Uzi joins Le Cercle PXP
Uzi: melody, street, style, and a "Broken Heart"
On February 19th, Uzi released his first studio album. A compact 16-track project with no features, as the young rapper has stories to tell. Stories mainly from the streets of Noisiel where he grew up and apparently got into trouble with his associates. Tales of the streets or disappointed love, he has plenty, with a very visual and precise writing style that quickly draws you in. While some compare him to Ninho, Uzi cultivated his difference on this album and in his videos. His rap style features a distinctive voice tone, often switching between sung choruses like in “A la fête” and kicked parts, sometimes even shouted, like in his track “La Guitare.” “Broken Heart” offers a wide range of moods, sometimes sunny (“Délégué”), sometimes much colder, but always playing heavily on melody (“Bâtiment,” “Madre Mia”).
It is precisely this mastery of melody that has made him the phenomenon he is today. His album reached number one on the streaming charts upon release, and third on the overall album charts across all formats. He entered every playlist, into ears and minds with his effective and calibrated hooks. It must also be said that he surrounded himself with some of the best producers in French rap, including Junior Alaprod, Bersa, Heezy Lee, Shabz Beatz, Josh Roshinet, Hoodstar, and many others. Names accustomed to certifications, who know how to make a track catchy or melancholic. Adding to that Uzi's raw, direct, and effective writing, this cocktail was bound to work.
The rapper's attitude also draws attention: insolence, a true sense of pose, style, or staging (as seen in the video for his hit "A la fête"), this side of the artist's palette was visible during his collaboration with PXP. PROJECT X PARIS As for you, you probably read that when he decides to do something, he goes all in: at his album release party in his La-Ferme-Du-Buisson neighborhood, about a hundred people came to support him and attend a meal and a homemade fireworks display. Uzi took the opportunity to thank the street for all the support it has given him since the days of his freestyles "Drive By" or "Akrapovitch." From now on, the young rapper from 77 must be counted on, who with "Cœur Abîmé" confirmed all the hopes placed in him. He has his future ahead of him, and we hope to see him establish himself sustainably among the big names of Rap FR and urban culture in general.
WHY THIS UZI & PXP COLLABORATION?
Uzi is fully into streetwear and fashion, like many other current rappers. Clothing and aesthetics are now an integral part of the rapper's arsenal, who leaves a mark as much through his music and lyrics as through his style. It is in this very street, natural, and current spirit that the collaboration between the rapper and Project X Paris took place. He therefore wore the clothes from the new Men's collection of PXP with style and elegance, and it fits him perfectly, especially the full range of tracksuits. Whether it’s the unisex set with multiple PXP logos, which looks great in both colors, or the tie and dye set with a rather futuristic design. Casual but classy, while remaining street, the result is very effective, like the Arsenal outfits the rapper used for the video of his hit "A la fête," certified platinum single since then.
The photoshoot took place in a large luxurious mansion hidden somewhere in Paris to best showcase the rapper and the latest PXP collection. It was an opportunity to see that the brand and the artist were truly on the same wavelength. We experienced various atmospheres, those where you chill on a couch in a tracksuit, or those where you dare a bit more with even more original pieces. The denim jacket with the PROJECT X PARIS logo on the chest above the left pocket is a must-have of this new Men's 2021 collection. Light, elegant, and with camo patterns, it is one of the pieces that suits Uzi best, always blending streetwear and elegance.
But of course, what stands out most from this collaboration between Uzi and PXP is his love for sweatshirts, especially hoodies, but also for plaid patterns, which he is bringing back into fashion more than ever. The plain red sweatshirt, with the brand's logo embroidered in black, is flawlessly effective, while the two-tone plaid set (white/black) is more original but never crosses into bad taste. The very street and somewhat extravagant look of the set, to which Uzi added a hoodie, perfectly fits his universe, even if this kind of timeless piece was already fashionable among East Coast USA MCs in the 90s.
In any case, it was a pleasure to collaborate with an artist like Uzi, approachable, very simple, and with a genuine taste for fashion that was reflected in the choice of pieces for the collection. His energy and positive attitude, which make him the darling of the public right now, make us hope to collaborate with him again. But in the meantime, we wish him to keep topping sales and streaming platforms. With 7,000 sales in one week, his album is already a success, but we feel he still has more to give and can go even further, which is why at Project X Paris we are happy to have worked with this young hope of French rap.