The Beat: a little festival goes a long way

Thursday melodies - Diego Taboada

On Saturday January 26, Geneva celebrated French rap for the third year running. 7,000 participants turned out to enjoy the sounds of Dosseh, Columbine and VALD. The success of The Beat once again confirms the popularity of urban music, and gives it the opportunity to make its mark on the musical landscape of French-speaking Switzerland.

Young, even very young: the crowd at the Geneva Arena would have made a spectator in his early twenties feel old. The more «mature» adults in the audience seem incredulous. You can tell they’re taken aback, perhaps surprised by the «normality» with which a rap festival—one that carries so many prejudices—is unfolding. The atmosphere we’re witnessing is good-natured and energetic—a far cry from the images one might have of performances by rappers like NTM in the 1990s. The concerts of this pioneering rap group hardcore are indeed known to have been disrupted—some would use the term «contained»—by the intervention of CRS officers, who were equipped as if for a “Yellow Saturday” protest on the Champs-Élysées.

This third edition has been a success for The Beat: a show A flawless performance by artists who rose to the occasion and kept the audience engaged for nearly seven hours straight. This was no easy feat, given that the 2018 edition had exceeded expectations with performances by artists such as Roméo Elvis, Kaaris, Sofiane, and Damso, all heavyweights in the «rap scene.» After that hugely successful, sold-out event, it would be hard to top it—especially with a lineup that looked less enticing.

Nevertheless, the artists rose to the occasion. Lord Esperanza, the least well-known artist, showcased his potential and the versatility of his style. Rapper Dosseh won over the crowd with his connection to the audience. A comical moment occurred when a tired PLK thought he was in Brussels during the customary curtain call. A mistake quickly corrected by a talented artist determined to follow in the footsteps of his role model and mentor, Nekfeu. Special mention goes to the group Columbine, whose deeply poetic lyrics were delivered with dynamic energy.

Moha La Squale’s performance was undeniably the low point of the evening. His energy and enthusiasm weren’t enough to save him from a rather lackluster performance, even though he was highly anticipated. This year’s headliner, VALD—renowned for the quality of his concerts—delivered a performance worthy of his status, proving that he is now among the greats. With an unconventional persona that makes him endearing, the artist—who himself feels he «has built a career on a misunderstanding»—oscillates between parody, derision, and flow incisor.

Once again, The Beat has succeeded in bringing together established artists and up-and-coming rappers for a single evening. The festival is well on its way to becoming a must-attend event for performers as well as a fantastic springboard for less experienced «lyricists.» The Beat is undeniably establishing itself as a prime candidate to ultimately boost the cultural scene in Calvin’s city, known for its puritanism. And that’s a good thing.

Write to the author: diego.taboado@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © The Beat