Roméo Johnny Elvis Kiki Van Laeken, better known by his stage nameRoméo Elvis, is a Belgian rapper and hip hop artist. His career began with the release of two EPs in 2013 and 2014, titled Bruxelles c'est devenu la jungle and Famille nombreuse. In 2016, his album EP Morale was released. In 2017 and 2018, two more albums were released: Morale 2 and his reissue Morale 2 luxe. He has close connections with Belgian band L'Or du Commun, duo Caballero & JeanJass, and French rapper Lomepal.
Biography
Roméo Elvis was born on December 13, 1992 in Uccle, Belgium. Interested in music since his youth, he developed a style distinct from that of his father, the singer Marka, his mother, the comedian Laurence Bibot, and his younger sister, the singer and pianist Angèle. Roméo Elvis was raised in Linkebeek, in the southern suburbs of Brussels, and later relocated to Forest. After college, he continued his secondary studies at Saint-Luc Tournai Institute where he learned to paint and draw. It was during this time that Elvis began rapping with his friends. His artistic training continued at ESA 75, in Brussels, where he studied photo-journalism. While continuing to practice rap, he became close to members of L'Or du Commun. While his first EPs were being released, Roméo Elvis was working as a cashier at the supermarket chainCarrefour. Despite his success, he was not able to earn enough money from rapping alone. Shortly before the release of the albumBruxelles arrive, he quit his job and devoted himself solely to music. His newest EP, Morale 2luxe, was released on February 15, 2018. Morale 2luxe is a remake of his album, Morale 2, released in March 2017. Elvis suffers from tinnitus, common among musicians. He has made references to this condition in many of his titles, such as L'oreille sifflante and Ma tête. In an interview with Radio Nova, he explained that if he could earn a substantial income from rapping he would donate some of it to fight the disease.
The musical style of Roméo Elvis has evolved with the progression of his projects. While developing old-school instrumentals and a flow with similar ambiance to his first two EPs, his collaboration with the producer Le Motel on Morale and Morale 2 profoundly changed his style. He currently allows himself to make more refrains and add electronic instrumentals, and in accord with the jazz of Le Motel, giving them a more current tone. Elvis' influences are numerous: the Belgian group L'or du Commun with which he made his rapping debut is one of his main ones. Their style can also be recognized in his first two projects with group members. He also frequently mentions the rapper Caballero as someone who greatly inspired him; they met while Bruxelles arrive was being recorded. Concerning French rap, Elvis considers the rapper Alpha Wann of the group 1995 as "the rap master playing for me in terms of placement and in terms of how to say things in a very meaningful way". Fuzati, leader of Klub des Loosers, strongly influences the rapper. Primarily in his somber aspect, but also in the manner that the rapper holds plenty of derision towards life. He also references the masked rapper in many of his titles, like in Drôle de décision. Elvis is also a fan of the French artistPhilippe Katerine.
Concerts and tours
While he began performing at concerts while growing closer to L'Or du Commun, it was during the release of Morale, in 2015, that Roméo Elvis and Le Motel began touring, with 19 performances across Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. The release of Morale 2 also marked the beginning of another, bigger tour with 29 performances and concerts in several large festivals such as Dour Festival, Rock en Seine, le Printemps de Bourges, and Garorock.
Discography
Albums
Others
2018: Morale 2Luxe
EPs
2013: Bruxelles c'est devenu la jungle
2014: Famille nombreuse
2016: Morale
2020: Maison
Singles
Featured in
Other songs
Collaborations
2013: L'Or du Commun – Lotus Bleu, in their EP L'Origine
2013: L'Or du Commun – Mon Voisin, in L'Or du Commun's EP L'Origine
2015: Primero – Deuxième Ombre, in Primero's EP Scénarios
2015: Primero – Présidentielles, in Primero's EP Scénarios
2015: Stikstof – Dobberman, in Stikstof's album Stikstof/02
2016: L'Or du Commun – Mouton Noir
2016: Phasm – Souvent, in Phasm's mixtape Phasmixtape Vol. 1
2017: Caballero & JeanJass – Vrai ou faux, in their album Double Hélice 2
2017: Heystap Squad – Pression, in their EP Pression
2017: L'Or du Commun – Apollo, in their EP Zeppelin
2017: Lomepal – Billet, in his album Flip
2017: Lord Esperanza – Infiniment Vôtre, in his album Polaroïd
2017: Roméo Elvis – Carrière, in The Alchemist's EP Paris L.A. Bruxelles
2017: Therapie Taxi – Hit Sale, in their album Hit Sale
2017: Ulysse – Acid
2017: Zwangere Guy – Low & Lowgisch, in his mixtape Zwangerschapsverlof Vol.3
2018: Caballero & JeanJass – Incroyaux, in their album Double Hélice 3
2018: Di-Meh – Ride, in Di-Meh's album Focus Part. 2
2018: Her – On and On, in the album Her
2018: Le 77 – La Sape, in their album Bawlers
2018: Myth Syzer – Ouais Bébé, in his album Bisous
2018: Myth Syzer – Tocard, in his album Bisous
2018: Roméo Elvis – Il m'a trompé, on DJ Weedim's mixtape La Boulangerie Française Vol.2
2018: Roméo Elvis – Méchant, on the original band of Tueurs
2018: Senamo – C'est mon boulot, in Senamo's album Poison Bleu
2018: Slimka – Crazy Horses, in Slimka's mixtape No Bad Vol.2
