Thursday, November 14, under the dim lights of the Radio France Auditorium, the first chords vibrate, carried by the strings of the Philharmonic Orchestra. The atmosphere is both solemn and electric. On stage, Josman, a rapper with an incisive flow, is preparing to take on a daring challenge: reinterpreting his repertoire accompanied by a symphony orchestra and a live band.
This moment is Symphonic Hip Hop, an unexpected encounter between two worlds that everything seems to oppose: rap and classical music. If this explosive mixture was recorded a month ago, it will be broadcast on December 18 on Arte.tv and YouTube, before being rebroadcast on Mouv’ on December 19. But this special edition with only a single headliner, raises a question: at the intersection of the assumed egos of rappers and the sacred rituals of classical musicians, where does true harmony lie?
Symphonic Hip Hop: a new edition
Born in 2015 under the leadership of Bruno Laforestrie, then director of Mouv’, and Issam Krimi, artistic director, Symphonic Hip Hop has become a great annual mass where rap and classical meet. “When I arrived at Radio France, I wanted to create a concept that celebrates hip hop in all its forms, while showing that it can be integrated into different musical universes,” explains Bruno Laforestrie.
Bringing together musicians from the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, the live band The Ice Kream, and the biggest names in French rap (from IAM to SCH to MC Solaar), this free event is sold out every year. The idea of Bruno Laforestrie and Issam Krimi was simple: to create a space where generations and musical genres intersect, to offer a new reading of hip hop.
Since its creation, more than fifty artists have participated in the adventure. French rap classics have been reinterpreted in a new light, attracting millions of views on YouTube. But this 9th edition marks a turning point in the history of Symphonic Hip Hop: for the first time, it is dedicated to a single artist.
Josman: artistic evidence
Josman has established himself as an essential figure in the new French rap scene. Since the release of his first album in 2018, he has had a string of successes, filling the biggest venues, from the Olympia to the Accor Arena. But it is also his rarity in the media which makes him an artist apart. “With Josman, it was obvious. He has a unique musical fiber,” explains Bruno Laforestrie.
This 9th edition of the Hip Hop Symphonique was not a simple concert, but an immersive dive into the world of Josman. For several months, the artist and the project teams worked together to reinterpret his pieces in a symphonic dimension. “When I make a symphonic adaptation of works, it must respect the basic version,” explains Issam Krimi. With Josman, the collaboration began from the choice of songs to adapt and perform. “When I listened to his tracklisting, I had nothing to complain about. I haven’t changed anything,” says Issam. For him, Josman is above all an artist with a vision: “Everything he does is thought of in a broader dimension. »
“He was rather calm. It was pleasant to work with him,” confides Dylan Corlay, conductor for seven editions. This serenity allowed the team to explore new facets of their musical universe. “This collaboration gave us the opportunity to revisit his pieces with a new depth,” says Issam Krimi.
“When an artist comes, he is not the only star”
Bringing together an orchestra of 43 classical musicians, a live band and a rapper: the idea is almost a puzzle. Because it is above all an event that is built with the investment of an entire team, over several months. “You need artists you can trust,” explains Bruno Laforestrie.
On the technical side, the equation is not simple: the pieces must be arranged into scores, adapted to the work of the orchestra, then tested in just one day. “Some pieces don’t always adapt to a symphony orchestra. This is where we see all of Issam Krimi’s talent for finding solutions,” confides Bruno Laforestrie.
Beyond technical constraints, this event is based on fundamental human values. “All artists who have respect for music and musicians can come. It’s called the love of music,” continues Bruno Laforestrie. This respect is reflected in the philosophy of the project: “When an artist comes, he is not the only star. It’s him and the orchestra, they’re on the same level. »
Sharing as a guideline
If the world of rap carries within itself an image that is both fascinating and divisive, Dylan Corlay finds this exercise inspiring. “It’s interesting to see how rappers behave in an environment that can seem hostile to them, like that of a symphony orchestra,” he analyzes. But what he remembers above all are the vivid memories of his work with artists like Soprano, MC Solaar and Rim’K.
The event doesn’t just mix musical genres. It also focuses on accessibility, with the participation of the INTEGRAAL collective, specialized in chansign to make the event accessible in sign language. “Translating rap requires a subtle adaptation. We must embody the text while respecting its register, whether it is in slang or verlan,” explains Vincent alias Vinzslam, interpreter and translator.
The INTEGRAAL collective, created in 2021, emphasizes the importance of sharing. “Artists often don’t always realize that we are there behind the scenes. But sometimes, we have great artistic encounters that make us want to get involved even more,” says Vinzsalm. He says he particularly enjoyed working on Josman’s pieces, an experience he describes as enriching and memorable.
Symphonic Hip Hop goes beyond simple musical performance to question our perception of genres, collaborations and artistic boundaries. With this 9th edition dedicated to Josman, Symphonic Hip Hop is much more than a concert: it is a laboratory where musical identities are redefined. What if, ultimately, this alchemy between rap and classical was a model for reinventing other universes? Enough to imagine other artistic bridges and why not, new cultural dialogues.
Related News :