Tyran’t — the Last of the Blacks

Interview by Mike Ponin

Guadeloupe immerses me...

TYRAN’T — Nèg Atoupri

Nèg Atoupri…tell us about yourself

“Wopso.. I am Tyran’t Nèg Atoupri, Dènyé a lé Nèg, Woy.”

This is how I start the first track: 01 Dènyé a lé Nèg, from my album: Le dernier des Nègres.

Indeed, I am a singer-artist. But art in general excites my neurons a lot...

And when I say art, I want it to be understood: to live, in its most archaic spiritual expression, and to succeed in seeing beauty, poetry in creation, to then testify to it in our works: acts, words, intentions of daily life, that is art.

Born in Les Abymes in 1982. I think I was raised the old-fashioned way. No phone, no television, playing with cousins and uncles with whom there was not a big age gap, at grandpa and grandma's, in the countryside, all day in the trees, eating guavas, plums, malaka apples, tasting mangoes at 4 PM, throwing stones at wasp nests and running away, bike races, making my Jèspom and going hunting for nothing at all, but the idea was there.

Later, having a garden, tying up the goats morning and evening, raising pigs...etc...

I was born at a time when things were changing quickly. I was young when the Franc became euros, internet was 56k with the connection noise, television was big cathode screens...

Drawing fascinated me at one time and it’s still there, because I have crises where I get back into it and I intend to get back into it for good soon, but for now I love the result of the music I produce, while not yet being satisfied... so I push further.

No hobbies, I like to do my own things, it already saves money and besides I like to learn in the moment, so it keeps me very busy: mechanics, sewing, DIY of all kinds, a real jack-of-all-trades and I am of the kind or from the time where: there is always something to do in a house, so I am always cleaning (maniac? humm), tidying up, repainting, moving, screwing, welding, and when I have someone in my intimacy, I like to be there for and with them, taking care of her: massaging, doing hair, cooking, etc. etc...

Otherwise, once settled, an animated show, chips, and a cold beer, I’m not far from being the happiest man... (laughs)

His influences

The musical influences of TYRAN’T were strongly marked by his mother, who listened to a wide variety of artists such as Mort Shuman, Mike Brant, and Lionel Richie. He then developed a passion for soul (Al Green, Commodores), RnB (R. Kelly, Jagged Edge), and rap (Busta Rhymes). The blues, which he compares to gwoka for its emotional intensity, becomes his favorite genre. Later, he becomes interested in the music of his own culture, notably the “boulagèl”.

TYRAN’T carefully selects the music he listens to, based on the emotions it awakens in him. His interest in cinema, inspired by figures like Denzel Washington and Spike Lee, also influences his own audiovisual creations. Finally, he emphasizes that his artistic journey is a blend of his mother's musical passions and his father's entrepreneurial spirit.

O Natirel! A first track with unexpected success

The track went boom... It was very well received.

Tyran’t — O Natirel

A classic since then. O Natirel! It was my first. I was not expected, unknown in the music world, nothing to prove. I am authentic, pure. I was not looking for anything, just to express, to testify my love for a type of behavior, attitude, beauty, in a woman...

In this track, the artist denounces the obsession with superficial standards imposed on women and their quest for acceptance through appearance. He advocates for authenticity, love of the natural body, and encourages detachment from artifices to focus on inner building. For him, true beauty lies in simplicity, effort, and personal evolution, far from the dictates of modern society and the media.

O Natirel to say:

Let me love you as you are, naked, sweating, in effort, at rest, simply you, look how I desire you without these artifices! If your eyes do not see what I see, learn from my gaze upon you and understand.

Cherished Guadeloupe

TYRAN’T is an artist deeply connected to his island, Guadeloupe. His music does not merely draw from local cultural traditions; it is imbued with the very essence of Guadeloupean life. Although he did not grow up speaking Creole, this connection with his language and heritage has developed organically over the years. Public feedback is unanimous: listening to him, one feels Guadeloupe. This expressive strength reflects a pride and an instinctive sensitivity to his territory and roots.

Is Guadeloupe your main source of inspiration? Are you more optimistic or pessimistic when it comes to your island?

Guadeloupe immerses me... I mean, I cannot take a step back on whether I am inspired or not, because I believe that everything that comes out of me is from where I have lived for 40 years without interruption... It’s not just inspiration, it’s completely visceral. “Lè ou pijé la, sé vou ka soti”; There’s nothing to be done and I don’t want to do anything about it, it’s fine like this... One of the greatest compliments for me has been that “Moun vini” who tell me: we don’t understand what you’re saying, but by listening to you and watching you, we see and feel Guadeloupe... And it resonates even more when personalities I respect for their work in art tell me again: Ou ni on jan ou ka palé épi chanté, sa ka fan sonjé on lépok...

And I am also surprised because I did not speak Creole as a child and it’s not what I was raised in and yet... nothing changes, it’s there in me!

Tyran’t- Cherished Guadeloupe

Regarding the future! Fiouuu... I am neither pessimistic nor optimistic. I do my part. It has never been easy here in Guadeloupe, but things are taking a nasty turn and the worst part is that it is sold as progress.

We no longer have family, our women are actors in the destruction of their homes, men are vilified, children are raised by so-called social networks!

So what constitutes the foundation of Guadeloupe, and of any strong people, who would have ambitions for cultural, economic, and societal development, is disintegrated by laws facilitating the rejection of morals and values that allowed us to hope to build ourselves... It’s not that I don’t believe in it... (as long as there is life, there is hope) but I admit that it’s filthy as it stands.

Dearest Father

In this autobiographical track, TYRAN’T shares an intimate reflection on his difficult relationship with his father. He confides that this emotional mourning, although painful, becomes a source of strength to shape his own relationship with his daughters. By expressing both love and forgiveness towards his father but especially towards himself, he chooses to transform this experience into a quest to offer his children what he did not receive. His journey is thus a blend of resilience, gratitude, and reconciliation.

Tyran’t — Dearest Father

I admit to fantasizing about a certain Father-Son relationship that I mourn and I am deeply affected by it, I must acknowledge.

It’s complicated to cover in a few lines. But I want it to be remembered here: Forgiveness and Love.

_ I forgive myself for not being the son he would have wanted to see walk according to his expectations and his idea of good,

_ I forgive him for turning his back on me,

_ I love him and the void left sometimes seems greater than myself, however,

_ I love myself and owe it to myself to create what I did not receive and thus hope to emerge from this experience...

His new album — Le Dernier des Nègres

“Le Dernier des Nègres” is the one who embodies the message. He knows who he is and what he has to do.

The reception of his new album has been very positive, with professionals impressed from the moment they discovered the packaging. He acknowledges, however, that his message, deeper and more committed, can be difficult to place in mainstream media, often focused on more commercial content.

With what I promote as a message, I know that I am difficult to fit between “billet jaune- billet vert _billet violet, pussy tight, wap wap, gang gang etc...”

Despite this, some media support him, and the audience discovering his writing and voice gives him very good feedback. The artist is grateful to the platforms that offer him visibility.

“Le Dernier des Nègres” will perform live on November 10, 2024, in Marie Galante.

Follow TYRAN’T on Instagram | Spotify | Youtube | Facebook

It’s time to love ourselves, to take charge and rather than demanding it from others, let’s demand this love from ourselves.

TYRAN’T — Nèg Atoupri

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