successes. Or hoodies with much more avant-garde patterns, like the model from the “Graffiti” capsule, in red and white. In short, we invite you to watch the full shoot again because we really took beautiful photos in this luxurious mansion hidden in the heart of Paris. We obviously want to renew the experience with Uzi and wish him all the best for 2023 which, no doubt, promises to be a hot year for him!