Orelsan

Aurélien Cotentin, better known by his stage name Orelsan, is a French rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor, and director. Born on 1 August 1982, he is known both for his solo career and as one half of the hip-hop duo Casseurs Flowters alongside Gringe. Over his career, Orelsan has released five studio albums and established a prominent presence in French music. In 2022, he was named a Knight of Arts and Letters by the Ministry of Culture of France for his artistic contributions.

Cotentin was raised in Alençon, Lower Normandy, by his father, a middle school principal, and his mother, a teacher. Initially listening to rock music and enjoying manga and comics, he developed an interest in rap through friends while playing basketball. After earning a French baccalauréat in Economic and Social Sciences, he attended l'École de management de Normandie in Caen, graduating in 2004. During college, he befriended record producer Skread and formed Casseurs Flowters with Gringe. He also spent a year studying at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Upon returning to France, Cotentin worked hotel night shifts, which allowed him time to write lyrics. In 2004, Casseurs Flowters released their first mixtape, Fantasy: Episode 1, before both artists turned to solo work. Cotentin gained an online following by releasing videos on YouTube and Myspace starting in 2006. In 2008, he signed with the label 3e Bureau and released his debut album, Perdu d'avance, in February 2009. Produced by Skread, the album helped him win the MTV Europe Music Award for Best French Act that year.

In September 2011, Orelsan released his second studio album, Le chant des sirènes, which achieved double platinum status in France and earned him two Victoires de la Musique awards in 2012. Following this success, Orelsan and Gringe reunited as Casseurs Flowters to release their debut collaborative album in 2013. The duo later created and starred in the 2015 film Comment c'est loin, releasing its accompanying soundtrack the same year.

Orelsan released his third solo studio album, La fête est finie, in October 2017. The project achieved major commercial success, earning a double diamond certification in France for selling over one million copies and winning multiple awards. His fourth studio album, Civilisation, was released in November 2021 and features guest appearances by Gringe and The Neptunes. It became the top-selling album in France for both 2021 and 2022, becoming the fastest album in French rap history to be certified diamond.

In 2025, Orelsan returned to music following a three-year hiatus, announcing a major French tour and releasing his fifth studio album, La fuite en avant. The 17-track platinum-certified album explored themes drawn from his personal life and experience with fatherhood. That same year, Orelsan co-wrote and starred in the feature film Yoroï, directed by David Tomaszewski. By 2023, Orelsan had won twelve Victoires de la Musique awards, surpassing records held by French music legends.