Rim'k joins Le Cercle PXP
RIM'K, THE TONTON OF THE GAME
Music is constantly evolving, and it’s easy to get left behind by new flows or sound treatments and settle for old recipes we already master well. Very few artists have managed to stay relevant and innovative for over 20 years. But Rim'K is one of them! In France, only Booba and Rohff can boast of staying at the top for so long, but the Tonton is much less divisive than his two colleagues, and almost everyone loves him, across all generations. Why? Probably thanks to his friendliness and humility every time we see him in interviews. He has participated in some of the greatest chapters of French Rap history, yet he continues to bring the same energy as a rookie with every new release, and that’s powerful. The story begins in the early 90s, at Camille Groult, when Rim'K decides with two childhood friends (AP and Mokobe) to create 113, which immediately positions itself under the banner of the greatest collective in French rap history: Mafia K'1 Fry.
Together, they will inscribe the two digits of their department, 94, in the rap game’s hall of fame. 113 releases a first EP, "Ni barreaux, ni barrières, ni frontières," which opens the doors of the game and allows them to immediately follow up with one of the greatest classics of French Rap: the album "Les Princes de la ville," in 1999. Quickly, it’s consecration, notably thanks to DJ Mehdi’s hard work but also the talent and complementarity of the three childhood friends. They proudly display being from the suburbs, managing to make it on their own, and send an incredible positive message to the youth of the neighborhoods. Above all, they will win a Victoire de la Musique the following year, something very rare for a "hardcore" rap group. And this notably allowed them to offer an incredible moment engraved in all memories: the stage performance with the famous Peugeot 504 station wagon, to further assert their identity. A multiple identity, one foot in the neighborhood, the other in France, and their head in the stars with the desire to achieve great things and break everything.
Joint albums with 113, (notably with "Dans l'urgence"), and projects with Mafia K'1 Fry multiply, success grows, but Rim'K also has solo career ambitions. He launched it in 2004 with his album "L'Enfant du Pays." Nicknamed "Tonton" thanks to the track "Tonton du bled," the rapper takes us back and forth between his neighborhood and his native Kabylie, culminating in the album "Maghreb United," which had wide airplay on Skyrock at the time of its release. But it is from 2016 that he takes on another dimension, while the 113 and Mafia K'1 Fry adventures seem musically stalled, and Rim'K decides to switch to Trap with his "Monster Tape" in 2016. A project with very current sounds, launching him into a new phase of his career. The one where he is a Taulier, respected by the whole new generation who do not hesitate to collaborate with him, in "Fantôme," then "Mutant," then "Midnight," and finally "ADN," 5 projects in 5 years. Along the way, huge hits like "Air Max" with Ninho, the clearest example of Rim'K's adaptation to the new generation's rap. Comfortable, on theme, never outdated and always meticulous: that’s why people love Rim'K.
RIM'K x PXP: 100% OG
The idea crossed our minds to have the rapper try the most extravagant outfits from our catalog. But our stylists opted for the second solution, digging to find the classiest PXP clothes to honor the OG that Rim'K is (original gangster, the nickname given to rap pioneers). We start with the first outfit, in a setting that recalls a somewhat underground spot, found in many neighborhoods, but luxury version, with beautiful rugs on the floor, an imposing leather sofa, some TVs and speakers. The Tonton sits in the middle of it all, dressed in his black and white outfit. A black multipocket workwear jacket on top, worn open over a plain white tee-shirt. And black workwear cargo pants on the bottom, with a pair of white Nike Air Force 1s, and the look is complete. An outfit both sober and very stylish, to which we added a black Project X Paris Monogram bag for that little “street adventurer” touch.
Finally, to close the shooting and the collaboration beautifully, we offered Rim'K a little treat for the third outfit. The vibe is still very underground, very “hangar,” except this time, we brought... a Rolls Royce, the ultimate OG car in US rap. The Tonton poses with disarming ease, beside and inside the car, dressed in a sober outfit reminiscent of the first shooting. We find the multipocket workwear jacket on top, but in beige this time, worn over a white t-shirt with the Project X Paris logo written in black. For the bottom, we also find the multipocket workwear pants, also beige for a very successful overall effect. We thank Rim'K for his patience and professionalism; you can feel real mastery in front of the camera and true involvement. We wish him great numbers with his “Hors-Série” released in June, a project where he gathered all his freestyles, and also for what’s next!