“20 Piges, the two golden ages of French rap”, a series focusing on the most streamed musical genre in France

Specialized journalist Fif Tobossi and music video director Lionel Hirlé are co-signing a documentary in five episodes on the history of French rap through its two golden periods. Serious work despite some uncertain biases.

LFrench rap experienced a first golden age, in 1995, when it was supported by NTM, IAM or the collective Secteur Ä, until the crowning of 113 at the Victoires de la Musique 2000. Then a second, from 2015 to 2020 , still operating. “It’s over for rock, variety, Top 50. It’s rap now,” asserts veteran Mokobé, member of 113, in 20 Piges, the two golden ages of French rap. The documentary series was co-written by Fif Tobossi, co-founder of the media specialized P-position, and Lionel Hirlé, music video director – the film’s photography is polished.

It describes the transformation in two decades of a genre that was once rebellious and denigrated, now social and prepotent. Above all, it exposes the story of a putsch, on the part of rap which created its own ecosystem to bypass the recording industry, as Booba hoped for in 2000: “We decided to do things ourselves. If it doesn’t work, it’s up to us. » Divided into porous themes (music, economy, communication, stage, reflection of society), the documentary is based on a mosaic of testimonies from rappers and beatmakers, but also from managers, producers, journalists, influencers , etc.

From Paris to Marseille, everyone observes that the second golden age has turned away from the first by assuming to lure the general public to collect gold records and fill stadiums. From PNL to Jul via Vald and Le Juiice, the new generation invents its own codes and methods, from production to marketing, without worrying about the “message” of their elders. Despite a convoluted sequence and uncertain biases (excerpts from silent films), 20 Girls… digs into the subject into its most sophisticated corners, demonstrating that French rap is creative, dense and plural enough to be deciphered over such a period of time.