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Alpha Wann

One of the guiding talents of France's 2010s rap resurgence, Parisian Alpha Wann (fka Philly Flingue, Phaal) built his name as part of '90s revivalist clique 1995 before launching a record label (Don Dada) and a successful solo career of his own. With dense verses and a technical proficiency, Wann's potent artistic vision earned him the respect of fans, critics, and contemporaries alike, securing him a place among the pantheon of modern French rappers. Born to Guinean parents in the Paris suburb of Fontenay-aux-Roses, rapper Alpha Wann developed an intense passion for hip-hop from an early age -- a passion that only grew fiercer as he became integrated into Paris' rap scene, having moved into its 14th arrondissement at the age of ten. Cutting his teeth in local rap circles, Wann first aimed his attention toward recording 2011's En Sous-Marin, a dynamic, sample-heavy EP crafted with friend and collaborator Nekfeu. Fresh in the game, Wann swiftly founded his own rap collective -- 1995 -- who played host to Nekfeu as well as fellow rising talents Sneazzy West, Darryl Zeuja, Fonky Flav', and Hologram Lo'. With a sound shaped by the boom-bap prestige of their titular decade, the group debuted with 2011 EP La Source, shortly following it with sophomore EP La Suite. The group's first and only studio album, Paris Sud Minute, materialized in December 2012; over jazzy, nocturnal beats, Wann demonstrated the lyrical prowess and complex flows that would form the core of his artistic career. After a short stint as part of wider collective L'Entourage, Wann spent the middle of the decade embarking on a long-awaited solo career, releasing work on his newly formed record label Don Dada. First to arrive was his debut EP, Alph Lauren; released in January 2014, the project retained the soulful boom-bap ethos of 1995 while hinting at avenues into future rap soundscapes on tracks like "Steven Seagal." In 2016, Wann began work on assembling his debut album, UNE MAIN LAVE L'AUTRE, while keeping fans appeased with a trap-heavy second EP, Alph Lauren 2. The third volume of Alph Lauren, 2018's Alph Lauren 3, provided him a canvas to play with new sounds -- the G-Funk stylings of "R5 et Murcielago," hazy cloud rap of "Courchevel," and gothic trap of "Turban" -- while continuing to generate hype for the rapper's studio debut. The long-awaited UNE MAIN LAVE L'AUTRE arrived in September that year. Scored by the classy, minimalist beats of Hologram Lo', VM the Don, and Diabi, Wann's debut album marked his most personal work to date, a wealth of introspective narratives that landed a gold certification from France's SNEP. Following the album's release, Wann enjoyed a dominant run across freestyle platforms, which were then compiled on streaming services in the form of September 2019's PPP EP. In 2020, Wann helmed the don dada mixtape, vol. 1. With guest spots including Freeze Corleone, Kalash Criminel, and Kaaris, the mixtape pulled together the talents on Wann's Don Dada Records for a brooding, brag-centric compilation of trap anthems.
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