Rouen. Rapper for over 25 years, Jon Pitt crosses generations with a personal and committed sound

Depuis more than 25 years, John Inseque otherwise Jon Pitt vibrates to the rhythm of rap. Originally from Hauts de Rouen (Seine-Maritime), he has always loved Music. Now aged 48, the Rouennais does not intend to stop there. A look back at his trajectory between resilience, music and the desire to transmit.

A life story

It was in the Hauts de Rouen that his passion was born: “There I discovered hip-hop, rap“, confides Jon Pitt. Music quickly becomes an escape, a way to express one’s dreams.

He released his first album in 2005 and in 2008, he decided to move to Paris, “the crossroads of musical encounters”, in the dream of break into this industry. But a serious accident puts an end to his plans. After eight months of hospitalization, he returned to Rouen to undergo intense rehabilitation.

The accident didn’t just affect his physical health. When he woke up, Jon Pitt was no longer able to remember his lyrics, a difficult period where he questioned himself: “I was incapable of writing a verse, it challenged me,” he explains. And added, “I lacked confidence, but I knew how to bounce back ».

The double hat: educator and artist

In Paris, the rapper was also a specialized educator for children in difficulty. A job that had meaning for him: “Helping out, we all do that in the family. »

During his rehabilitation in Rouen, Jon took a break from his work and at the same time became, father of a little girl. “It changed my way of seeing things and I wanted to become self-employed to have time for her. »

From now on, he is self-employed and intends to keep his music alive. However, he does not forget his past as an educator: “Precisely, it allows me to be in touch with young people in my titles”.

“Essai encore”, an album of which he is proud

In June 2024, Jon comes out Try again an album of twelve new songs
. With notes of jazz, soul and even electro. This latest project is a restitution of what rap gave him. According to the artist, Try again is “a current look at the world and it is a message of perseverance”.

My music says this: in life, you’re going to try things and it’s not always going to work the first time and maybe not the second. But if you are convinced that it can work, then don’t give up and try again.

At the same time, he created his clothing brand streetwear. His music becomes a vector of promotion for his brand, and vice versa. “I made the mistake of focusing on music before, and it wasn’t enough. With music, you can’t be sure of anything, so today, I no longer put all the eggs in one basket.”

From local scene to national ambition

Jon Pitt regrets that “Rouen is not the ideal place to emerge as an artist”. For him, “it is a city in which too little attention is paid to development”. He has already done some local scenessuch as La Péniche d’Elbeuf and Ibiza and the Quartier Libre in Rouen.

If Rouen remains its base, its objective is now to reach a wider audience and to promote its art while remaining faithful to its roots. With this potential fame, he hopes to “highlight other local talents and put Rouen on the rap map ».

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