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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Michael Hogan

It’s Atlanta meets Entourage, but with sexier accents: the brilliant French rap drama that’s breaking records

Hatick as ‘Apash’ shows off his bar-spitting skills in All the Way Up.
Hatick as ‘Apash’ shows off his bar-spitting skills in All the Way Up. Photograph: Canal+

‘Life in juvie ain’t no movie / I might deal drugs but one day I’ll rule the thugs.” Oui, welcome to All The Way Up (or Validé in its native tongue). It’s the French hip-hop dramedy you didn’t know you needed in your life but almost definitely do.

Gallic TV imports are à la mode, with the likes of thief romp Lupin and thesp-com Call My Agent! having won over fans and critics in recent years – not to mention the loyal followings of long-running shows such as spy saga The Bureau and twisty policier Spiral. Now, after a two-year wait, All The Way Up is finally available for streaming in the UK – and the opening line of dialogue is uncannily apt: “What’s the delay, dickwad?”

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