French artist Noura and beatmaker Hoopa are preparing to release their collaborative mini-album “BUT EN OR” — a debut EP blending melodic hip-hop, elements of French chanson and cinematic soundscapes.
The release is scheduled for November 1, 2026, and will feature four tracks exploring love, overcoming life’s difficulties, self-discovery and hope for change. One of the starting points for the project was the song «Horizon», previously introduced to Minatrix.FM listeners.
For Noura, the new release marks an important milestone in a creative career spanning more than twenty years. The Grenoble-based French artist, known for his focus on lyrics and the emotional dimension of music, has for the first time brought several works connected by a shared concept together into a standalone EP.
The title «BUT EN OR» can be translated from French as «Golden Goal». Within the context of the record, however, it takes on a broader meaning. Rather than referring simply to a sporting victory, it becomes a metaphor for achieving an important goal in life — one that gives meaning to the journey, the difficulties endured and the effort invested along the way.
From «Horizon» to a full-scale music project
The story of «BUT EN OR» began when Noura met French beatmaker Hoopa (Hector Londiche). Their first collaboration was the track «Horizon», which helped define the direction of their future work together.
Within the creative partnership, each artist is responsible for a different part of the musical narrative: Noura writes the lyrics and performs the vocals, while Hoopa creates the instrumentals and develops the musical foundation of the tracks. Their collaboration gradually evolved into a four-track project connected by a shared emotional theme.
«Horizon» holds a special place in the story of the release. The song revolves around reflections on change, loneliness, sadness and the desire to find happiness. The horizon itself becomes a metaphor for the future — something a person continues moving toward even after difficult experiences.
The track also helped the musicians reach listeners beyond France. According to the artist’s team, the song received support from independent radio stations in several countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain and other regions.
Minatrix.FM also supported «Horizon»: the track was added to the platform’s music catalogue and played on the radio stream. Noura’s work was also featured in the music programme Sound Hunter. In a message to the editorial team, the artist personally expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to introduce his music to new listeners.
You can listen to Noura — Horizon directly on Minatrix.FM.
Four tracks — four sides of one story
Musically, «BUT EN OR» sits at the intersection of melodic hip-hop, French rap and singer-songwriter music. Its cinematic approach is reflected primarily in the way it builds emotional atmosphere and in the attempt to extend the musical narrative through visual imagery.
All four tracks are connected by the idea of inner movement: from doubt and emotional loss toward acceptance of the past, renewed confidence and the search for a new direction in life.
- 01. Pleine nuit — the opening track, whose title translates as «Deep Night». The song explores inner struggle, vulnerability and the ability to rise again after emotional upheaval. At its core is the idea that a person can choose love and creation over hatred and destruction.
- 02. But en or — the title track of the EP. Its message is centred on the determination to continue along one’s own path, remain true to personal convictions and appreciate what has already been achieved. The football metaphor of the «golden goal» becomes an image of personal victory, whose value is defined not by external recognition but by a person’s own inner values.
- 03. K2000 — a track about freedom, ambition and the desire to move beyond familiar limitations. At its centre is the decision to leave behind the negative influence of the past and move toward one’s own dreams.
- 04. Horizon — the closing track of the EP and the first collaboration between Noura and Hoopa. The song returns to themes of hope, sadness and the search for happiness, while also bringing the record’s conceptual journey full circle. The track is already available on Minatrix.FM.
«Pleine nuit»: a fencing duel as a reflection of inner conflict
Ahead of the EP’s release, on October 23, 2026, Noura unveiled the official music video for «Pleine nuit».
The visual concept is built around a cinematic fencing duel that expresses the protagonist’s emotional struggle. The sword fight becomes a metaphor for confronting personal fears, inner contradictions and the consequences of painful life experiences.
Rather than illustrating the lyrics literally, the creators use a symbolic storyline in which movement, tension and visual confrontation help reveal the song’s emotional meaning.
The central theme of the video is a conscious choice: to allow negative experiences to determine the course of one’s life, or to find the strength to move forward while preserving the ability to love.
The video also introduces viewers to the visual aesthetic of «BUT EN OR», where music, dramatic storytelling and cinematic imagery become parts of a single artistic concept.
Official video for Noura — Pleine nuit: watch on YouTube.
Who worked on «BUT EN OR»
Despite the project’s independent status, the EP was created with a team of specialists responsible for different stages of the music production process.
- Noura (Noureddine Yahya-Bey) — lyricist and performer;
- Hoopa (Hector Londiche) — beatmaker and creator of the instrumental compositions;
- Studio Migrateur (Julien) — mixing and arrangements;
- Marie Tournelle — artistic consulting and work on the sonic concept;
- NMAudio — mastering;
- Frédéric Chorier — photography and visual design for the release;
- YB Création — project production.
One distinctive aspect of the project is that Noura independently develops not only the musical side of his work but also its audiovisual dimension. He is the founder of YB Création, an independent structure working in music and video production.
As a result, «BUT EN OR» is more than simply a collection of new recordings. It is a complete creative project combining music, a video production, an original visual identity and an independently developed release strategy.
A musical philosophy: VA · VIS · DEVIENS
At the heart of Noura’s creative philosophy is the motto «VA · VIS · DEVIENS» — «Go · Live · Become».
The phrase reflects the artist’s desire to speak about personal experience through universal themes: self-acceptance, overcoming difficulties, human relationships and continuous growth.
For Noura, music is a way of making sense of lived experience. His lyrics draw on real observations and emotions, but they do not attempt to reveal every detail of his personal story, leaving listeners room for their own interpretations and associations.
Within today’s independent music scene, this approach highlights the importance of artistic individuality. Rather than following a fixed genre formula, musicians increasingly seek to develop a consistent creative language of their own, in which musical form serves the meaning behind the work.
Release date and future plans
Noura’s debut EP «BUT EN OR» will be released on November 1, 2026. The record will feature four tracks created by Noura and Hoopa with the participation of the YB Création team.
The official project page already features information about the EP, its artwork and materials exploring the story behind its creation. The EP is also available to pre-save on streaming platforms.
According to the artist’s team, the collaboration with Hoopa will continue beyond the debut release. The musicians are already working on new material while maintaining their independent approach to both creativity and production.
For Noura, «BUT EN OR» represents both the culmination of one stage and the starting point of a new chapter in his career. Its four songs come together as a story about how life’s difficulties do not necessarily have to define a person’s future, and how the ability to keep moving forward can sometimes matter more than victory itself.
You can follow the artist’s latest news on Noura’s official website, and discover his music right now by listening to «Horizon» on Minatrix.FM.
