Rap culture is slowly taking over Rwanda’s music scene, but a few players in the industry have adopted the use of the French language in the making of the music genre, which has just started gaining recognition in the country.
This is not the case for JU, real name Rusine Julien, a US based Rwandan rapper who has mastered the making of what he identifies as ‘Frenglish’ rap, a mixture of French and English in his flows, which many find unique.
Speaking to The New Times, Ju traced his love for French music to the 90s when he had just started listening to music of the 80s and 90s, including R&B, Hip-Hop, Rap, Pop, Reggae, and Zouk, all which was famous in Niamey, Niger, where he was born in 1990.
“Being in West Africa, I had more Francophone influences with a strong traditional culture, particularly from Senegal and Mali. I was also exposed to French hip-hop and rap, with artistes like NTM, MC Solar, Akenaton, and Doc Gyneco, along with West African music like “Mewe” and Youssou Ndour. This diverse musical background made me a versatile artiste, and I hope to showcase that in my future projects,” JU narrates his early days of music.
However, his love for Hip Hop and rap music didn’t come to life until he relocated to his home country, Rwanda, in 1998.
It was during this time that JU started to have a taste of American hip-hop through TV channels like “RTV, MCM, MTV, and Channel O.
JU, real name Rusine Julien, a US based Rwandan rapper
“I saw artistes like Tupac, Notorious, Jay-Z, Nas, Ice Cube, as well as R&B artists like Ginuwine, Brandy, Usher, and Boys2Men. That was when I started falling in love with everything about music,” JU told The New Times.
“Hip-hop became a popular form of creative expression in Rwanda, and dancing was truly my first contact with music, which connected me with my peers. In high school, a movie called “You Got Served” was released in 2002, starring B2K, it sparked a dance revolution throughout Kigali,” he added.
As a young dancer at the time, JU recalls specializing in breaking and footwork techniques, joining different dance crews in the neighborhood until he eventually ended up in the famous renowned “Sick City” crew, led by Ganza and Cedric, pioneers of the Urban Dance movement in the country.
“But my love for music and rap was always strong, and I would practice singing and writing lyrics, with the same dedication, spirit, and will, I had for dance, even if they were gibberish at first. I focused on my delivery, the rhythm, and the beats. I recorded myself on my phone, trying to flow over any instrument I could find. At the time, smartphones and YouTube didn’t exist, so I was lucky if my phone had a decent microphone,” JU said, explaining how he started composing music at a tender age.
After joining Riviera High School for secondary education, JU met Nova, known as “Umutagatifu Utazwi,” and his passion for writing and developing my own style soared.
“We would compete in late-night writing sessions, sharpening each other’s skills. This was the best part of it all,” JU noted, adding, “Later on, J-Dub came from Uganda with a different approach and perspective, and the three of us joined forces to create our first rap collective, ‘101entertainment’.”
After high school, JU’s plans of becoming a big musician on the globe seemed to have come to an end, after being discouraged by many things and decided to give up on music.
“I made the choice to put music behind me and focus on pursuing a career in IT, getting a job, and eventually starting a family. I thought I was following the clichéd path. However, when I attempted to give up, I realized that being an artiste was truly my destiny,” said JU
JU’s return to the making of music
After graduating from high school, JU moved to the United States, but experienced firsthand how depressing life was without music.
“It felt monotonous, just going back and forth between home, school, and work. There was no real excitement or purpose. However, it was during a pivotal moment—my surgery—that I had a revelation,” he said.
After the surgery, JU realised that music was the one thing that made him feel truly alive at that level.
“Music became my refuge. When I was in the studio, I could temporarily escape. Through my surgery and the loss of my father, I gained a deeper understanding of life’s fragility. That’s why I’m now fully committed to pursuing music as a professional artiste. I’m giving it my all to make a name for myself and share my music with the world.”
Road to fame
“While in the United States, I used to record my songs at a renowned studio in Washington DC, which is widely recognised as the most popular studio in the area. Esteemed artistes like KRS 1, Rick Ross, and Redman chose this studio for their recording needs when they were in town,” JU said, explaining how he started making music in the US.
He further said that one fortunate day, while he was recording a track called ‘Ghetto’, Jeremy Beaver, the owner of the studio, happened to pass by the studio sessions and was impressed by his performance, despite the fact that he raps in French. Jeremy generously offered him an opportunity to participate in the weekly show competitions for local artists in DC.
JU releaseda new song dubbed ‘Mon Chemin,’ which announces the upcoming release ofhis EP, Reves et Realité Part 2 (Dreams and Reality Part 2).
These competitions offer a platform for artistes to submit their songs, compete with their peers, receive valuable feedback, and stand a chance to win a cash prize of $300 along with a two-hour recording session.
“Intrigued by the possibilities, I decided to seize the chance and see what could happen. Much to my amazement, not only did I participate, but I also emerged victorious in the competition not just once, but twice,” JU told The New Times.
Future plans
Recently, JU released a new song dubbed ‘Mon Chemin,’ which announces the upcoming release of his EP, “Reves et Realité Part 2” (Dreams and Reality Part 2).
“It took me some time to work on this project, but it’s finally coming together. After Part 2, I have so much more to offer. I consider myself an artiste, not just a rapper,” the 33-year-old singer said.
Early this year, after 10 years of living in America, JU returned to Rwanda, got married, and managed to put on his first show at home.
Staged at Enigma Club, more than 200 people showed up at the show, with the trending rappers in the city, as opening acts such as: “Yassin Itsindiro , Sema Sole or Big Game, and 101 entertainment.
According to JU, the turn up was so unexpected and the love so real, that seeing how some locals still had love for French rap and hip hop, pushed him to delay his departure to the US and performed at another event two weeks later.
“My aspirations go beyond limits. I want to be known worldwide, not just in Rwanda. Being recognised in Rwanda is just the beginning. I aspire to go on tours across West Africa, Europe, and beyond. Ultimately, I want to represent Rwanda wherever I go, spreading our culture and music to new horizons. Eventually, I want to explore other creative avenues, I’m curious to see where this artistic journey will take me,” JU said, explaining future plans of his music career.
JU boasts off a number of tracks including ‘Ma Rime’ featuring Yasuka AG, ‘Everything’, Quand Je partirai among many others.
