Hayce Lemsi - À des années lumières (Adal 2)

« Adal 2 » by Hayce Lemsi: A transitional album where the voice traverses genres without ever losing its grounding.

The album opens with the track Adal 2, a song that serves as an initial anchor before plunging into a 50-minute and 56-second journey. This first listen reveals not only a Franco-Algerian rapper, Islem Belouizdad, but also illustrates a stylistic evolution between his previous studio album, Écorché vif (2019), and his future project, En attendant ELV3 (2021). Originally from Paris and part of a family that includes the rapper Volts Face, Hayce Lemsi uses this album to transform his trajectory. The album oscillates between a rigorous narrative structure and a vast openness to other sonic universes. The total length of the work invites attentive listening, framed by the eponymous opening and the closing on Outro la vérité, creating a coherent temporal arc around 15 tracks. This is not simply a collection of names, but an expansion of musical horizons.

Diverse exploration of vocal registers and artistic identity

Beyond collaborations, the album offers a diverse exploration of vocal styles without sacrificing the overall coherence of the message. The inclusion of Démon du fruit and Dialoguer reinforces the idea of a record that explores different facets of Hayce Lemsi's artistic identity, moving away from the genre stereotypes often associated with French-speaking male rap. Each track has its place, without being able to provide exact figures on the number of tracks dominated by vocals or those that prioritize flow, as no data is provided. The album functions as a logical continuation of Écorché vif, preparing the ground for En attendant ELV3 by expanding the artist's sonic horizons. The strength of this album lies in its ability to maintain narrative coherence despite the variety of sonic approaches. When compared to previous projects, such as the mixtapes Un petit pas pour Lemsi (2012) and Électron libre (2013), which featured collaborations with Soprano and Lacrim and already broadened the scope, here the density of featured artists is different. The album is published by the label Eleven's Music, marking a continuity in the artist's career after the mixtape À des années lumières (2016) and intermediate projects such as Eurêka (2017).

Critical assessment and absolute coherence between 'Écorché vif' and 'En attendant ELV3'

At the end of this listening session, "À des années lumières (Adal 2)" reveals itself to be a collaborative project primarily focused on showcasing different styles, where diverse influences coexist with a strict narrative structure. The album does not aim to revolutionize French rap with radical innovation, but rather validates the idea of an artist capable of navigating multiple sonic universes without losing their unique identity. The album's place in Hayce Lemsi's discography is clear: it serves as a bridge between two distinct phases of his career, allowing him to experiment with collaborations with Franglish, Bigflo & Oli, Bosh, and Mister V without compromising his image. Each track on the album provides new insights into Hayce Lemsi's versatility, drawing inspiration from Eminem while developing his own distinct voice. The absence of producers listed in the credits is not a weakness, but rather an editorial choice that emphasizes the vocal and lyrical performance.

Narrative coherence despite the diversity of sonic approaches

"À des années lumières (Adal 2)" marks a point where the Algerian-Parisian rapper asserts his artistic maturity through strategic collaborations. Between the title tracks that open and close the album, and the major collaborations that transform his sound, Hayce Lemsi manages to offer a complete and coherent project. This is an album that doesn't aim to impose a unique style, but rather to showcase the richness of a voice capable of adapting to various contexts, from pop crooner to dark and serious flow. The album offers a diverse stylistic range, framed by a rigorous structure that fully justifies its inclusion in the French rap catalogue of the 2020s.

Technical details

- Release date : October 16, 2020 - Label : Eleven's Music - Tracks : 15 (50 minutes 56 seconds) - Opening / closing : Adal 2 / Outro la vérité - Guest artists : Franglish, Bigflo & Oli, Bosh, Mister V - Previous album : Ecorché vif (2019)