by Folie’s, whose first name is Maxime, shot to fame on the French music scene with his album entitled “Folie’s je t’aime!”, released in 2024. With a percussionist father, the artist has always had a penchant for music. This is reflected first and foremost in his stage name, which refers to the Folies Pigalles, a former theater/cinema located in Paris, his hometown, reinvented with hip-hop and R&B sounds. But Folie’s inspirations don’t stop there. The artist has a keen interest in disco funk legends such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder, and even Quincy Jones, from whom he draws the groovy side that can be found in his music. If you listen closely to the track “BAD!”, the most avid fans will recognize a sample from the song “Onda” by Cassiano, a pioneer of soul music in Brazil. It’s clear that the choice of sample was a success, remaining Folie’s biggest hit to date. In short, it’s a beautiful tribute to the artist and to Brazilian music.
And how can we talk about Folie’s without mentioning his sparkling, electric, and sensual universe? Listening to tracks like “Vitamine,” “Nymphomaniac,” and “BAD!,” we understand perfectly what the artist exudes and wants to spread… energy, accompanied by good vibes. In addition to his danceable productions, he also stands out for his charming lyrics, embodying a “lover” figure that he admits is a mix of his personality and a fictional character. He tackles themes such as money, love, sex, and women in a raw way. As these are mainstream themes, a wide audience can identify with them, unlike other rappers who may be followed by a predominantly male audience. As a result, Folie’s has managed to bring together a diverse audience with music that gets people moving. Pure serotonin !
With millions of streams on several of these tracks, Folie’s has managed to find its place among this new generation, where aesthetics play an important role. Social media has seen the emergence of “Folie’s je t’aime” T-shirts, a reference to the cover of his album of the same name. With more than 45,000 creations on TikTok, the artist from the 18th arrondissement has created a real trend on the platform. His influence doesn’t stop there, crossing the Atlantic to the United States. Yes, Folie’s and his infectious audacity have reached the ears of rapper Lil Tecca, who sampled the track “Nosleeve” from the album “Folie’s je t’aime!” to create “Dark Thoughts,” the intro to his latest album. Spoiler alert: it was very well received by the American public. How far will his madness take the Parisian rapper?
However, what artist has never faced the statistical disappointment of a project? Despite a more than promising start, Folie’s recently released several singles compiled into an EP, “Sexy Summer,” which unfortunately flew under the radar of the music industry, particularly the media and content creators. Several fans seem to agree that the artist has not convinced them with this project. However, as Sexy Summer is only an EP, the artist does not seem to have said his last word. Having sold out the Trianon in Paris on October 22, followed by a tour in France and French-speaking Europe next year, Folie’s seeks to declare “Je t’aime” in return.
