Bolemvn joins Le Cercle PXP
The musical touch of Bâtiment 7
French rap still hasn't recovered from the fresh breeze that blew from the 91 over the rest of the game in the mid-2000s. Whether it's Ninho, Niska, or PNL, you could say that almost all the biggest rappers of recent years have one foot in Essonne? Is it a coincidence? Probably not, because the department has a truly unique profile where everything mixes: very urban landscapes blending all origins, African, Latin, but also much greener and more isolated areas, closer to the image we have of the countryside. It's this carefully balanced mix that has delivered an incredible number of talents to French Rap, coming from Évry or Corbeil. Among them, one of the teams that made the most noise is the one from Bâtiment 7, that now famous tower in the Parc aux Lièvres estate in Évry, from which emerged Koba La D, Kodes, Shotas, but also Bolémvn, who is one of the most prominent members of the team. It's no coincidence: the rapper has a very atypical profile in the group, notably with a search for musicality, in flows and beats, that you don't necessarily find elsewhere.
It is precisely this musicality that makes the artist strong, a sense of melody he acquired as his career progressed. At the start, like many of his Bat 7 friends, he had tons of energy to burn and street stories to tell, as in the very first clip on his Youtube channel, "Walter White," a nod to the character from the famous Netflix series "Breaking Bad." Young Bolé also has many Pop culture references in his tracks, sometimes well hidden, which helps him stand out a bit more. In interviews or songs, you feel the universe is rich and that he has worked on all aspects of his artist craft, not hesitating to put himself in the spotlight in his clips. Already very strong at a young age for kick rhymes, he gradually evolved to offer tracks that are sometimes much more danceable, likely to reach a much wider audience than the aggressive trap practiced in Évry at that time. Like his friend Koba La D, the trial was quickly turned into success, and although he hasn't yet reached Koba's level of fame, today Bolémvn is one of the rappers who matter in the industry, with a very distinctive identity.
Again, this is no coincidence since the rapper has been a workaholic from the start. More than forty clips on his channel in less than 6 years, and that's not even counting the whole team adventure with Seven Binks, which includes many very productive artists. Bolémvn is on a high pace and you can tell he didn’t want to miss his chance, with 6 solo albums released since 2018, just imagine. In fact, the latest one, "Vol 169 atterrissage," came out just a few months ago. But this year he also took part in "Monument," the Seven Binks album released just a few days ago. No time to rest, the rapper is determined to take it all. That’s probably why he’s such a great interviewee, full of humor and frankness, even if it means creating very funny situations or controversies. But Bolémvn doesn’t care, because he’s authentic and doesn’t play a character when he appears publicly or on the mic. He stays true to himself, and that natural side is exactly what’s interesting.
Bolemvn & Project X Paris, it’s a natural fit
At PXP, we’re not big fans of people who act like stars or whose behavior changes in front of the cameras, and luckily Bolémvn has no intention of playing a role. The tone is set from the first outfit of the Underground capsule: a pink set with street art printed shorts, and the matching oversized t-shirt, all worn with a pair of sneakers and crisp white socks pulled up high, very trendy in summer outfits these past years. All set in a crazy decor created by our Project X designers, with a large hangar, in front of a vehicle styled very old-school, looking like it came straight out of "Mad Max: Fury Road." The rapper keeps a reserved, rather mysterious attitude, which doesn’t stop him from striking a great pose. For the second part of the shoot, we kept the same location, with the same car, but changed the outfit: this time, we went for the "Relax" style, recognizable by its knitted clothes and quite minimalist designs. This time, the artist wore a yellow round-neck knit sweatshirt with a white stripe on the side. For the jogging bottoms, we obviously chose the same color and texture for a successful overall effect.
At this point, Bolémvn gradually starts to loosen up and feel more and more comfortable, it shows on his face. So it’s time to move on to something more avant-garde: the "ComfortWear" capsule. It’s a bit in the same mood as the previous one, but this one goes much further, offering clothes all in a "corded" style, like the corduroy pants worn in the past. Now, this texture is back at the forefront of fashion and the rapper wears it perfectly: a corduroy shirt in khaki color, with the double logo on the front, and textured pants in the same color, again with the double Project X Paris logo. Even when trying the most avant-garde streetwear clothes, the artist doesn’t hesitate, and in this slightly street hangar setting where we find a luxurious barber chair, he keeps letting loose for our greatest pleasure. So it’s time to follow up with a new outfit, a bit more classic this time but still very effective: the "Signature" outfit, from the collection of the same name. This one needs no introduction, as it’s one of our biggest successes since the brand’s beginnings in 2015. With a small change this time, as we decided to dress him in a beige signature hoodie + signature jogging bottoms set, which gives an almost golden look with the hangar’s lighting effects.
Finally, the last outfit tried during the shoot is a black set composed of a round-neck sweatshirt and sweatpants. White doves adorn the top and bottom, and we can also see a new reworked logo, with a slightly stylized font and some added writings underneath. On the upper back, the "Project X Paris" logo appears larger but with the same typography. Change of scenery for this last outfit, with a setting that could be a showcase or concert, but a very street version. We find Bolémvn comfortable, mic in hand, putting on a show in front of a large red sheet covered with "PXP" graffiti. He even grabbed the spray paint to have some fun himself. We had an excellent time with the rapper from Évry and really managed to create something original and stylish for this shoot, so we hope to do it again soon, wishing him all the best for the future!