Roméo Elvis

Roméo Elvis
Roméo Elvis at the 20th anniversary of File7 in Magny-le-Hongre, France, in 2017.
Background information
Birth name	Roméo Johnny Elvis Kiki Van Laeken
Born	(1992-12-13) 13 December 1992 Uccle, Belgium
Genres	Rap, Belgian hip-hop, alternative hip-hop
Instruments	Voice, guitar, piano
Years active	2012–present
Labels	Daring Music, L'Œil Écoute Laboratoire, back in the dayz
Associated acts	Le Motel
Website	romeoelvis.com

Roméo Elvis, born Roméo Johnny Elvis Kiki Van Laeken,^[1][2] is a Belgian rapper and hip-hop artist.

His career began after the release of two EPs in 2013 et 2014, respectively: Bruxelles c'est devenu la jungle et Famille nombreuse. In 2016, he released the EP Morale and in 2017 and 2018 two Albums: Morale 2 and his reissue Morale 2luxe (released from his collaboration with producer Le Motel). He is close to the Belgian group L'Or du Commun, the duo Caballero & JeanJass, as well as the French rapper Lomepal.

Biography

Roméo Elvis was born 13 December 1992 in Uccle, Belgium.^[3] Immersed since youth in music,^[4] he developed a different style than his father, the singer Marka, his mother, the comedian Laurence Bibot and his younger sister, the singer and pianist Angèle. Roméo Elvis was raised in Linkebeek in the southern suburbs of Brussels.^[5] Thereafter, Elvis relocated to Forest.

Referred from collage, he continued his secondary studies at Saint-Luc Tournai Institute where he learned to paint and draw.^[6] It was during this time that Elvis began rapping with his friends. His artistic training continued at ESA 75, in Brussels, where he studied photoreporting. While continuing to practice rap, he became close to members of L'Or du Commun.

While his first EPs were being released, Roméo Elvis was working as a cashier at the supermarket chain Carrefour. Despite his success, he was not able to earn enough money from rapping alone. Shortly before the release of the album Bruxelles arrive, he quit his job and devoted himself solely to music.^[7] His newest EP, Morale 2luxe, was released 15 February 2018. Morale 2luxe est a remake of his album, Morale 2, released in March 2017.

Elvis suffers from tinnitus, common amongst musicians. He has made references to this in many of his titles, such as L'oreille sifflante and Ma tête.^[8] In an interview with Radio Nova, he also explains that if he can earn a lot of money rapping, he would donate some of it to fight against the disease.

Musical style and influence

The musical style of Roméo Elvis evolved very strongly as his projects progressed. While developing old-school instrumentals and a flow in agreement with its ambience in his first two EPs, the collaboration with the producer Le Motel on Morale et Morale 2 profoundly changed his atmosphere and style. He allows himself to make many more refrains and electronic instrumentals, and in accord with the jazz of Le Motel, giving them a more current tone.^[9]

Elvis' influences are numerous: the Belgian group L'or du Commun with which he made his rapping debut is one of his main ones, and their style can also be recognized in his first two projects with group members. He also frequently mentions the rapper Caballero as someone who greatly inspired him: he met him while recording Bruxelles arrive. Concerning French rap, Elvis considers the rapper Alpha Wann of the group 1995 as "the rap master playing for me in terms of placement and in terms of how to say things in a very meaningful way". Fuzati, leader of Klub des Loosers, strongly influences the rapper, notably in his somber aspect, but also plenty of derision towards life. He also references the masked rapper in many of his titles, like in Drôle de décision.^[10] Elvis is also a fan of the French artist Philippe Katerine.

Concerts and tours

While he began performing at concerts and growing closer to L'Or du Commun, it was for the release of Morale, in 2015, that Roméo Elvis and Le Motel began touring, with 19 performances across Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. The release of Morale 2 also marked the beginning of another, bigger tour with 29 performances, and concerts in several large festivals such as Dour Festival,^[11] Rock en Seine,^[12] le Printemps de Bourges,^[13] and Garorock.

Discography

References