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The SCH phenomenon will be in concert on May 24 at the BCF Arena, with Gims and Grand Corps Malade. For the first time, the Friborg ice rink is transformed into a concert hall.
Julien Schwarzer, aka SCH, has become a leading figure in French rap in just a few years. The Marseillais will perform on May 24 in Fribourg. © Keystone
Published on 05/22/2024
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Eternal sunglasses, long hair slicked back and tied in a ponytail, chiseled beard, Audemars-Piguet set with diamonds… SCH is first and foremost a flashy look that marks the retina. Then come the words declaimed with the typical Marseille accent: a deep voice, a certain sense of image and punchline, introspective texts which have the elegance to hide their sensitivity under the clanking of gold chains and the roar of V12 engines.
The French rapper – leading figure of a musical genre that has become omnipresent in France from stairwells to television sets – will be in concert on Friday May 24 in Fribourg, in a BCF Arena which will dream of being Madison Square Garden throughout the weekend in the company of Gims, Grand Corps Malade or Bryan Adams (read below).
Si SCH appeared on the French rap scene in 2015 with his first mixtape A7the (very) general public only discovered him in 2020, thanks to a very notable appearance on the single Organized band, a megahit fomented by another Phocaean, the people’s champion Jul. For more than six minutes, the cream of Marseille’s rappers follow one another on an archetypical sound of Jul’s style: neither trap, nor drill, but jerky, twirling and singular.
The success of this title – 11 weeks at the top of sales, one million views on YouTube in less than 12 hours, certified five times diamond disc – is such that it has today completely become a wedding essential, a sort of of Midnight Demons of the 2020s. And it’s SCH which opens the ball, affrications of rigor (“where were you there when I put seven euros of gasoline?”) and expressions of the South on the edge of the lips (“Yes ma spoiled”, “Quiet or what, climb in the chop”). That was all it took to cement the legend.
Golden journey
With Marseille as the setting, a city of contrasts in which bad boys rush for money at nightfall, SCH maintains a skillfully crafted image. The rapper skillfully exploits the codes of organized crime as they are fantasized by the cinema, somewhere between Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Sergio Leone. SCH, whose real name is Julien Schwarzer (born to a German father and a French mother), is an artist with an atypical career who has, in just a few years, established himself as an essential figure in the French musical landscape.
It was enough to cement the legend
His deep and nonchalant voice, his poetic and introspective lyrics and his often dark and atmospheric music create a unique atmosphere which exerts an astonishing power of fascination on his audience. Whether on thunderous trap sounds or ethereal cloud rap sounds, SCH’s songs speak of death, love, friendship, urban violence and even wealth. Common denominator: the sincerity which exudes from these glow worms and which illuminates the Marseille city.
Gold record from its first attempt in 2015 (A7), SCH has since released successful albums: Anarchy (2016), Deo Favente (2017), JVLIVS (2018) and its sequel (2021), Autobahn (2022). The course is almost faultless. His next project, JVLIVS: Prequel is expected on May 31. So many records which cultivate a complex and tormented personality which resonates with a young generation in search of meaning and identity.
Fashion icon
Apart from music, SCH is also a cultural phenomenon. Fashion icon, the Marseille rapper wears both tracksuits and luxurious pieces. Jacquemus, Louis Vuitton or Louboutin, the big brands look kindly to the man who was named “man of the year” by the magazine GQ in 2022. SCH appearances are eagerly awaited by fashionistas who are on the lookout for new trends. The participation of the Phocéen as a member of the jury for Netflix’s tele hook New school – a French adaptation of the American show Rhythm + Flow – only strengthened his aura.
His presence on social networks is also remarkable. With millions of followers on Instagram and X, he is in constant contact with his audience and shares his daily life with his fans. This proximity to his audience contributes to his success and reinforces his image as an authentic and accessible artist. A popularity to be verified this weekend on the stage of the BCF Arena, in Fribourg.
Bryan Adams, Grand Corps Malade, etc.
This weekend, the Friborg ice rink will be transformed into a giant concert hall. Friday May 24, the atmosphere will be resolutely urban: from 7:30 p.m., the French slammer Grand Corps Malade will take over the stage with its poetic titles. He will be followed at 9:15 p.m. by the Marseille rapper that everyone is waiting for, SCH (read above). The evening will end with a performance by pop singer Gims (10:15 p.m.) and with an after party which will end the proceedings around two in the morning. The next day, Saturday May 25, Swiss singer and songwriter Seraina Telli will open the ball at 7:30 p.m. She will be followed by Canadian singer Bryan Adams, star of the 1980s and 1990s well known for his hits. Summer of 69 Or Please Forgive Me (from 9:30 p.m.). The evening will also end with DJs.
>Fri 9:15 p.m. FribourgBCF Arena.
