Orelsan is a rapper who first became known on the Internet in 2008 with polemical titles like "Sale Whore" or "Change".
The following year, he signed a first album noticed entitled "Lost in advance". In 2011, his second studio album, "The Song of the Mermaids", consecrated him in the French hip-hop scene.
In 2017, Orelsan returns with a new album, "The party is over".
Born August 1, 1982 in Alençon in the Orne of a mother teacher and a father director of college, Aurélien Cotentin followed his studies until obtaining the baccalaureate. After graduating from a business school, he soon started playing music.
His stage name, Orelsan, is formed from diminutive of his first name and the suffix "San", brand of cordiality in Japan (Orelsan is a fan of manga).
Orelsan forms a group with Gringe, the Breaker Flowers. They will both collaborate on several compilations, "Rap 2 Street", "Undertoc", "Bombattak", "Shadow 2 Shock 2", "Angry Talents 3", "Provincial Herbs", "Apash" ...
Orelsan is quickly spotted by Skread, producer of Booba, Sinik, Rhoff or Diam's, who signs it in the 3rd office label, distributed by Wagram Music in coproduction with his own label 7thMagnitude.
The Internet phenomenon
Orelsan is actually starting to get talked about on the Internet in 2008. More than a million Internet users watch his clips: "Dirty Slut", "Valentine's Day", or the best known "Change".
The rapper begins to perform on stage and gives concerts in Paris and in his hometown, Caen. In 2009, he began a tour throughout France to promote his first opus "Lost in Advance" produced by Skread.
Polemic
In March 2009, Orelsan provoked a controversy around his title "Sale Whore". While he must go on the scene of Printemps de Bourges, policies would have intervened with the director of the event to prohibit his performance.
Her song is judged by Justice as an "incitement to violence against women". This controversy finally turns out to be a good publicity stunt for singer Orelsan who through this misadventure is becoming known to the general public.
The rapper released in April 2009 the title "Different". He responds to his detractors at the beginning of his new clip by a nod to "Dirty Whore": Orelsan, quiet in his room humming excerpts of the banned title and sees two police officers point their weapons at him and embark.
2011, the consecration
In 2011, Orelsan is back in the bins. He released the title "Raelsan", first extract of his new album "The song of sirens". The single card and confirms the talent of the rapper.
Between July and September 2011, Orelsan unveils new excerpts of his new album.
"Nothing surprises me" in July, followed by the single "1990" at the end of August. As its name suggests, this title pays tribute to hip-hop of the 90s, and we note the appearances of Olivier Cachin, Oxmo Puccino and members of the group 1995.
Success confirmed
In 2012, Orelsan is rewarded with two victories of music, in the category Rap and urban music of the year as well as the category Group or artist revelation of the public.
On May 31, 2012, "The Song of the Mermaids" is certified platinum with 100,000 copies sold.
Orelsan appears with Gringe on Canardo's "A la youv" mixtape, in "Mauvais Plan", and on Benjamin Biolay's new album, "La Vengeance".
During the summer of 2012, Orelsan announced the preparation of an album or a mixtape with Gringe, his debutcomer, whose release is scheduled for mid-2013.
Before that, he made an appearance in a Reebok advertisement in September 2012, and can be found featuring on various tracks, including "My Pote", Flint, or with Benjamin Biolay or Disiz. He is named to the NRJ Music Awards in the category "French Revelation of the Year" but loses to Tal. We also meet him on Stromae's second album.
The return of Breakers Flowters
His new album is done with the Breakers Flowteurs, name of the duo he had with Gringe. The first clip is released July 3, 2013 on YouTube, and the album, entitled "Orelsan and Gringe are the Breakers Flowters", is finally released on November 18, 2013.
In 2015 released the second album, "How it's far", soundtrack of the first film directed by Orelsan.
First film
With "How It's Far," Orelsan takes on a new challenge by going behind the camera. Directed with Christophe Offenstein, we find in the casting Gringe, his friend forever, but also ... Orelsan.
In 2016, Orelsan also made an appearance in the feature film "Scared of Nothing", directed by Danielle Arbid (February 10, 2016).