Werenoi, the “black diamond” of French rap
France's favorite rapper passed away in Paris this Saturday at the age of 31, leaving a huge void at the top of the hip-hop pyramid. A portrait from the Belgian newspaper “Le Soir.”
“I shine even in the dark, I am the black diamond.” The French-speaking hip-hop world is in mourning: French rapper Werenoi died this Saturday, May 17, at the age of 31. The news, which many struggled to believe, was confirmed this Saturday by his producer – “Babs” – on the social network X : “Rest in peace, my brother.” Since Friday, rumors have been circulating about the artist, who had fallen into a coma after a sudden deterioration in his health. His absence the day before at a showcase had worried fans. For the time being, the cause of his death has not been revealed.
This is a harsh blow for French-language rap, which has lost an artist whose rise to fame has been absolutely meteoric. Jérémy Bana Owona, barely in his thirties, has quickly established himself as the best-selling artist in France for two years in a row, according to figures from the National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing (SNEP).
His first tracks appeared on YouTube in 2021. Within a few weeks, "Guadalajara" had surpassed 400,000 views. He was signed to producer Kore's AWA label, a veteran of the game who has collaborated with Rohff and Booba. From there, Werenoi's rise was meteoric. In spring 2021,
Courrier International
