"It's a legendary place for young people who want to get started": the final of the Kick Ça musical springboard this Saturday in Antibes, a showcase for artists from the urban scene of the Côte d'Azur

It's a scene that's discreet but brimming with talent. Tonight, six young urban artists from the Côte d'Azur will take the stage at the sChOOL in Antibes for the grand finale of Kick Ça. At stake is much more than a trophy: a true spotlight for a local scene seeking recognition. For seven years, this unique musical springboard in the region has focused on revealing young talent in rap, Afro, and R'n'B aesthetics. After selections in Antibes and Nice, then a semi-final in April, the finalists compete in front of a jury of professionals to win one of three professional prizes: music video, media interview, studio recording, or even opening act.

A springboard that has become a benchmark

Organized by the Nice association Lékipsud and now incubated at sChOOL, a renowned urban art center, Kick Ça has become, according to Sébastien Hamard, director of LabelNote, "the only major professional springboard entirely dedicated to urban music between the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var." And it's no coincidence that the event found its footing at sChOOL: "Artists like Infinit' or Veust have passed through here before filling La Cigale or soon the Olympia. It's a legendary place for young people who want to get started." Especially since the objective goes beyond the stage performance alone. "We identify developing artists, and we support them in a concrete way to structure their career," insists Sébastien Hamard.

"It makes us more professional."

Meura, 24, a rapper from Vence, is one of the finalists. He discovered Kick Ça at its first edition, but it was the scene that pushed him to get involved this year: "I like the competition. And above all, it brings people together. You talk with beatmakers, programmers... It creates useful connections." For him, these opportunities are precious: "We're a long way from Paris or Marseille. Here, there are quality artists, but little visibility. Kick Ça can get the ball rolling." A diagnosis shared by the organizers, who point out that urban music is now omnipresent: "It's the new pop. Festivals are embracing it, and Kick Ça is part of this dynamic," concludes Sébastien Hamard. The doors to the final open at 7 p.m. at sChOOL in Antibes. Six 30-minute shows are on the program, combining raw energy with promise for the future. An evening not to be missed to discover, perhaps, the future headliners of Côte d'Azur rap.