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Werenoi

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Werenoi
Werenoi in the Montreux Jazz Festival, 2023
Werenoi in the Montreux Jazz Festival, 2023
Background information
Birth nameJérémy Bana Owona
Born(1994-01-30)30 January 1994
Melun, France
Died17 May 2025(2025-05-17) (aged 31)
Paris, France
GenresHip hop
OccupationRapper
Years active2021–2025
LabelsPLR Music, PGP Records, AllPoints

Jérémy Bana Owona (French pronunciation: [ʒeʁemi bana owɔna]; 30 January 1994 – 17 May 2025), better known by his stage name Werenoi (pronounced [weʁənwa]), was a French rapper. He was voted the male revelation of the year at the Les Flammes ceremony in 2023. Werenoi held the number 1 position in album sales in France in 2023 and 2024. He released four studio albums and two EPs.

Early life

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Jérémy Bana Owona was born on 30 January 1994 in Melun.[1] Little was known about Owona's personal life, due to his desire to keep his personal life and his family matters private. He grew up in Montreuil in a family of Cameroonian origin.[2] He is related to the rapper Zequin.[3]

Musical career

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Werenoi released his first song, "Guadalajara", in February 2021, under the name We Renoi.[4] During the year he released several other singles, including "Señor de los Gallos", featuring Lacrim. In May 2022 Werenoi signed a contract with label AllPoints France, announcing the release of his first official project, Telegram, a 12-track EP released on 3 June of the same year.[5] It was then re-released a few months later with two additional tracks, one of which was created together with rapper Ninho. Telegram was certified gold, whereas the song "Solitaire", featured on it, obtained the diamond certification.[6]

On 23 February 2023, Werenoi released the freestyle "10.03.2023", in reference to the release date of his first studio album, titled Carré.[7] The album featured rappers PLK, Ninho, Tiakola, and Lacrim, and achieved good success, selling more than 18,000 copies in the first week.[8] Carré turned out to be the best-selling album in France in 2023, ahead of projects by notable artists such as Hamza and Ninho.[9] On 22 September 2023, Werenoi released a new project, the EP Telegram 2, announced the day before its release.[10] He was voted the male revelation of the year at the Les Flammes ceremony in 2023.[11] Werenoi held the number 1 position in album sales in France in 2023 and 2024.[12]

His second album, Pyramide, was released on 16 February 2024.[13] In May 2024, his album Carré received the “Rap Album of the Year” award at the Les Flammes ceremony.[14] On 17 October 2024 Werenoi performed at the Accor Arena in Paris.[15]

Werenoi released the second opus of the project, Pyramide 2, on 18 October 2024. Carried by the single "Pétunias" released two weeks earlier, this 14-track extension includes two features: with Gazo on "La famine" and PLK on "En pétard".[16] In November 2024, his label announced the release of his new album for April 2025. Lil Tjay was announced as one of the collaborators.[17] On 24 March 2025, he announced the release of Diamant noir for 11 April 2025. Other guests include Damso & Ninho, Dystinct, SDM & Vacra, Gunna, and Kalash.[18][3] In 2025, Werenoi received the award for "Best Album" for Pyramide 2 at the 2025 Les Flammes ceremony.[19]

Death

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Werenoi's death at the age of 31 was announced on 17 May 2025, after he did not appear for an event scheduled the day before. BFMTV reported that he was taken to the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in critical condition.[20] The circumstances surrounding Werenoi's death, however, were kept private.[21] Le Figaro, BFMTV, and Voici[22][23] also reported that Werenoi had suffered health problems linked to cardiovascular disease; The Guardian attributed his death to a heart attack.[24] He was buried in Montreuil.[25]

His record label, Believe, confirmed his death on Instagram. His producer, Babs, also posted on X, saying that "All our thoughts go out to his family, loved ones, team, and all those who knew him." "Rest in peace, my brother, I love you."[26] A showcase scheduled for 16 May 2025, the day before Werenoi's death, was cancelled; he was also scheduled to perform on the day of his death.[27] Many personalities paid tribute to Werenoi, including Aya Nakamura, Gims, Kaaris, Jul, SCH, Maes, Lacrim, Pascal Obispo, N.O.S., and the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati.[28] On 19 May, Werenoi's producer Babs denounced the appearance of fake prize pools after Werenoi's death.[29]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Carré (2023)[14]
  • Pyramide (2024)[13]
  • Pyramide 2 (2024)[16]
  • Diamant noir (2025)[3]

EPs

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  • Telegram (2022)[5]
  • Telegram 2 (2023)[10]

References

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  1. ^ Sortiraparis, Caroline de (17 May 2025). "Rapper Werenoi dies aged 31". Sortiraparis.com. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Cinq choses à savoir sur Werenoi, le rappeur dont l'album a été le plus vendu cette année en France" (in French). 20 January 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "«Diamant noir» : le rappeur Werenoi revient avec un nouvel album". www.cnews.fr (in French). 11 April 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  4. ^ "We Renoi, nouvelle signature du label AWA" (in French). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Werenoi calcule tout, comme un Ordinateur" (in French). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Solitaire Werenoi" (in French). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Werenoi dévoile la date de sortie de son album "Carré" à travers un freestyle très tranchant" (in French). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Werenoi : les énormes ventes de Carré en première semaine" (in French). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Classement top 10 des albums les plus vendus en France en 2023" (in French). 9 March 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Werenoi annonce la sortie de son projet « Telegram 2 », disponible dès ce vendredi" (in French). Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Mais qui est Werenoi, désigné Révélation de l'année par les Flammes hier soir ?" (in French). 12 May 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  12. ^ Rapper Werenoi, France's biggest-selling music artist in recent years, dies at age 31. (in French)
  13. ^ a b "Werenoi déjà de retour avec le premier clip issu de son nouvel album !". www.chartsinfrance.net (in French). 7 February 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Les Flammes 2024: Aya Nakamura reigns supreme with three top awards". www.euronews.com. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  15. ^ "Werenoi : dix choses à savoir sur un rappeur au top" (in French). Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Werenoi de retour avec son nouveau projet "Pyramide 2"" (in French). 18 October 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Werenoi announces a new album for April 2025" (in French). 30 November 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Diamant Noir by Werenoi". Genius. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Disparition de Werenoi : Gims, Aya Nakamura, Inoxtag… Les hommages affluent" (in French). Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  20. ^ Msika, Perla (17 May 2025). "Le rappeur Werenoi est mort à l'âge de 31 ans après une défaillance cardiaque". BFMTV (in French). Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Le rappeur Werenoi, plus gros vendeur de disques en France, est mort à 31 ans". Le Parisien (in French).
  22. ^ "Mort de Werenoi: musiciens, footballeurs, hommes politiques... Les hommages au rappeur se multiplient". BFMTV (in French). 17 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  23. ^ "Les causes de la mort de Werenoi, à 31 ans, confirmées par les proches du rappeur". Voici.fr (in French). 17 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  24. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (19 May 2025). "Chart-topping French rapper Werenoi dies aged 31". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Top-selling French rapper laid to rest after death aged 31". France 24. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Rapper Werenoi, France's biggest-selling music artist in recent years, dies at age 31". Associated Press (in French). Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  27. ^ Marcel, Blanche (17 May 2025). "Le rappeur Werenoi est mort à l'âge de 31 ans". Vanity Fair France (in French). Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  28. ^ "Cyril Hanouna, Pascal Obispo, Jul, Rachida Dati... Une vague d'hommages après le décès brutal du rappeur Werenoi". Le Figaro (in French).
  29. ^ Mort de Werenoi : le producteur du rappeur dénonce de fausses cagnottes (in French)
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