“Hello gang, how’s it going? It’s all cool for me, but my heart’s getting tired.” The new album from Lartiste, Quartier Latin Volume 1, kicks off with a case of the blues. On the song “I Don’t Care”, Youssef implicitly evokes this involuntary break in his career which was widely commented on across social media, and which led him to cancel several gigs while he returned to his roots in Morocco for several months. Fans can rest assured, his comeback is bigger, better and more flamboyantly spectacular than ever before.

After his enormously popular hits “Chocolat”, “Mafiosa” and “Catchu Catchu”, the first volume of his new adventure on a brand new label is sure to amaze. Leaving the past behind him, Lartiste has started with a clean slate by joining Nudeal, investing his body and soul into this brand new label he created all alone. It was over in Morocco where Lartiste recharged his batteries, and when he came back to France in September, the energy poured right out of him in the studio with the strength of Thor’s hammer. All his rapper friends were on hand to help him reignite the flame, and the result is sure to turn a few heads.

First thing to note, 11 of the 18 tracks include guest features. Fianso raps wild on “Code Illimité”, a track which Lartiste proves his doubters wrong that he doesn’t need Auto-Tune to spit his technically furious flow, despite being one of the first to use it in France. On “Peligrosa”, he raps in Spanish with an impeccable South-American accent as he teams up with the formidable Colombian singer Karol-G, who he met in Miami. The Latin pop superstar brings a caliente reggaeton flavour to the catchy melody which smells sweetly of a worldwide hit in the waiting.

Rising stars of the new French scene, Heuss L’Enfoiré and Koba LaD make an appearance on “Tikka” and “Piwi” respectively. Youssef created the music himself for these two bangers, along with 10 self-produced tracks on the album. It’s only logical for the hyper-active, mega- talented Lartiste, who’s just as at ease at the head of his small business as he is at the recording studio console.

His working method? Unchanging. He’ll strike the instrumentals, think of the melody, chat with his team and friends, then head to the recording booth when he’s got the basis of his track - all without taking any written notes. And then during the night, he’ll lay down the vocals. More often than not, he’ll invite friends passing by to lay down a couple of verses, whether it’s with a rookie like Hamidu Diallo (who features on “Bondy Nord”) or Aymane Serhani - a rising star of the Moroccon raï scene with whom he duets on “Anania”, he treats them all with the same consideration.

As rapper and artistic director, Lartiste is at the helm of his album, the only master on board, brimming with ideas and energy. In the space of only three months, he finished off Quartier Latin Volume 1 ahead of his planned schedule, from September to November 2018. It’s quite unheard of on the French rap scene, but it’s nothing for a fiercely determined, hardworking rapper who’s always bubbling with creative ideas. When it came to announcing his album, he unleashed a taster single at the end of 2018, which set YouTube alight. On the track “Social”, we discovered the brand new Youssef with dyed blonde hairand rhymes as spicy as a dish from his homeland. “We’re gonna change the order,” he asserts against a pneumatic rhythm made by the man himself.

And this is exactly what Quartier Latin Volume 1 is all about. It sees itself as a game changer, as an album that flips the codes and sets the mood for the new year ahead. Quite simply, it’s a new era for French rap. One that’s open to Latin America and North Africa and all musical influences. As someone who started out by teaching rap to others aged 13 in Bondy where he grew up, he’s already had a remarkable journey up until now. Not only has he helped other artists get their name known and given hip- hop some commercial respectability, most importantly, he’s established himself as an artist who’s not to be missed - not only for those in the know, but for all music lovers out there - and all without losing an inch of authenticity and his intensity on the mic. And this time round, he’s taking things further, higher, stronger.

It’s like bathing your ears in musical honey: his quality hits filled with Latino hip-hop beats have marketable appeal and unlimited potential. This is Youssef 2.0. Lartiste is in warrior mode, ready for a new start, to take on the world with a rhythm that gets the party started and lyrics that pack a punch. “My home is everywhere so the world is mine,” he proclaims in “Latino” (feat. Mizi). Quartier Latin Volume 1 simply proves this statement, and it’s the first thunderbolt for the rapological year of 2019. Youssef has pulled off a master stroke. Bravo, Lartiste.