YAMÊ^FR

Since releasing his Bantu Mixtape Vol. 1 in 2020, the French-Cameroonian artist Yamê has been a hot name on the Francophone rap scene. After the release of his debut album, ELOWI (2023), the rest of the world is also catching on to his original expression.

It wasn't in the cards for him to take up rap, as his path to music was through the piano and numerous jam sessions in the Paris jazz and blues scene. But when he started writing his own lyrics, rap came naturally to him as an expression.

Over time, however, he has developed a distinctive style that not only alternates between rap and melodic vocals sung in a distinctly bright voice. His background in jazz also shines through, and his music organically fuses hip-hop and trap with soul, pop, French chanson, and pan-African influences. 

This versatile musical background is reflected on stage, where Yamê alternates between lively numbers performed with a band and heartfelt songs alone at the piano. His powerful delivery of the song "Bécane" for A COLORS SHOW became a viral hit, and recently Timbaland himself has become a fan of Yamê's unique style, which also earned him an award at the Victoires de la Musique in early 2024. The world is wide open for the bright talent hitting Roskilde this summer.