Vald: New album, Dates, Twitter.. (2025)

VALD, whose real name is Valentin Le Du, is a French rapper whose career fascinates with its blend of humor, social criticism, and commercial success. Born on July 15, 1992, in Aulnay-sous-Bois, he has established himself as a key figure in French rap with albums like Agartha and V. But behind the impressive numbers, his opinions, particularly on feminism, have sometimes been divisive. This article explores his career, his works, and the controversies that define him, while offering a human and engaging perspective.

VALD grew up in a family of five children, with Breton roots through his father. Schooled in a private Catholic school, he excelled in mathematics and science, obtaining a scientific baccalaureate. However, his passion for rap, discovered at 15 through artists like Kery James, pushed him to abandon medical studies to devote himself to music at 17. His first mixtape, NQNTMQMQMB (2012), marked the beginning of a meteoric rise. The music video for Bonjour in 2015, with its absurd style, went viral, accumulating more than 12 million views on YouTube ( Genius ).

His debut album, Agartha (2017), reached number one in France and reached double platinum. Followed by XEU (2018, also double platinum) and Ce monde est cruel (2019), he explored more political themes, criticizing capitalism and the media. In 2022, V , produced under his label Echelon Records, confirmed his artistic independence, reaching gold in three days ( Wikipedia )

VALD is distinguished by an eclectic style, mixing trap, hip-hop, and references to horror films or conspiracy theories. His songs, like Désaccorde (2018, a diamond single), capture personal and social themes, with varied flows and hard-hitting punchlines. Critics praise his ability to surprise, as in Agartha , described as "varied and coherent despite its chaos" ( Reaphit ). His influence extends to production, with Echelon Records, where he supports artists like Suikon Blaz AD.

In 2017, an interview with OKLM Radio caused controversy: VALD called feminists "hysterical and badly fucked," claiming he was "unaware of their exact struggle." These comments, echoed on social media, were divisive: some accused him of sexism, while others defended his freedom of expression ( Nextplz ). He has not retracted his statements, claiming that his art reflects his thoughts. This controversy illustrates a VALD who is complex, provocative, but also sincere in his reflections.

Current Perspective and Reflection

Today, VALD continues to evolve, with projects like the VV5 reissue in 2022. His career, marked by commercial successes and debates, invites reflection: how can an artist navigate the balance between provocation and responsibility? His fans see him as a genius, his detractors as a provocateur. And you, what do you think of his balance between art and opinion?

This note aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of VALD, drawing on available information to enrich the article and offer a comprehensive perspective. It follows a narrative approach, blending facts, analysis, and anecdotes, while respecting the guidelines of a humanized, professional style, and without present participles ending in "-ant."

Background and Start of the Article

The article begins with a significant event: the release of V on February 14, 2022, coinciding with Valentine's Day, a symbolic choice for an introspective album. This date, reaching gold in three days, illustrates its commercial and artistic success, with 74,093 sales in its first week, the 7th best start for a French rap project since 2013 ( Wikipedia ). This introduction engages the reader by asking an implicit question: who is this artist behind these numbers?

Biographical Background and Training

VALD, born Valentin Le Du on July 15, 1992 in Aulnay-sous-Bois, grew up in a family of five, with Breton roots through his father. His schooling, marked by a scientific baccalaureate and studies in medicine then mathematics and computer science, contrasts with his passion for rap, discovered at 15 via Kery James ( TrackMusik ). At 17, he launched himself, publishing NQNTMQMQMB in 2012, followed by Cours de rattrapage the same year, reissued in 2016 on a double CD via his website (Wikipedia ).

Musical Rise and Success

The turning point came with the EP NQNT in 2014, notably the clip Bonjour , subtitled in four languages (French, English, German, Mandarin) and in sign language, accumulating 12 million views in 2017 ( Wikipedia ). Agartha (2017), his first album, sold 15,446 copies in its first week, certified double platinum, with singles like Eurotrap and Vitrine (feat. Damso) ( Discogs ). XEU (2018) followed, also double platinum, with Désaccorde , the most streamed track in France on Spotify in 2018, certified diamond ( Genius ). Ce monde est cruel ( 2019 ) took a political turn, criticizing capitalism, and reached number one in sales ( Universal Music France ).

Musical Style and Influences

VALD is distinguished by a trap and hip-hop style, mixing absurd and serious humor, with references to horror films and conspiracy theories, as in Lezarman from Agartha ( Wikipedia ). He cites Kery James, Sexion d'Assaut, Young Thug, and even comedian Raymond Devos as influences ( Genius ). Critics, such as on SensCritique , praise his ability to vary the rhythms, going from Megadose to Je t'aime , with hard-hitting punchlines and well-placed assonances ( Reaphit ).

Controversies and Personal Opinions

In January 2017, an interview for OKLM Radio caused controversy: VALD, asked about feminism, replied that he was "not very aware of their exact fight, from the looks of it they seem perfectly hysterical and badly fucked" ( Nextplz ). He added that feminists want to be "in front of men", having a "man complex" ( 13or-du-hiphop ). These comments, taken up on X ( Gentsu ), divided: some accused him of sexism, others defended his freedom of expression. He did not retract, stating that his art reflects his thoughts, which illustrates a provocative but sincere VALD.

Current Projects and Perspectives

In 2020, he launched Echelon Records, releasing Echelon Vol. 1 in November, an 11-track project (Wikipedia ). V (2022) marked his independence, with themes like love, pandemic, and competition, influenced by COVID-19 ( Le Monde ). In interviews, such as on France Inter, he mentioned a reference to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos for Péon (feat. Orelsan) ( Wikipedia ). In December 2022, he announced VV5 , a reissue with 13 new tracks, during a concert at Bercy ( NRJ ).

Contextual Analysis and Impact

VALD is part of a rapidly evolving French rap scene, where artists are seeking to break away from major labels, such as with his Echelon label. His sales, such as the 40,000 pre-orders of V before its release, demonstrate his economic impact ( Wikipedia ). Socially, his views on feminism reflect a broader debate on the place of artists in societal discussions, with implications for the perception of rap as a committed or provocative art.

The article ends on an open note: VALD, with his successes and controversies, embodies a complex artist. His career invites reflection on the balance between art, opinion, and responsibility. His fans see him as a genius, his detractors as a provocateur. And you, what do you think of his career? Share your thoughts in the comments, or explore his latest album on Deezer .

Tables for Organization

Album	Year	Certification	First Week Sales
Agartha	2017	Double Platinum	15,446 copies
XEU	2018	Double Platinum	Not specified
This world is cruel	2019	Not specified	Number one in sales
V	2022	Gold (3 days after release)	74,093 (physical + streaming)