We’re excited to have the opportunity to sit down with Flo Assy, the French-Ivorian rapper whose highly anticipated album Risque Avenue is now officially out. The 14-track project has already been turning heads with its bold blend of personal storytelling and high-energy beats. From the streets of Abidjan to the creative scenes of Montpellier and beyond, Flo Assy’s journey has shaped the sound of this album, which reflects not only his resilience but his evolving artistic vision.
With standout collaborations, including Mitzy Jones and Phantom, and production that mixes raw emotion with sharp commentary on societal issues, Risque Avenue is already making waves. Today, we’re diving deep into the making of this project—its inspirations, challenges, and what Flo Assy hopes listeners take away from it.
Carla Andersen: Flo, thank you so much for joining us, it’s a pleasure to talk to you! Risque Avenue is a powerful title. What does “Risque Avenue” symbolize for you personally and artistically?
Flo Assy: Risque Avenue symbolizes for me all the risks that sometimes a person or an artist goes through while trying to achieve their goals in life.
Carla Andersen: Could you walk us through the process of selecting the 14 tracks for this project?
Flo Assy: I wanted in the album:
- tracks that talk about the violence in society
- tracks that talk about the street, gang, mafia life
- tracks that emphasize conspiracy and darkness in the world
- tracks that describe the uncertainty in life
- tracks that talk about my personal issues and my aspirations in life
The selection for the tracks was an assembly for that objective.
Carla Andersen: Do you have a favorite track on the album, and why is it particularly meaningful to you?
Flo Assy: I really like the last track because it is more of a pop track, which I never did before that album. And this is also the type of track that I am aiming for producing for the next album.
Carla Andersen: What were some of the challenges you faced during the production of Risque Avenue? How did you overcome them?
Flo Assy: The main challenge, I think, was budget-wise; however, I managed to produce the whole album independently, so that’s how I covered most of the costs. Also, a lot of tools that I needed for production were on sales.
Carla Andersen: How do you approach songwriting? Do you write the lyrics first, or do the beats and melodies come to you first?
Flo Assy: Basically, I try to find or produce the beat and write the lyrics at the same time to make sure both fit the way I exactly want to for the theme that’s chosen.
Carla Andersen: As someone who has lived through significant geopolitical tensions, how does your life experience impact your creative choices and the messages you put in your music?
Flo Assy: It feels like when life gives you a chance to strive in your music or in your passion in general, you just gotta take it. And it gives you more motivation to be better at what you do.
Carla Andersen: What’s the best collaboration you’ve had so far in your career, and why was it so impactful?
Flo Assy: The best collaboration is with my cousin Mitzy Jones. As a fact, I started learning breakdancing with her. And it is interesting now to see that in the same universe of hip-hop, we both collaborate on two songs in the album.
Carla Andersen: How do you see French rap evolving in the next few years? Where do you see yourself fitting into that future?
Flo Assy: I’m not exactly sure. There’s always been good French rap, no matter what. So, maybe it will be like that the next few years. And I hope to be the one that also contributes to that, adding a touch of pop to my music.
Carla Andersen: If there’s one thing you want people to remember about Risque Avenue long after they’ve listened to it, what would it be?
Flo Assy: I want the audience to remember the vibe of the album and the message behind the album.
Listen to Risque Avenue below:
