Aya Nakamura and Gazo crowned artists of the year at the Flames, the rap and urban culture awards

Many stars were present for this first edition of the ceremony celebrating “the cultures from working-class neighborhoods and the creativity of those who make them grow”.

Finally a title on its scale. Aya Nakamura was crowned female artist of the year during the first Flames ceremony, Thursday May 11, at the Châtelet theater in Paris. The most listened to French-speaking singer in the world, snubbed for the major trophies at the Victoires de la Musique, pocketed the most prestigious statuette during this first edition of the awards celebrating rap and urban cultures. Victories have always struggling to highlight this music, which exploded in France in the 1990s and which dominates the top 10 best-selling albums in our country.

Among the other big winners, Gazo, representative of the drill (a current of rap from Chicago), was crowned male artist of the year and won the Spotify album of the year. The music platform is a partner of the ceremony.

Rapper Gazo arrives at the first edition of Les Flammes, in Paris, on May 11, 2023. (ZOULERAH NORDDINE / AFP)

Dinos picked up the award for rap album of the year, for Winter in Paris. “As we are in front of the whole industry [musicale]I want to say that we need to be more united”declared on stage the one who became, at the beginning of the year, the first rapper to sing at the Césars.

A parade of stars

Tiakola offered three titles. The 23-year-old artist from the Ile-de-France won the prize for new pop album of the year for Meloas well as the R&B Song Flame (Cheersin collaboration with Hamza) and that of the Afro-inspired track (Soza). The Rat Luciano, a figure of Marseille rap, received the Eternal Flame, awarded to pioneers of the genre. It was given to him by SCH, a star of the Marseille city scene.

The celebrities marched on the red carpet for this premiere: rappers Stomy Bugsy and Passi (Sector Ä), ex-footballer Lilian Thuram, Hamza and even Kerchak. Fally Ipupa, star of new Congolese pop, and Christine and the Queens also came. One to receive an honorary prize and play on stage, the other to present a distinction.

Stand-up star Fary provided the opening show, gently mocking rappers who scratch the French language. “Gazo, he can make oral deletions”, he launched. Comedian and actress Fadily Camara, mistress of ceremonies, knew how to give rhythm to an evening where the awards paraded faster than at the Victoires de la Musique.


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