This Is the Sound of the New Francophone Underground

Francophone music has the internet and Gen-Z in a frenzy across social media. Its catalog is expanding in real time, and there’s something about its recent surge that the digital world can’t seem to look away from. 

While mainstream acts like Aya Nakamura, Theodora, and Tiakola have managed to build a following beyond their French core audience, a new Francophone wave is bubbling to the surface, poised to draw similar global acclaim.

Often referred to as the Underground FR, the movement leans heavily on visual language, rooted in Y2K and swag-era aesthetics tailored to young people. Sonically, it blends U.S. subgenres such as Atlanta trap, Chicago drill, and cloud rap with bouyon and African styles like coupé décalé and Congolese rumba, with sounds like bongo quickly following suit, encapsulating a distinct diaspora identity. Similar to the UK underground, where emerging talents like Fimiguerrero, YT, and recently, Esdeekid and Fakemink have catapulted to fame, the Francophone underground scene also has key figures driving its evolution.

One of the earliest diaspora groups to popularise Franco-Afrofusion was LOGOBI GT. Formed in 2010 by eight members originally from West and Central Africa and the Caribbean, the group reimagined continental styles such as Ivorian rhythms, infusing them with their own distinctive sound. The latest comparable breakout artist came along in 2016 with French-Guinean rapper MHD, who OkayAfrica interviewed back in 2017. His “Afro Trap” series, followed by trendy dance moves, made him an overnight superstar. With the foundation already laid, the new generation was left to push the multifaceted scene to new heights.

Here are some of the new members of the Francophone underground:

63OG 

When French-Cameroonian rapper and producer 63OG unveiled ‘ruiné (comme un dj)’ in 2025, the Francophone underground wave found a standout treat. First appearing on the scene in 2020 after abandoning his dreams of becoming a basketball player, 63OG quickly became a street favorite for his DMV-style flows and experimental trap mixed with Bouyon rhythms. His dance anthem, produced by Clideur and SMN via his own label 63WAENT, set a precedent for new-gen hit songs to come.

“What makes 63OG stand out is that he experiments a lot without trying to fit into a mainstream or international format from the beginning — the artistic vision always comes first, and I think that’s exactly why people gravitate towards this scene,” says 630OG’s manager, Nathan.

LuzyQV

A prominent figure to contribute to the new underground movement is Luzyqv, a French-Congolese artist and member of the Bongology collective, who rose to prominence last year with breakout tracks like “MAQUILA” and now “Makelele” ‘Bongo.’ Recently spotlighted amid accusations involving Ice Spice of replicating the sound, it is described by its members as a blend of “old US and UK drill with trap, coupé-decalé, congolese rumba and logobi.” Produced by Panafriqana, who also co-produced “Century” for Esdeekid, the track “Makelele” embodies a mélange of global sounds with eccentric Congolese rhythmic loops.

Jeune Morty

Perhaps the song of this summer is “Ivoire Feeling” by French-Ivorian vocalist Jeune Morty. Emerging from the scene in 2020, the young melodic rapper rapidly rose as one of the most promising names in the Francophone underground. Paying homage to iconic Ivorian figures such as Lino Versace, the late Douk Saga, and DJ Afarat, the song is a throwback to Ivorian music's most vibrant influences and draws on coupé décalé. Jeune Morty uses stylized, 2010s-inspired cover art to further enhance his artistic identity and cultural resonance. 

(D)Juno

A rising name on the scene, (D)Juno recently broke through with her track “BB Bringue.” While still relatively new and maintaining a certain aura of mystery, she’s begun attracting attention through early co-signs from Theodora and producer Panafriqana. The track is credited as a collaborative production, with Panafriqana playing a central role in shaping its ‘Bongo’ sound. Her blend of sonic emergence with strong visual storytelling has helped position (D)Juno as one of the more intriguing new figures in Francophone underground music.

The ‘Bongo’ sound and Underground FR

“For us, bongo is a genre; it's codified, nothing is done randomly, it's something we had to refine to get to this point, and that defines the basis of the instrumental,” says Unogabe, a member of Bongology.

Whether through late-night basement sets or TikTok short-clip rollouts, Underground FR has emerged as one of the most distinctive online communities of the year. Drawing on early-2010s African American visual culture and African & Caribbean sonic influences, it has developed a unique cross-cultural diaspora identity, amplified by the curiosity of internet users.

With emerging artists such as faygee, DJ LUVZA, FR2D!, Likmawrld, venti, Yung Skate, and so many more–actively contributing to its growth, the movement continues to gain momentum within Francophone underground circles, while glimpses cross over to multi-lingual youth spaces. Lending experimental drum loops with digital-era aesthetics, it sits at the intersection of sound, fashion, and internet culture.

What began as a niche Francophone diaspora exchange has evolved into a cross-platform ecosystem in which visuals, edits, and bass-heavy soundscapes circulate as a shared language. Its producers, such as Skuna and Panafriqana, dedicate their artistry to a specific creative pillar, allowing each artist to refine a signature style while contributing to a broader collective sonic identity. Less a fixed genre than an evolving archive of expression, Underground FR remains in constant formation, unapologetically reshaped by contributors and audience alike.