BEN plg - Parcours accidenté

Parcours accidenté, released on November 26, 2021, under the label Pour la gloire, marks a milestone in the career of Thomas Léger, known as Ben plg. His national prominence emerged in 2022 with the track Mauvaise nouvelle. Far from being a mere collection of songs, this 42-minute-and-16-second album constructs a cohesive sonic unity that precedes his follow-up work, Dire je t'aime (2024), while also distancing itself from his previous studio album, Pour la gloire, released in 2019. The project’s structure is built on strict minimalism: thirteen tracks form a compact architecture that navigates between harshness, nostalgia, and irony, without ever indulging in excess. It is a concise genesis where the production defines a raw, unfiltered atmosphere.

The album opens with the explosive track Fils de pute, which immediately sets the tone for the subsequent forty-two minutes. This framed structure concludes with the final track, On préfère les chansons tristes. Between these two bookends, the production captures a raw ambiance where every track matters. Each song contributes to a narrative thread that binds the pieces together like stages in a geographical and emotional journey, culminating in an intimate note, as the track En-dessous des nuages was written for his sister. Tant que ça va feat. Bekar and Les préférés de la cantinière feat. Djalito: collaborative ruptures.

Beyond its confirmed collaborations, the album represents a strong biographical continuity: Thomas Léger, born in Villeneuve-d'Ascq and originally from Tourcoing, confronts his local roots with particular intensity, especially on Vivre et mourir à Dunkerque—a city that served as a springboard for his career through the festival held at Môle 1 in December 2012. This origin story explains the persistence of his stage name “Ben l'Oncle Rap,” even as his public image evolved toward “Ben plg.” The transition between these phases is marked by his ability to persevere, notably after winning the End of the Weak freestyle competition in Roubaix in 2014 and being selected for the Inouïs showcase at the Bourges Spring Festival. The tracklist reinforces this narrative ambition with titles like Chrysalide and Né pour briller, which suggest a personal evolution parallel to that of his stage name—now described by the artist himself as “le blaze le plus pété du rap game.” This self-deprecating attitude toward his alias reveals a rare artistic maturity for an artist whose national prominence officially emerged only in 2022, a year after this album’s release. The complete 42-minute-and-16-second work thus offers a balanced portrait, blending personal introspection—illustrated by En-dessous des nuages, dedicated to his sister—with the strong territorial assertion that has defined his artistic approach since his début in the North. This 13-track project affirms a restrained and effective writing style, free from trendy gimmicks or artificial filler. The album’s total runtime allows for breathing space between tracks, enhancing the impact of each sonic transition. The record follows a period in which the artist had already demonstrated his resilience, as evidenced by earlier projects like Saucisses Merguez Musique (2015) and Couilles de Loup (2017). The 2021 studio album is therefore not an attempt at a fresh start, but a natural step in a career that began in 2012 under the aliases Ben l'Oncle Rap and Ben. It remains a singular entry in his discography, paving the way for future projects while concluding a phase of artistic maturation. Verdict: a validation of a restrained and effective writing style.

Technical Sheet

- Release Date: November 26, 2021 - Label: Pour la gloire - Tracks: 13 (42 min 16 s) - Opening / Closing Tracks: Fils de pute / On préfère les chansons tristes - Guests: Bekar, Djalito - Previous Album: Pour la gloire (2019)