French Algerian rapper Rilès expands into new territories with the release of his first 2020 single “GOA” (pronounced GWA) paired with a lyric video via Republic Records.
Recorded at the legendary Paramount Recording Studio in Hollywood, on this song, Rilès slides into the pocket of a skittering beat, neon keys, and off-kilter bass lines. Auto-tuned falsetto echoes as he rips through catchy bars in English and French with a verbal flex by inventing his own phrase, “I got GOA.” The statement is a self-confident stance of empowerment and is an evolution from some of the darker themes explored in past music. In the lyric video directed by Rilès, he pulls up on his homies in a remote location as everyone stunts with their Tik-Tok ready dance moves dripping with animations and “GOA.”
About the inspiration for the song, Rilès said, “I was making music for fun to share a vibe other than something really lyrical or too romanticized or something that’s too poetic. I just wanted to go with the vibe and the flow. It was really no problems and no pressure while creating.”
Last year Rilès became a recognized force in French music with the release of his 2019 full- length debut, WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, which put up huge numbers with the hit songs “MARIJUANA” (55M global streams) and “THANK GOD” (41M global streams). Before then Rilès caught the world’s attention in 2016 when he decided to pen, produce, perform, record, mix, master, and engineer one song per week for a year straight—all done in his childhood bedroom. These 52 tracks populated his YouTube channel as he completed this run in September 2017, tallying 300 million-plus views and 300 million streams.