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20syl

From Alfawiki
20syl
Born
Sylvain Richard

(1979-02-17) February 17, 1979 (age 47)
Rezé, France
Occupation(s)Rapper, DJ, music producer, composer, MC
Years active1995–present
Known forMember of Hocus Pocus, C2C, AllttA; four-time DMC World Team Champion

Sylvain Richard (born February 17, 1979), professionally known as 20syl (pronounced "vain-seel", ), is a French rapper, DJ, and music producer. He serves as a composer and MC for the group Hocus Pocus, is a member of the beatmaker collective C2C, forms one half of the Hip-Hop/electronic duo AllttA, and has claimed the title of four-time world champion in the Disco Mix Club (DMC) Team competition. His solo discography began with the EP Motifs in 2014, followed by its sequel Motifs II in 2015.

Over the years, he has contributed production work for artists such as Diam's, Disiz, Kohndo, Slum Village, Fabe, among others, participating in projects like Just Us vol.1 and Original Bombattak.

Biography

Originally trained as a graphic designer, Richard completed his studies at the Graduate School of Fine Arts in Nantes Métropole before embarking on his musical journey from his hometown of Rezé.

In 1995, Richard teamed up with Cambia to release their debut mixtape, Première Formule, which was distributed within their school community. Two years later, they joined forces with DJ Greem to establish Hocus Pocus, launching Seconde Formule in 1998. This group is known for fusing hip-hop with jazz, soul, and funk elements. Parallel to Hocus Pocus, Richard collaborated with DJ Atom and DJ Pfel to form the group C2C ("Coups2Cross"), which secured four consecutive victories at the DMC World Team Championship from 2003 through 2006. Following challenges that combined performances by MCs and DJs on stage, Richard pursued solo production under the alias 20syl while DJ Greem concentrated on C2C activities.

In 2001, Hocus Pocus released the maxi single Sick under their independent label On & On, achieving sales near 4,000 copies. Their 2004 album 73 Touches, named after piano keys, displayed pronounced jazz influences enhanced by guest musicians playing keyboard, bass, and guitar. This album was reissued in 2006 with additional tracks.

The 2007 release Place 54 represented a transition toward acoustic hip-hop sounds and was distributed through Motown France. It garnered favorable reviews from mainstream media outlets and received a nomination for "Urban Music Album of the Year" at the Victoires de la Musique awards.

20syl’s solo EPs earned critical praise; Motifs (2014) was hailed as "a true gem," while Motifs II (2015) visually conveyed his fusion of electronic and organic textures through cover art featuring an owl motif.

In July 2015, Richard unveiled Le U, an interactive musical skateboard ramp developed alongside Herrmutt Lobby that combines music creation with skateboarding culture. That same year, Apple incorporated his music into an Apple Watch Siri advertisement. Between late 2015 and early 2016, he also produced remixes for PLPS ("How I Feel") and Yael Naim ("Walk Walk").

In 2015, Richard co-founded AllttA with Californian rapper Mr. J. Medeiros. Their first album, The Upper Hand, was released on February 17, 2017; followed by Facing Giants in December of that year. The initial part of their third album, Curio, debuted on May 12, 2023, with the second installment released on September 29, 2023.

Singles

  • 2016: "Inertia" (charity compilation AMAL)
  • 2021: "Bagarre"

EPs

  • 2014: Motifs
  • 2015: Motifs II

Albums

  • 2020: 36 (released under Beats & Types)
  • 2024: Sula Bassana (collaboration with Christophe Panzani)

Remix albums

  • 1999: 20syl's Remix Tape

Collaborations and remixes

  • 2002: 20syl – "On and On" (featured on Cut Killer's mixtape 1son2rue)
  • 2006: Sixième Sens featuring 20syl, Prince d'arabee, Orelsan, Gringe – "Herbes de Provinces"
  • 2007: Mr. J. Medeiros featuring 20syl – "Amelie" (from the album Of Gods and Girls)
  • 2012: Mr. J. Medeiros featuring Shad – "Pale Blue Dot" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2012: Oxmo Puccino featuring Orelsan, Greg Frite, Busta Flex, Grodash, Youssoupha, Dabaaz, 3010 & 20syl – "Le sucre pimenté" (remix)
  • 2013: Kraked Unit – "Chinese Puzzle" (20syl remix)
  • 2013: Rihanna – "Stay" (20syl You Can't Be Serious remix)
  • 2013: Gush – "Sieblings" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2013: Moongaï – "Cosmofamille" (20syl remix)
  • 2013: Electro Deluxe – "Devil" (20syl remix)
  • 2013: Blitz the Ambassador featuring 20syl, Emicida & Y'akoto – "Respect Mine"
  • 2013: Elodie Rama – "City of Hope" (version by 20syl)
  • 2013: Dtwice – "Devil's Tune" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2013: Misteur Valaire – "Don't Get Là" (20syl remix)
  • 2013: Grems featuring 20syl – "Room Bang"
  • 2013: Letters to the Sun featuring 20syl – "My Heart"
  • 2014: Gregory Porter – "Liquid Spirit" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2014: 20syl & Kafutchino – "Kouign Amann" (included in album La Boulangerie, Vol. 3)
  • 2014: Ed Sheeran – "Thinking Out Loud" (20syl remix)
  • 2014: Shuko featuring CL Smooth & 20syl – "The Same"
  • 2014: Yelle – "Complètement fou" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2014: Game Set & Match II (created for the BNP Paribas Masters tennis event)
  • 2014: Coin Banks featuring 20syl, Tab-One, Anders & The Ruby Horns – "Thomas Lawrence" (from EP Heads)
  • 2014: Pigeon John featuring 20syl – "Boomerang"
  • 2014: BoomBap Festival Beat – "Bet Dap Goom Bown"
  • 2014: Atalante – "The Drops" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2014: Fixpen Sill & 20syl – "Obsession"
  • 2014: Schoolboy Q – "The Purge / Rapfix Cypher" (20syl remix)
  • 2014: Kyla La Grange – "Cut Your Teeth" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2014: Hip OPsession anniversary track – "10YRS"
  • 2014: Seinabo Sey – "Younger" (remix by 20syl)
  • 2014: King Krule – "Easy Easy" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2014: Kendrick Lamar – "Sing that Shit" (Juicy Remix by 20syl)
  • 2015: Moar & Sarsha Simone – "Gonna Do Me" (remix by 20syl)
  • 2015: Ibrahim Maalouf – "Red and Black Light" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2015: PLPS – "How I Feel" (remix by 20syl)
  • 2016: Yaël Naim – "Walk Walk" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2016: ODESZA featuring Zyra – "It's Only" (remix by 20syl)
  • 2016: The Geek x Vrv featuring Mirror Signal – "I Don't Wanna Know" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2016: Everydayz, Phazz – "Almeria" (remix by 20syl)
  • 2018: AllttA – "Bucket" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2018: Collaboration between thebandknives & AllttA
  • 2018: Electro Deluxe – "Keep my Baby Dancing" (remix by 20syl)
  • 2018: Inüit – "Tomboy" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2019: La Fine Équipe, Grems & 20syl – "Nobu" (from the album 5Th Season) 
  •  2019: Electric Guest – "Dollar" (remixed by 20syl)
  •  2019: Parrad featuring AllttA – "Flag Pole"
  • 2020: AllttA – "Ampersand"
  • 2020: Thaïs Lona – Best Part (Daniel Cesar cover; remixed by 20syl)
  • 2021: Brent Faiyaz – "Circles" (remix by 20syl)
  • 2021: AvA – "Regarde Moi" (produced by 20syl & Grégoire Vaillant)
  • 2022: La Chica – "Agua" (remixed by 20syl)
  • 2022 Too Many T's & 20syl – Roots
  • 2022 Beyoncé - “Break My Soul” (Remix By ’‘’20Syl’’’)
*2022 Thaïs Lona - “B.N.D” (‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’’’’‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’)’‘’
*2023 Miscellaneous & Coeur Nwar feat. ’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' - “Bump This” (‘from album ‘’Chiaroscuro’’)
*2023 Alligatorz - “Pra Ver Você Sambar” (‘Remix By ‘’'‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘'‘‘')
*2023 AllttA - “Savages” (‘features AI-generated Jay-Z’)

Joint Albums

  • 1996: Première Formule (mixtape, in collaboration with Hocus Pocus)
  • 1998: Seconde Formule (independently produced album, alongside Hocus Pocus)
  • 2001: Flyin' Saucer (collaborative project with C2C)
  • 2002: Flyin' Saucer II (with C2C)
  • 2002: Acoustic HipHop Quintet (maxi single, featuring Hocus Pocus)
  • 2002: Conscient (maxi single, with Hocus Pocus)
  • 2002: On and On Part II (maxi single, alongside Hocus Pocus)
  • 2003: Flyin' Saucer III (collaboration with C2C)
  • 2005: 73 Touches (album with Hocus Pocus)
  • 2007: Place 54 (joint release with Hocus Pocus)
  • 2010: 16 pièces (album in partnership with Hocus Pocus)
  • 2012: Down the Road (EP, created with C2C)
  • 2012: Tetra (LP, produced alongside C2C)
  • 2016: Touch Down, Pt. I (EP, collaboration with AllttA)
  • 2016: The Woods (EP, in cooperation with AllttA)
  • 2016: AllttA (EP, together with AllttA)
  • 2017: The Upper Hand (LP, joint effort with AllttA)
  • 2017: Facing Giants (LP, created with AllttA)
  • 2020: Ampersand (single release, featuring AllttA)
  • 2023: Curio Part I (LP, collaboration with AllttA)
  • 2023: Curio Part II (LP, produced alongside AllttA)
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