Review Summary: Style over substance, but boy does he have some swagger
As avid music listeners, few feelings are as pleasing to us as witnessing a promising artist finally reach his potential. French rapper Infinit', formerly one of the great rookies in the French rap scene, has now established himself as an All-Star in the game. While all his previous projects hinted at inner greatness, it was too green - or relying too much on DJ Weedim, arguably one of the worst beatmakers in the frog rap game - and was only interesting in some parts. What was evident though, was the pure talent the man had at multiplying multi-syllabics and delivering stylistic devices with ever-changing flows. Finally nailing the autotune, his biggest flaw so far, Infinit' now has both the experience and the pen to produce memorable toplines sublimed by an innate punchline sense.
However, this word salad wouldn't be worth anything if the beats didn't season it. Surrounding himself with beatmakers close to Don Dada Records (founded by rapper Alpha Wann and beatmaker Hologram 'Lo), Infinit' has for the first time the chance to kick his rhymes on different beats, from the West Coast tribute to the hardest modern production, through more candy and R&B beats. This newfound stylistic base allows him to stretch his talents and try different voices and tones. While some of the more autotuned parts might not please everyone, they sure are the best he's ever done.
Those criticizing autotune are either hypocritical, or they simply do not realize it is but a tool to modify a performance: autotune is to Kanye West what distortion is to My Bloody Valentine. Don't criticize the rifle, criticize the shooter. As every tool or discipline, there are those who effortlessly nail the essence of their art and others who could try for 400 years without ever coming up with a satisfying result. Sometimes though, a caterpillar can turn itself into a butterfly: in that case, and using another cooking metaphor, Infinit' went from a drunk pizza reheater to a Michelin-starred chef.
A further improvement over his previous records is that the French rapper finally emancipated himself from the talent of his peers and learned to shine on his own. For example, many discovered Infinit' through Alpha Wann's magnum opus
Une Main Lave l'Autre and their now legendary collaboration track
Le Tour. When Alpha let his buddy shine on that track, it was the first time Infinit' actually was the centerpiece of an acclaimed song. Too often on his previous EPs were the best tracks those featuring experienced rappers (Alpha, Alkpote, Caballero & Jeanjass). On
Ma vie est un film II, the feats are only there to make the main protagonist shine.
Despite this laudatory rain, personal preferences shall guide the listeners towards different paths. If what you are looking for is a bombastic modern French rap album, then jump into this and you shall be pleased with a compact and stylishly produced record. On the other hand, if what titillates the rhyming fan in you is nothing but assonances and alliterations, you might criticize the choice of letting the style take over the words. Yet, a beautiful prose monotonously stated on stale beats is as interesting as your nephew's poetry contest.
One of the best wordsmiths in French rap finally gives himself the means of his ambition. Infinit' is at its his best yet, and one can only be excited for the days to come. It might not be his
Cactus de Siberie yet, but he sure barges in the French rap game like Gustave Flaubert or Maxime Ducamp.
