Rapper Werenoi, France's biggest-selling music artist in recent years, dies at age 31
PARIS (AP) — Rapper Werenoi, France's biggest-selling music artist in recent years, has died at the age of 31, his producer and record company said.
The artist, whose real name was Jérémy Bana Owona, was the number 1 album seller in France in 2023 and 2024 according to the ranking of the National Union of Phonographic Industry, which includes in-store and e-commerce sales as well as plays on streaming services.
'It's with immense sadness that we've learned of Werenoi's passing,' his record company Believe said on Instagram. 'All our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, his team and everyone who knew him.'
'Rest in peace my brother, I love you,' his producer Babs posted on X.
French media report Werenoi died early Saturday in a Paris hospital. The cause of his death has not been made public.
Werenoi first became known to the French public in 2021 when he posted his song 'Guadalajara' on YouTube and it was viewed hundreds of thousand times.
He released three albums, 'Carré' in 2023, 'Pyramide' the next year and 'Diamant Noir' last month, making him one of the biggest names in French rap.
Several French rappers posted tributes on social media. French-Malian
pop star Aya Nakamura
, who featured on his second album, wrote : 'Rest in peace my dude. A news that saddens me and courage to the loved ones especially.'
'He made a difference for the quality of his songs, his melodies and his punchlines,' singer Pascal Obispo, who had accompanied Werenoi on the piano at a 2023 Paris concert, told French newspaper Le Parisien.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Dakota Johnson slams Hollywood bosses: Too focused on 'remaking the same things'
Dakota Johnson thinks Hollywood is in a "bit of a mess" because studios want to focus on remakes and sequels. The Materialists actress suggested people making decisions in the industry "don't know anything" about movies and just want to capitalise on the success of one project, rather than taking a risk and offering audiences "fresh" new stories. Appearing on YouTube series Hot Ones, host Sean Evans asked her why she feels 'Hollywood is so risk-averse,' as someone who has seen the industry 'up close and personal.' She said: 'I think it's hard when creative decisions are made by committee and it's hard when creative decisions are made by people who don't even really watch movies or know anything about them, and that tends to be what's occurring a lot. "When something does well, studios want to keep that going so they remake the same things, but humans don't want that. They want fresh, they want to feel new things, experience new things, see new things, so I don't know, I guess it's all just a bit of a mess right now, isn't it?' Dakota recently insisted her film Madam Web's poor performance wasn't her fault because the film - in which she played Cassie Web, a paramedic who develops psychic abilities following an accident - had "turned into something else" after she signed up for the project. She told the Los Angeles Times newspaper: 'It wasn't my fault. There's this thing that happens now where a lot of creative decisions are made by committee. Or made by people who don't have a creative bone in their body. And it's really hard to make art that way. Or to make something entertaining that way. 'And I think unfortunately with Madame Web, it started out as something and turned into something else. And I was just sort of along for the ride at that point. But that happens. Bigger-budget movies fail all the time.' Dakota insisted she doesn't "have a Band-Aid over it" and isn't too worried about the experience. She said: 'There's no part of me that's like, 'Oh, I'll never do that again' to anything. I've done even tiny movies that didn't do well. Who cares?' Dakota previously suggested she wouldn't make another superhero film following her experience on Madame Web. She told Bustle: 'I had never done anything like it before. I probably will never do anything like it again because I don't make sense in that world. And I know that now. 'Sometimes in this industry, you sign on to something, and it's one thing and then as you're making it, it becomes a completely different thing, and you're like, 'Wait, what?' "But it was a real learning experience, and of course it's not nice to be a part of something that's ripped to shreds, but I can't say that I don't understand.'
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Portland's 'pink pony prom' celebrates LGBTQ+ community in photos
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The pink rose boutonniere crafted by their mom and pinned to their pink-shouldered cowboy vest made the perfect ensemble for Lennon Sandoval to wear to 'pink pony prom.' This year's edition of the annual event, held to celebrate teen and young adult members of the LGBTQ+ community in Portland, Oregon, was inspired by 'Pink Pony Club,' the popular Chappell Roan anthem about queer liberation and self-acceptance. It was organized by the Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center, part of New Avenues for Youth, a nonprofit dedicated to ending youth homelessness. Drag artists paused the dancing to perform for attendees, who tossed faux money at the stage. Though some kept on dancing until the lights went on. ___
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Portland's 'pink pony prom' celebrates LGBTQ+ community in photos
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The pink rose boutonniere crafted by their mom and pinned to their pink-shouldered cowboy vest made the perfect ensemble for Lennon Sandoval to wear to 'pink pony prom.' This year's edition of the annual event, held to celebrate teen and young adult members of the LGBTQ+ community in Portland, Oregon, was inspired by 'Pink Pony Club,' the popular Chappell Roan anthem about queer liberation and self-acceptance. It was organized by the Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center, part of New Avenues for Youth, a nonprofit dedicated to ending youth homelessness. Drag artists paused the dancing to perform for attendees, who tossed faux money at the stage. Earplugs rested on tables and signs directed attendees to a low-sensory area for those who needed a break from the stimulation. Though some kept on dancing until the lights went on. ___ This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors.
