At 26, Youssef Swatt’s is establishing himself as a revelation in French-speaking rap. After winning the third season of “Nouvelle école” on Netflix, the young Belgian artist has been racking up successes with lyrics that are as sensitive as they are incisive.
Belgian rap is enriched by a new figure. Youssef Swatt’s, real name Youssef Rezeki, made a name for himself by winning the famous musical competition “Nouvelle école”, broadcast on Netflix. This talent show, where he shone with his title “Générique de fin”, propelled him to the forefront of the scene.
In mid-September, at the Golden Coast festival near Dijon, he appeared relaxed, aware of the scale his career was taking. “I do a million things at once”he smiles, summing up the year 2024 which could mark a decisive turning point for him.
A meteoric rise
It was by winning season 3 of “Nouvelle école” that Youssef Swatt’s destiny changed. In front of a prestigious jury composed of SDM, Aya Nakamura and SCH, he imposed himself with a unique style, mixing emotion and technicality. “There is a before and an after”he confides, speaking of his victory with a lucid but serene look at his sudden fame. The song that allowed him to triumph, “Générique de fin”, perfectly illustrates his talent for handling words, evoking with sensitivity his journey, in particular the unwavering support of his mother.
“I’m not here to win, I’m here to become/The one I have to become”he writes, words that resonate like a declaration of intent, after ten years of refining his art in the shadows. Born in a working-class neighborhood of Tournai, of Algerian origin, Youssef discovered writing at the age of twelve. Inspired by figures such as Kery James, Keny Arkana or Youssoupha, he developed an incisive style, with a pen capable of hitting the mark.
The power of words
Youssef Swatt’s attaches particular importance to writing, which he considers a “vector of emancipation” and a “superpower”. “Words can be used for good or bad.”he explains, aware of the social privilege that comes with being able to express oneself well. He admits, however, that he does not want to confine himself to the image of a “text rapper.”
“There are a lot of artists who like to say: ‘I write for myself’. At the beginning, I had a speech like that, until I realized that in fact no, let’s not lie to ourselves, I write to be read and heard”assumes Youssef Swatt’s, for whom writing allows “things to be externalized”.
In 2020, he released “Poussière d’espoir”, a first self-produced album thanks to a crowdfunding campaign, followed by “Pour que les étoiles brillent” in 2022, where he collaborated with Oxmo Puccino on the title “Le poids des mots”. These notable projects allowed him to forge a solid musical identity before his career exploded.
A busy schedule
Building on his success, Youssef Swatt’s is multiplying his projects. In addition to his tour, which will notably stop at La Cigale in Paris on November 24, he is participating in the soundtrack of the musical show “La Haine. Jusqu’ici rien n’a changé”, inspired by the famous film by Mathieu Kassovitz. This show will be performed from October 10, and the Belgian rapper will bring his unique perspective to it.
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