1995

Emerging from France, the battle rap crew 1995 adopted its name to honor the hip-hop year that shaped its identity, cultivating an upbeat yet combative style. The five-member unit unites rappers Alpha Wann, Areno Jaz, Fonky Flav', and Sneazzy West with beatmaker DJ Lo. Wann and Jaz started the endeavor as P.O.S. (Porteur Officiel de Sac-à-dos) before adding the remaining artists over a mutual commitment to 1990s hip-hop that led to the current name. Their debut offering arrived as the video "Dans Ta Résso," which drew millions of YouTube views, followed by "Hi Haters" that anchored their place in the battle rap arena; together the tracks exceeded 12 million views. The independently issued EP La Source appeared in 2011 and peaked at number 23 on the French SNEP charts. While each member pursues separate solo work, the group finalized a distribution agreement with Universal, issuing the second EP La Suite in 2012, which reached number eight. Debut album Paris Sud Minute then attained the number four position, securing 1995's ongoing foothold in French rap.