full look. Bottega Veneta
La Fève is something of a phenomenon. His demure arrival on set for this Schön! exudes quiet confidence, and allows a glimpse into the artist behind the monumental career in the making: he’s currently sending waves throughout the French music industry and further afield. At just 24 years young, he’s just released his latest studio album, aptly named 24, to the joy of journalists and fans alike. He found his debut as a rapper balancing art school, music and deliveries for Uber Eats. Louis, known as La Fève, showed determination beyond measure: finding a home on Soundcloud, he released his first tracks, taking advantage of the creative freedom offered by the platform. In 2020, La Fève released his first EP, KOLAF, which he worked on with beatmaker Kosei, which received rave reviews. After a portfolio of impressive collaborations in 2021, his comeback with Mauvais Payeur solidified his position as a promising newcomer. His success with ERRR came at the end of 2022. With a gold record, three gold singles, and a tour under his belt, La Fève went from being an upcoming artist to earning his rank amongst the rap elite.
So, where does that situate him on the map in 2024? La Fève’s return after a two-year absence has had fans eagerly anticipating his new sounds. With the new album, released at the end of 2023, La Fève revealed a new process, introducing a new chapter in his work. His collaborations with artists such as Kekra, Alpha Wann, and Ikaz Boi created excitement. His undeniable impact on the rap scene, backed with strong and consistent numbers, has made him the most promising figure of French rap.
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full look. Balenciaga
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full look. Bottega Veneta
This second album is the result of two years of studio work, involving the creation of hundreds of demos, with a tight-knit artistic team. With multiple musical talents, La Fève aimed to highlight trap music productions on this album.
During the two and a half years of work on 24 in France, La Fève took the time to travel to Atlanta, the hub of trap music, twice for three weeks each time. Taking his collaborators, two of the most involved composers in the project – Kosei and Lyele Gwapo, both as passionate as he is about trap –, they sought to dig deep into the roots of Atlanta, understand the city they had discovered so much online, visiting iconic locations that have had a global cultural impact, and worked on tracks recorded upon their return to France.
These trips were the basis of the work on the album. La Fève explored iconic places such as strip clubs like Magic City to absorb all the nuances and inspirations of this world. This experience in emblematic locations added a unique dimension to his creative process, allowing him to capture the very essence of Atlanta’s nightlife and trap scene. It seems logical, then, that he chose to surround himself with major figures such as Zaytoven, Trepounds (808Mafia), and Mexikodro, which shows La Fève’s commitment to exploring new sounds authentically, while immersing himself in the energy and authenticity of Atlanta’s iconic trap scene.
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full look. Balenciaga
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full look. Balenciaga
These two trips helped solidify the direction of 24, giving it a deeply coherent DNA. It goes beyond trap in its purely musical sense, embracing the soul of Atlanta, giving Atlanta as much as it gives Paris. Whether that be the tracklist, the work on soundscapes, or the desire to translate the essence of Atlanta’s parties into music. The aims of the album align on La Fève’s desire: to share with the audience his love for a musical genre that has always been a source of fascination for him, a product of the history of a specific place. One that is full of significance for the US, and that France has worked on musically, but perhaps failed to strike a resonance with its own cultural heritage. Until now.
24 is a tribute, but also departure; both a reinterpretation and an homage. La Fève is fervently writing his own style, something rare in 2024, and with the fashion industry now closing in on the young artist – who has just been to the Dior show when we shoot in Paris – this talent is sure to transform shock waves into a new classic in the near future.
This Schön! shoot was produced by
photography. Idriss Nassangar @ Blaze Paris
fashion. Lyele
talent. La Fève
hair. Joris Ebong
make up. Martina Sciarratta
production. Clara Alapont @ Radikal + Alix Taccardo @ Divergence Studio
editor. Patrick Clark
digital operation. Douglas Eliac
photography assistant. Frédéric Troehler
location. Village Macé
special thanks. Sarah Ababsa, Aziz + Thomas Léveillé @ Village Macé
