View source for 20syl

{{short description|French rapper, record producer, and disc jockey}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix  =
| image             = 2017-07 Natural Games Concert Alltta 15.jpg
| caption           = 20syl performing for AllttA during the 2017 Natural Games in Millau, France.
| birth_name        = Sylvain Richard
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|2|17}}
| birth_place       = [[Nantes]], [[France]]
| genre             = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[French rap]], [[jazz rap]], [[turntablism]], [[electronic music]]
| occupation        = [[Rapper]], [[disc jockey]], [[composer]], [[beatmaker]], [[Record producer|producer]], [[graphic designer]]
| current_member_of = [[Hocus Pocus (group)|Hocus Pocus]], [[C2C (group)|C2C]], AllttA
| years_active      = 1995–present
}}
'''Sylvain Richard''' (born February 17, 1979), better known by his [[stage name]] '''20syl''' (pronounced "vaughn-seel",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/mr20syl/status/504263915539529728|title=twitter.com/mr20syl}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|vɛ̃sil|lang}}), is a French [[Rapping|rapper]], [[disc jockey]], and [[Producer (music)|producer]]. He is a [[composer]] and [[MC (hip hop)|MC]] in the group [[Hocus Pocus (group)|Hocus Pocus]], a member of the beatmaker collective of DJs [[C2C (group)|C2C]], one half of the Hip-Hop/electronic duo [[AllttA]], and the quadruple world champion [[Disco Mix Club|DMC]] Team. He published his first [[Extended play|EP]], ''Motifs'', in 2014, followed by ''Motifs <abbr>II</abbr>'' in 2015.
During his career, he also produced for artists and groups such as [[Diam's]], [[Disiz]], [[Kohndo]], [[Slum Village]], [[Fabe (French rapper)|Fabe]], [[Scred Connexion]], Nakk, and Sully Sefil and was involved in projects such as ''Just Us vol.1'' or ''Original Bombattak''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onandon-records.com/label.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121172802/http://www.onandon-records.com/label.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-11-21|title=onandon-records.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.justlikehiphop.com/fichemenu.php?id=7613|title=justlikehiphop.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002233023/http://www.justlikehiphop.com/fichemenu.php?id=7613|archive-date=2008-10-02|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hiphopcore.net/interviews/1-20syl.html|title=hiphopcore.net}}</ref>
== Biography ==
Richard, originally a [[graphic designer]], graduated from the Graduate School of Fine Arts in [[Nantes Metropolis|Nantes Métropole]]. He began his musical career in his bedroom at his parents' house in [[Rezé]].
In 1995, Richard and Cambia released their first [[mixtape]], ''Première Formule.'' Recorded in a makeshift studio, the first self-produced cassette was sold in the courtyard of their school. In 1997, they team up with DJ Greem, a high school friend of Richard's, to form the group [[Hocus Pocus (group)|Hocus Pocus]], and released their first album as a trio, ''Seconde Formule'', in 1998. Hocus Pocus mixes elements specific to [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] (scratches, samples, and rap) with an instrumental sound influenced by [[jazz]], [[Soul music|soul]], and [[funk]]. Alongside Hocus Pocus, they created, in collaboration with DJ Atom and DJ Pfel, a group called [[C2C (group)|C2C]] (also known as "Coups2Cross"). C2C was the world champion [[Disco Mix Club|DMC]] team four years in a row, from 2003 to 2006. They found the collaboration of two [[MC (hip hop)|MCs]] and a [[Disc jockey|DJ]] did not work on stage and went their separate ways; Richard continued his production as 20syl, and DJ Greem invested specifically in C2C.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.universalmusic.fr/artiste/11135-hocus-pocus/bio|title=Biographie de Hocus Pocus - Universal Music France|website=Universal Music France|language=fr-FR|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>
In 2001, Richard worked again with DJ Greem and Cambia on stage as Hocus Pocus. The same year, they created the label ''On & On'' and released the maxi ''Sick'', which sold around 4000 copies. Three years later, they released the album ''73 Touches'' (in reference to the number of piano keys). Largely influenced by jazz, they refer to [[Miles Davis]] and [[Billie Holiday]]. Mathieu Lelièvre on keyboard, Hervé Godard on bass, and David Le Deunff on guitar complement the trio. The same album was reissued in 2006 with a new version of ''Sick'' and six new titles.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:20syl&DjGreem.JPG|thumb|20syl performing with DJ Greem in 2008]]
The album ''Place 54'', released in October 2007, increased their willingness to create acoustic hip-hop. For this album, they signed with the label Motown France to promote and distribute it. The album was well received and attracted interest from mainstream TV and radio. In 2008, Hocus Pocus was nominated for a [[Victoires de la Musique]] award in the category "Urban Music Album of the Year".<ref name=":0" />
Richard published his first solo [[Extended play|EP]], ''Motifs,'' on June 9, 2014; the site [http://Sourdoreille.net sourdoreille.net] considers this EP "a real gem",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sourdoreille.net/20syl-et-ibrahim-maalouf-duo-de-choc/ |title=Le premier EP de 20syl est une pépite {{!}} Sourdoreille |url-status=live |archive-date=14 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914053818/http://www.sourdoreille.net/20syl-et-ibrahim-maalouf-duo-de-choc |access-date=4 December 2016 }}</ref> while [http://wordplaymagazine.com/ wordplaymagazine.com] praises Richard's style as "frankly remarkable".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://wordplaymagazine.com/2015/06/articles/reviews/20-syl-motifs-2/|title=20 Syl – Motifs 2|date=13 June 2015|newspaper=Wordplay Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=4 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220222425/http://wordplaymagazine.com/2015/06/articles/reviews/20-syl-motifs-2/|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> His second EP, ''Motifs <abbr>II</abbr>'', was published on May 11, 2015. Regarding the cover of ''Motifs <abbr>II,</abbr>'' <abbr>Richard</abbr> explains: "For the first volume, I played on the contrast between the zebra and the checkerboard. For this one, I wanted another animal. I like animals with a solemn air, which release an aesthetic force. When I came across this owl, I found him mysterious and chic. I also chose the motif of the opposition in the checkered plumage. It is a way to symbolize the two aspects of my music: electronic and organic. This refined and enigmatic image raises questions."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/culture/musique/20syl-j-ai-envie-de-tout-controler_1685660.html|title=20syl: "I want to control everything"|date=4 December 2016|newspaper=LExpress.fr|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Hocus Pocus 20080718 Auxerre 05.jpg|thumb|20syl live at Aux Zarbs festival 2008]]
In July 2015 in [[Nantes]], Richard presented the U, an interactive musical [[Rampe|skateboard ramp]] (in collaboration with the collective Herrmutt Lobby).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onandon-records.com/leU/|title=Le U rampe sonore {{!}} Rampe de skate Interactive et musicale|website=www.onandon-records.com|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref> [https://herrmuttlobby.com// herrmuttlobby.com] says regarding U "The skater is the musician and the ramp is the instrument. He composes and decomposes the rhythm, he breaks down initial binary arrangements, making the digital human again for a moment."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://herrmuttlobby.com/|title=herrmuttlobby.com}}</ref> In September 2015, [[Keynote (presentation software)|The Apple Keynote]] used a piece of Richard's music to promote the functionality of [[Siri]] on the Apple Watch in their [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKotmAS-2Ac "Choose Colorfully"] advertisement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.applemusic.info/|title=AppleMusic.info - The definitive list of music used by Apple Inc. in commercials, keynote addresses, presentations, and other marketing materials.|website=www.applemusic.info|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref> In late 2015, Richard published a remix of the PLPS song ''How I Feel''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thewebtape.net/quand-20syl-remixe-pulpalicious/54876|title=Quand 20syl remixe Pulpalicious - TheWebTape|date=22 December 2015|newspaper=TheWebTape|language=fr-FR|access-date=4 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406103500/http://www.thewebtape.net/quand-20syl-remixe-pulpalicious/54876|archive-date=2016-04-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 2016, he published his first-year production entitled ''Inertia''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.greenroom.fr/88013-20syl-sort-un-nouveau-single-pour-la-bonne-cause/|title=20Syl sort un nouveau single pour la bonne cause - Greenroom|date=15 January 2016|newspaper=Greenroom|language=fr-FR|access-date=4 December 2016|archive-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427054300/http://www.greenroom.fr/88013-20syl-sort-un-nouveau-single-pour-la-bonne-cause/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Also in January 2016, he published a remix of the song ''Walk Walk'' by [[Yael Naim]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.quai-baco.com/20syl-revisite-le-titre-walk-walk-de-yael-naim-24892/|title=20syl revisite le titre " Walk Walk " de Yael Naim|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>
In 2015, he formed the group [[AllttA]] (A Little Lower Than The Angels) with the Californian rapper [[Mr. J. Medeiros]]. Their debut album, titled ''The Upper Hand'', was released on February 17, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/mr20syl/photos/a.138869306156683.25026.101405206569760/1273193322724270|title=facebook.com/mr20syl|website=facebook.com|publisher=Facebook|access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> Their sophomore album, titled ''Facing Giants'', was released on December 1, 2017. The first part of their third album, ''Curio,'' was released on May 12, 2023, with the second coming on September 29, 2023.
== Discography ==
=== Singles ===
* 2016 : "Inertia (for the charity compilation AMAL)"
* 2021 : "Bagarre"
=== EPs ===
* 2014 : ''Motifs''
* 2015 : ''Motifs <abbr>II</abbr>''
=== Albums ===
* 2020 : ''36'' (''Beats & Types'')
* 2024 : ''Sula Bassana'' (with Christophe Panzani)
=== Remix albums ===
* 1999 : ''20syl's Remix Tape''
=== Collaborations and remixes ===
* 2002 : 20syl – "On and On" (from the mixtape ''1son2rue'' by [[Cut Killer]])
* 2006 : Sixième Sens feat. 20syl, Prince d'arabee, [[Orelsan]], [[Gringe]] – "Herbes de Provinces"
* 2007 : [[Mr. J. Medeiros]] feat. 20syl – "Amelie" (from the album ''[[Of Gods and Girls]]'' by Mr. J. Medeiros)
* 2012 : Mr. J. Medeiros feat. Shad – "Pale Blue Dot" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2012 : [[Oxmo Puccino]] feat. [[Orelsan]], Greg Frite, Busta Flex, Grodash, [[Youssoupha]], Dabaaz, 3010 & 20syl – "Le sucre pimenté" (<small>Remix)</small>
* 2013 : [[Kraked Unit]] – "Chinese Puzzle" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2013 : [[Rihanna]] – "[[Stay (Rihanna song)|Stay"]] <small>(20syl You Can't Be Serious Remix)</small>
* 2013 : Gush – "Sieblings" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2013 : Moongaï – "Cosmofamille" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2013 : "Game, Set & Match"
* 2013 : Electro Deluxe – "Devil" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2013 : "[[Blitz the Ambassador]]" feat. 20syl, [[Emicida]] & Y'akoto – Respect Mine
* 2013 : Elodie Rama – "City of Hope" <small>(20syl Version)</small>
* 2013 : Dtwice – "Devil's Tune" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2013 : "[[Misteur Valaire]]" – Don't Get Là <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2013 : "Room Bang" ([[Grems]] feat. 20syl)
* 2013 : "My Heart"(Letters to the Sun feat. 20syl)
* 2014 : [[Gregory Porter]] – "[[Liquid Spirit]]" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2014 : 20syl & Kafutchino – "Kouign Amann" (from the album ''La Boulangerie, Vol. 3 – La Fine Equipe & Friends'' by La Fine Equipe)
* 2014 : [[Ed Sheeran]] – "[[Thinking Out Loud]]" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2014 : Shuko feat. [[CL Smooth]] & 20syl – "The Same"
* 2014 : "[[Yelle]]" – [[Complètement fou (Remix)|Complètement fou <small>(20syl Remix)</small>]]
* 2014 : ''Game Set & Match II'' (created for the ''[[2014 BNP Paribas Masters]]'' international tennis tournament)
* 2014 : ''V052 V1M'' (Jakarta Records album ''Summer In Jakarta'')
* 2014 : Coin Banks feat. 20syl, Tab-One, Anders & The Ruby Horns – "Thomas Lawrence" (from the EP ''Heads'' by Coin Banks)
* 2014 : [[Pigeon John]] – "Boomerang" (feat. 20syl)
* 2014 : "Bet Dap Goom Bown" (BoomBap Festival Beat)
* 2014 : "The Drops" ''–'' Atalante <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2014 : "Obsession" (Fixpen Sill & 20syl)
* 2014 : [[Schoolboy Q]] – "The Purge / Rapfix Cypher" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2014 : [[Kyla La Grange]] – "[[Cut Your Teeth (song)|Cut Your Teeth]]" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2014 : "10YRS" (Hip OPsession 10th Anniversary Track)
* 2014 : [[Seinabo Sey]] – "[[Younger (Seinabo Sey song)|Younger]]" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2014 : [[King Krule]] – "Easy Easy" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2014 : [[Kendrick Lamar]] – "Sing that Shit" <small>(20syl Juicy Remix)</small>
* 2015 : Moar & Sarsha Simone – "Gonna Do Me" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2015 : [[Ibrahim Maalouf]] – "Red and Black Light" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2015 : PLPS – "How I Feel" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2016 : [[Yael Naim|Yaël Naim]] – "Walk Walk" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2016 : [[ODESZA]] – "It's Only" ''(feat. [[Zyra (singer)|Zyra]])'' <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2016 : The Geek x Vrv feat. Mirror Signal – "I Don't Wanna Know" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2016 : Everydayz, Phazz – "Almeria" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2018 : AllttA – "Bucket" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2018 : thebandknives & AllttA – "thebandknives x AllttA"
* 2018 : Electro Deluxe – "Keep my Baby Dancing" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2018 : Inüit – "Tomboy" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2019 : La Fine Équipe, [[Grems]] & 20syl – "Nobu" (from the album ''5Th Season'' by La Fine Equipe)
* 2019 : Electric guest – "Dollar" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
* 2019 : Parrad feat. AllttA – "Flag Pole"
*2020 : AllttA – "Ampersand"
*2020 : Thaïs Lona – ''Best Part (Daniel Cesar cover)'' <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
*2021 : Brent Faiyaz – "Circles" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
*2021 : AvA – "Regarde Moi" <small>(Prod. 20syl & Grégoire Vaillant)</small>
*2022 : La Chica – "Agua" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
*2022 : [[Too Many T's]] & 20syl – "Roots"
*2022 : Beyoncé – "Break My Soul" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
*2022 : Thaïs Lona – "B.N.D" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
*2023 : Miscellaneous & Coeur Nwar feat. 20syl & Mr. J. Medeiros – "Bump This" (from the album ''Chiaroscuro'' by Miscellaneous & Coeur Nwar)
*2023 : Alligatorz – "Pra Ver Você Sambar" <small>(20syl Remix)</small>
*2023 : AllttA – "Savages" <small>(contains AI-generated feature by [[Jay-Z]])</small>
=== Collaborative albums ===
* 1996 : ''Première Formule'' (mixtape, with [[Hocus Pocus (group)|Hocus Pocus]])
* 1998 : ''Seconde Formule'' (self-produced album, with Hocus Pocus)
* 2001 : ''Flyin' Saucer'' (with [[C2C (group)|C2C]])
* 2002 : ''Flyin' Saucer <abbr>II</abbr>'' (with C2C)
* 2002 : ''Acoustic HipHop Quintet'' (maxi, with Hocus Pocus)
* 2002 : ''Conscient'' (maxi, with Hocus Pocus)
* 2002 : ''On and On Part II'' (maxi, with Hocus Pocus)
* 2003 : ''Flyin' Saucer <abbr>III</abbr>'' (with C2C)
* 2005 : ''73 Touches'' (with Hocus Pocus)
* 2007 : ''[[Place 54]]'' (with Hocus Pocus)
* 2010 : ''16 pièces'' (with Hocus Pocus)
* 2012 : ''Down the Road'' (EP, with C2C)
* 2012 : ''[[Tetra (album)|Tetra]]'' (LP, with C2C)
* 2016 : ''Touch Down, Pt. I'' (EP, with AllttA)
* 2016 : ''The Woods'' (EP, with AllttA)
* 2016 : ''AllttA'' (EP with AllttA)
* 2017 : ''The Upper Hand'' (LP, with AllttA)
* 2017 : ''Facing Giants'' (LP, with AllttA)
* 2020 : ''Ampersand'' (Single, with AllttA)
* 2023 : ''Curio Part I'' (LP, with AllttA)
* 2023 : ''Curio Part II'' (LP, with AllttA)
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*http://earmilk.com/2016/03/24/saga-blu-and-20syl-get-up-without-the-happy-pills-premiere/
*http://djbooth.net/artists/20syl
*http://www.tsugi.fr/magazines/2016/06/29/20syl-j-medeiros-hip-hop-allttarnatif-17896 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708121655/http://www.tsugi.fr/magazines/2016/06/29/20syl-j-medeiros-hip-hop-allttarnatif-17896 |date=2016-07-08 }}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:French male rappers]]