Halifax rapper Luke French is stepping into the spotlight with his debut album, Forever Hold Your Piece. The album also marks the first album release on the Halifax-based NoLoveNorthern label.
It’s almost like I’m slowly creating my own craft, and this project puts me one step closer to fully representing what I want to get out there. – Luke French
Describing his album as a “contemporary hip-hop project,” it reflects his life experience growing up in Westville, Nova Scotia, the struggles of small-town life, the trials and triumphs of personal growth, and the challenges of being dedicated to an art form while seeing little recognition for it.
“It’s more of an project where I talk about stuff that’s personal to me, as well as issues going on in the hip-hop scene here in Halifax,” says French. “I think it’s for every hip-hop fan; there’s something in it for everyone.”
French admits that being so open and vulnerable in his lyrics wasn’t easy. “It was hard to get personal, to let people see that side of me. But it was also cathartic,” he says. “It felt good to finally get those thoughts out and share them with the world. I put a lot of heart and soul into it, and I think the world needed to hear it.”
With its album imagery and an unmistakable message about gun violence from its title, French says Forever Hold Your Piece also has a second meaning. “The title is a double entendre,” he says. “Like speak now or forever hold your ‘peace.’ That’s what I’m doing on this album: speaking my mind. If I didn’t get it out now, I might never get the chance.’
While the seven-track album, which took two years to complete, stays true to French’s hip-hop roots, he wasn’t afraid to step outside his comfort zone. The album includes tracks like Acrylic Green. “Acrylic Green has more of an upbeat, funky kind of vibe, which is something that I have not even come close to trying before,” he says. “It’s experimental in the sense that it’s not what mainstream hip-hop sounds like right now.”
Another notable choice on the album is the minimal use of drums. “I wanted people to focus on my lyrics,” he says. “A lot of people asked, ‘Where are the drums?’ but that was a conscious decision. I’m saying things I really want people to hear, and I felt heavy drums might detract from that.”
Still, fans of French’s earlier work will recognize his style in the album. “I just had a listening party, and it went great,” he says. “It’s almost like I’m slowly creating my own craft, and this project puts me one step closer to fully representing what I want to get out there.”
Raised in a family that leaned more toward rock and roll, French’s love for hip-hop began early. “I started freestyling with friends in high school, just for fun,” he says. “We realized we were pretty good at it, so we started writing, and it turned into something more.”
Hearing his first rap song, N.W.A.’s F*** Tha Police, in elementary school, French says that Dr. Dre and Eminem were also early influences. And while Eminem remains his number one, he draws motivation from underground hip-hop artists like Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn. “They showed me that if you put in the work, it pays off,” he says.
With his debut album now under his belt, French’s goal is simple: to make a living through music. “I don’t care if I’m living in a one-bedroom apartment—as long as I can do music full-time, that’s the dream,” he says.
While he’s not there yet, French is determined to keep pushing forward. “We always have to have a side hustle for now, but one day, music will pay the bills,” he says.
With the album now out on most streaming platforms, it is evident that Luke French is on his way to carving out his place in hip-hop. “It’s been a journey,” he says. “But I’m proud of what I’ve created, and I can’t wait to see where this takes me.”
You can follow French’s journey on Instagram.