It only took one album for Ziak to establish Drill in the French rap scene. With the release of “Akimbo”, Ziak immediately stood out. Shortly after, he unveiled “Chrome”, an even darker project than the previous one. Fascinated by dark atmospheres, Ziak, always masked, delivers raw narratives of a dealer’s life through highly polished visuals, blending gritty realism with refined aesthetics. The artist occasionally incorporates samples of Arabic instruments, going beyond the traditional derbouka, a feature that has been prominent since his early days.
A month ago, Ziak released a three-track EP titled “Essonne History X”. Simultaneously, he dropped a double video for “Grabba / Chassé-croisé”. His collaborator, Kerchak, also unveiled a double single, “FAKE / Cam”. The two artists share a common passion for conceptual and dreamlike visuals. Finally, the project “Essonne History X” debuted last week, featuring prominent names such as Jolagreen23, Zed, Kaaris, Josman, and TH. The title of the EP references the film “American History X”, which explores the failed reintegration of a reformed skinhead.
Ziak asks for the “Place and Time”!
The instrumental composition for the track is crafted by Lowonstage, a producer from Lille who has been working with Ziak since his early career. He notably produced key tracks like “Tombe Raider”, “Seinen”, and “Chrome” from the album “Chrome”, as well as “Chassé-croisé” from “Essonne History X”. He is also behind the collaboration between Ziak and Kerchak on the track “T’aimerais”. Minimalist and hard-hitting, his production is steeped in Drill and delivers explosive energy.
As usual, the masked rapper recounts a life of “dealers” through striking punchlines:
“I do the dirty, then clean it up, it’s euros we’re stacking, it’s night when we head out /
How can you claim to be from the block but think the cops are too soft?”“What’s up? I take off the mask and steal your girl? No, that’s not how it goes /
I throw hard like a handball player, I won’t move if it’s not for thirty bucks.”
A raw and immersive visual
The video was directed by Spider and captured during a live showcase performance. This underground filmmaker has made a name for himself with notable works such as “DJ Freestyle”, “Sammy”, and the visuals for “Vamo” and “Bronzé”. His unique style brings an added layer to the track, amplifying the raw and visceral energy of Ziak.
