Photography © Zeubleu
Photography © Zeubleu
"We did a lot of duets with Ninho
because this guy is family."
A fantastic flow, sounds coming from the entire world, a dazzling ascent in French Rap... I speak, obviously, of Yaro. This rapper, from the Parisian suburbs in Esssone, has everything he needs to seduce his audience: a feather, beautiful melodies, and, above all, a genuine desire to succeed in life while remaining faithful to his values and those who saw him grow and evolve.
Benevolent, sincere and charismatic, Yaro speaks today to A Rap & A Cup Of Tea about his mixtape La Spé, released last February. Back in full with the unmissable hit "Mec De Cité" featuring two pillars of French Rap, PLK and Ninho, Yaro shows once again the amplitude of his talent. Formerly known as Sirsy, Yaro began his solo career in 2017 and has continued to dazzle his audience through his collaborations and projects. He told us everything about his music from the beginning until the birth of his last project. With simplicity and honesty, Yaro shows us the essential place music has in his life.
In your own words, what sets you apart in the realm of French Rap that an English audience, just getting to know you, should be aware of?
I think I’m a pretty open-minded artist. I can make songs sound more 'street' next to songs with much more melody by using auto-tune, afro-musical influence, etc. It’s a mix of everything I like.
How did you get into Rap?
When I was 11, I listened to a lot of Rap music and watched many Rap stories, like Alpha 5.20. I loved watching rappers' interviews, which made me want to rap. I wanted to make the music they made, and I threw myself into it without hesitation.
When did you tell yourself, "I want to be a rapper and do everything for Rap"?
It came as soon as college began. I was 14/15, and I knew I wanted to do that. You see, I also worked a bit in the factory and knew it wasn’t the life I wanted. I told myself, "You must focus on what you like to do.” All I wanted to do was music. I started rapping when I was 13, and by 15, it was obvious to me.
In the song ‘Kesoni’, you say "N. I told myself: "Yaro, glory, you won't like it.” Can you tell me more?
We were at my house with Ninho, and we were talking about it. You know, Ninho is my brother, so don’t just talk about music; we talk about everything... On this day, we discussed all the successes that are happening to him at the moment. He explained that success brought him many good things but also many disadvantages for which we're not necessarily prepared. And since he knows me well, he told me that I wouldn't necessarily enjoy it if I had the same success as him one day. Being in the spotlight and everything, I’m not deluded; all that stuff embarrassed me a bit. But the more success you aim for, the more you are exposed - it’s a lot of pressure.
Do you feel people's behaviour towards you has changed since you broke through?
In my eyes, I haven’t made it yet. (laughs) In my early days, I was happy with a few views and listened to the platforms where I posted my music, like MySpace. But now that I can go even further, my ambition has become even bigger... But it's true to say there’s no more excitement around me; there’s no question about it.
In 'À L'Arrivée', you say, "The photos, the comments, the likes, we forget the inside of the human being, but life catches us up, slaps us…” Is this one of the negative aspects of fame for you?
Yes, totally. Now, people are focused on scores, streams, performances, etc., but they forget that behind all this, there's a human being like everyone else. When you’re little, you think that Rap allows you to shine, and that’s it, but growing up, you realise that the higher you go, the more disadvantages there are. As soon as I went outside, I saw that things had changed.
Your album features songs that are entirely different from each other. We find Afrotrap with the song 'La Galère' featuring 4Keus, but there are also big hits like 'Mec De Cité' with PLK and Ninho and much darker songs, such as 'Gillet Par Balle'. How did you get the right balance when making these different records?
It was simple because I had no barriers, so I put my voice on the beats I liked without overthinking. I generally listen to many songs, including Funk, Rap, or Soul. So I could do what I wanted, and with my team, we selected the best songs for the mixtape.
In your eyes, is the difference significant between coming back with an album or a mixtape?
Yes, I think there's a nuance. I believe that when you allow yourself to release an actual album, it’s because you have an authentic audience following you, waiting for your new releases, etc. You give them a real ‘baby’, if you know what I mean. I once again preferred to make a mixtape because it's more like a ‘business card’, and even if I have already released two of them before, this one is even deeper. There, I focused on only three types of music, as you said earlier. It will also allow us to see what the audience prefers.
"Why not work with English
producers or make songs there?
It would be lit !"
Why did you choose to call it "La Spé"?
We were supposed to do an album. And one morning, on my way to the studio, I wondered if it was a little hasty. Before making the album, we should do a 'special' project. For example, if you go out for a special occasion, you will wear a special pair of shoes, a special hairstyle, etc. If you want to talk to someone you like, you will tell them something special. You know what I mean? (laughs)
What's the song of the mixtape that characterises you the most?
I would say ‘Kesoni’, whether in the choice of instrumental or the lyrics, is the song that shows who I am and what my ambitions are. I also like 'Four' for its sounds. In truth, all the songs had their place in this mixtape.
There are more reflective pieces where you indulge much more, as in 'Derniers Mots' and 'À L'Arrivée’. Is it a challenging exercise for you to open your heart this way?
I did it without thinking. I could have gone even further into confessions, but I kept a certain modesty on some things. (laughs) When I was still at school, I loved to write stories and essays. I enjoyed expressing my visions of things. I wrote a lot of stuff, which was even more straightforward as I had to talk about my experience for this mixtape.
In your songs, you talk a lot about the street. Was the music your escape somehow?
Yes, of course. I wasn’t necessarily a good student at school, which influenced me. I didn’t want to work for someone other than myself and have just a little paycheck or be a dealer in the hood all my life, so I had to do something with my life. Music was really what I wanted to do, so it's what I did. I had the opportunity to do something concrete, so I did it naturally.
To talk about this feat again with PLK and Ninho, it’s enormous to bring together such famous rappers. You already had features with them on your previous mixtape À Zéro, but what gave you the idea to bring them together for your new project?
We did a lot of duets with Ninho because this guy is family, and we used to work a lot together. So, I needed to do something new with him and try something cool. And with PLK, we had already done the song 'Salut', but it’s a kicker song with no chorus. I thought doing a song with a chorus and everything would be excellent. So, I agreed it would be nice to do this song together with my producers.
What would be the next feat you’d like to do if you had carte blanche?
It isn’t very easy to choose. (laughs) Maybe Jorja Smith? She's an artist I like. Or Drake would be crazy!
Is a trip to London something you’d like?
Yes, that would be lit! Why not work with English producers or make songs there!? It would be huge. Many songs from the English music scene and the Nigerian and Ghanaian sound influences look like what I do. I like the music from there.
What are your future plans?
For now, I will support my project and try to take it as far as possible by broadcasting new clips. Then, I think I might release an album by the end of the year.
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