Toulouse rapper Yanamko is releasing his debut studio album, titled De l'autre côté, on Friday, September 11, after rising to fame on Netflix competition Nouvelle École.
The album release is accompanied by a 40-minute companion documentary of the same name, designed to build on the momentum of his television appearance while establishing his career beyond the streaming platform.
The 24-year-old musical artist, who grew up in the Ariège department in southwestern France before establishing his music career in Toulouse, emerged as a standout fan favorite despite his exit from the tournament.
Toulouse, the capital of France's southern Occitanie region, has long maintained a reputation as a cultural hub for urban music, while neighboring Ariège is a scenic mountainous department bordering Spain and Andorra. Yanamko drew on these regional roots during his national broadcast debut.
Nouvelle École Finale and Contestant Elimination
The finale of the fifth edition of Nouvelle École was released on Netflix on Wednesday, September 9. The season concluded with Marseilles contestant Typhee being crowned the grand winner of the competition.
Nouvelle École is Netflix's flagship French-language rap competition series, adapting an international talent tournament format where emerging hip-hop artists compete in studio sessions, battle rounds, and stage showcases.
Yanamko offered praise for the Marseilles winner, stating that Typhee fully deserved his victory, had begun rapping only recently, and delivered a truly powerful performance on stage.
Yanamko was eliminated from the competition during episode 5, following the intense battle round of the tournament.
Fan Support and Social Media Reaction
Despite his early exit from the show, Yanamko earned widespread backing from viewers, with many internet users expressing disappointment over his elimination across social media platforms.
Viewers posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Yanamko was the only contestant from the season with the potential for a lasting career and that such success would be well deserved given his talent. Another user shared that they felt he could have won the competition and that his departure was difficult to watch.
Yanamko reflected positively on his time in the tournament, stating that the experience went very well for him. He explained that having positivity at his core kept him from stressing out and that he approached the show simply with courage and enthusiasm.
Streaming Chart Success of Breakthrough Track Sage
The rapper's appearance on television quickly translated into significant commercial numbers online. Yanamko stated that he succeeded in building a healthy and energized fanbase, having viewed Nouvelle École as a springboard to showcase his artistic work.
His single Sage, which was unveiled during the very first round of the competition, became the most listened to track from the entire season.
The song has accumulated more than 2 million streams on Spotify, the world's largest audio streaming service, and successfully broke into the platform's top 50 chart. Yanamko noted that his team is currently working to get the single played on radio stations.
The artist is also experiencing growing recognition off line. He recalled with a smile that people recently stopped him in the street to request photographs while he was out walking.
Debut Album Release and Companion Documentary
To capitalize on his rising profile, Yanamko structured a strategic release schedule for his music. His debut album De l'autre côté launches on Friday, September 11, alongside a 40-minute documentary sharing the same title.
Yanamko explained that the documentary traces his journey following his departure from the show, capturing eight consecutive months of work focused on creating the album, which included creative seminars and epic studio sessions.
Looking to the future, the Toulouse artist is preparing to take his music to live audiences, with upcoming concert dates currently in preparation.
