Parisian Pablos: Narratives of Vice and Hypermasculine Posturing Among French Gangsta Rappers in Colombia

Abstract: French-language hip-hop music and Medellín (Colombia) might seem an odd pairing, but it is one that is increasingly relevant in terms of “gangsta”-style rap music produced by rappers from France. Once notorious for extreme violence due to Pablo Escobar’s infamous drug-trafficking cartel, Medellín has since become one of the most innovative urban centers on Earth. Despite this transformation, some continue to associate the Andean city with crime. Stereotypes such as these are perpetuated by films and series that glorify the tumultuous era of the past at the expense of positive changes in the present. Seeking to take advantage of Medellín’s sensationalized reputation for their own gain, popular hip-hop artists from France are increasingly choosing to use the city’s disenfranchised barrios as settings to film hardcore music videos. By doing so, they can emphasize their hypermasculine street credibility and toughness in ways that are unavailable to them at home.