April 4, 2025 |
Lou Phelps is on the move. The Haitian-Canadian rapper from Montreal has been steadily carving out a niche that defies genres, folding hip-hop, house and jazz into a sound as unpredictable as it is captivating. Raised on the rhythms of Kompa and the bounce of Montreal’s underground, Phelps’ take on rap swerves past convention – it’s confident, curious and always in flux.
That evolution comes to a head on Chèlbè – his sophomore album, an 11-track record fully produced by his brother and long-time collaborator Kaytranada. It’s a shape-shifting trip through language and rhythm, bouncing between English, French and Haitian Creole, with features with artists like GoldLink coming along for the ride. The energy never stays in one place, and that’s the point – Phelps’ sound is alive, loud with influence and rooted in culture yet entirely forward-facing.
The album’s first glimpse arrived in What Now – a slick and charged single that sees Phelps’ playful flow glide over hypnotic guitar loops and stutter-step percussions, glossed in that unmistakable Kaytranada sheen. It’s rap reimagined – off-centre, genre-fluid and mood-driven, all wrapped-up in the spirit of 2000s-2010s jiggy hip-hop.
The accompanying music video lands just as hard: cool without fronting, stylised without over-polish. Every frame is pure Phelps – measured chaos, charisma on tap, bold graphics and bursts of technicolour. “Rap is predictable and wack as fuck in my opinion – I’m creating a new sound with rap-house,” he says in the press release. “It’s something that can exist in the club, in the crib or while working out in the gym.”
He’s not here to play by the rules. From his early work with The Celestics to his solo revolution and stand-out ColorsxStudios performance of the track Tu T’en Souviens, Phelps’ has been building something truly special – something steeped in nostalgia that is simultaneously setting a new tempo for rap. Here, we sit down with Phelps to talk about Chèlbè – the blueprint for where it’s all headed next – the wildest thing he’s seen on the dancefloor and what dreams he’s still chasing.
1. How would you describe your sound to an alien?
The vibrations and frequencies are aligned with positive energy. Every element of sound generates energy that makes your body want to move. Starting from your neck to your hips. On our planet, this is what the best electronic/hip hop/dance producer and best rapper manage to do when they get together to make music.
2. How does your Haitian heritage influence your sound and style?
It’s the flow of the music. My pocket hits different because of my heritage. It’s something a non-Caribbean person could never recreate.
3. What’s one unexpected genre or artist you’ve been vibing with lately?
I’ve been studying Paul McCartney and the Wings. I love to listen Bjork’s first three albums.
4. How would you describe the visual world of Chèlbè?
Royal Blue, we come from royalty. Blue is one of my favourite colours. White shirt and a tie, mix that up with the Afro and shades. Think about a young man preparing to go to a Haitian Ball, ready to dance with the flyest shorty in the room.
5. How do the songs on Chèlbè differ from your previous tracks as an artist?
Chèlbè sounds like a reintroduction. I found my confidence again. Back on my bullshit. I’m HUNGRY AGAIN!
6. Is there a particular song on the album where you really felt like you and Kaytranada pushed each other creatively?
After Party. The first verse to that song was mostly written by Kay. He actually recorded his verse and is on the earlier versions of this song.
7. What track are you most excited to see the crowd react to? Why?
Prolly Us and After I. I love the album in its entirety but I think these two songs are special. It’s got magic in it.
8. How do you keep that magnetic dancefloor energy in your music?
I grew up listening to music that keeps the dancefloor packed. Also when rap money was tight, my side hustle was to Dj and I became really good at it. It helped me sharpen my style and helped me look for the right pointers to put in my music to make people feel a certain way.
9. What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen on the dancefloor when performing?
An elderly woman getting low to my music.
10. Your lyrics speak to dream chasers – what’s one dream you’re still chasing?
The dream of being an entertainment mogul.
Photography courtesy of Lou Phelps.
