MUSIC FOCUS
From Sexion d’Assaut to Kaaris: When Homophobia in French Rap Reaches the Courts
From the controversies surrounding Sexion d’Assaut to Kaaris’s upcoming trial, homophobia in French rap has gradually shifted from being primarily…
Focus
Analysis, reviews, samples and long-form stories that put music back into context.
![[Interview]: Pascal Tessaud: Rap Videos as a School of Filmmaking](https://hellsinky.art/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/interview-pascal-tessaud-a-lecole-du-clip-video-768x432.jpg)
MUSIC FOCUS
[Interview]: Pascal Tessaud: Rap Videos as a School of Filmmaking
Pascal Tessaud, a filmmaker known for his hip-hop films Brooklyn and Beatbox, Boom Bap, has recently completed his second feature…
MUSIC FOCUS
Why Ben PLG Is Not the “Orelsan of Northern France”
There is something almost obvious about Ben PLG and Orelsan finally meeting on a track. When StreetPress dedicated a documentary…
MUSIC FOCUS
Booba vs Sinik: “Carton Rouge” Revives a 20-Year Rap Beef
It took nearly twenty years for the infamous “Carton Rouge” to finally become a reality. Back in 2007, Booba and…
CHRONIQUE
Thomas Perrier: From French Rap to “Temporalité”
From Ortom’s rap beginnings to piano-led songwriting, Thomas Perrier has built his career around one constant: writing. With Temporalité, his…
MUSIC FOCUS
Ziak Reinvents French Drill on “MONSIEUR LOYAL”
With MONSIEUR LOYAL, Ziak takes an obsession that has run through his entire discography one step further: keeping drill’s foundations…
MUSIC FOCUS
Mehsah: The Invisible Backbone of French Boom Bap
From La Chronik to Demi Portion, via Furax Barbarossa, Scylla, Pilon and Will LCK, Mehsah has quietly built one of…
Review
Kamel Saleh: “I’ve Paid the Price for My Freedom”
For those who know the history of French rap mainly through the people who held the mic, the name Kamel…
MUSIC FOCUS
Himra: How Ivorian Drill Is Breaking Into France
With YOUP*RN, Himra has reached another milestone. The Ivorian rapper pushed the video to the top of YouTube's trending charts…
MUSIC FOCUS
Scylla & Furax Barbarossa: How the Stage Gave Birth to Jungle Noire
Jungle Noire might never have been an album at all. After waiting nearly twenty years to make Portes du désert,…
MUSIC FOCUS
Gazo Revives an Old Debate: What Makes a Rap Album an Album in 2026?
Is an album still an album when it feels like a collection of fifteen singles? Conversely, why do some rappers…
Review
Morain Crew, the Firebird: From Pain to La Belle Vie
From his brother’s suicide to “La Belle Vie”, through separation, fatherhood, doubt and rebuilding, Morain Crew has turned a succession…
MUSIC FOCUS
Booba and Zoxea Reconnect: How Beat de Boul Helped Shape French Rap
A simple documentary idea was enough to reopen one of the most important chapters in French rap history. After Booba…
CHRONIQUE
The Business Behind Ninho: How Does the GOAT Make His Money?
When it comes to Ninho, the numbers almost speak for themselves: diamond records, hundreds of certifications, billions of streams and…
Rap History
Kery James at Générations: The Story Behind the 2009 Altercation
In April 2009, just as Kery James released his album Réel, an altercation broke out at the offices of Générations…
Review
Mauvais Djo’s Pilé: The Michael Jackson Story Behind the Hit
At first listen, the chorus of “Pilé” sounds like one of those absurdly catchy gimmicks designed to get stuck in…
SAMPLE
Tonton du Bled: The Story Behind Rim’K & DJ Mehdi’s Classic
Some tracks never really grow old — they become part of a culture’s musical heritage. Tonton du bled now firmly…
CHRONIQUE
With Devant les flammes, Sauveur Eloheem Delivers the Ultimate Anti-Summer EP
While the music industry spends the summer churning out catchy hooks, dance-ready beats and Latin-infused tracks, Sauveur Eloheem has chosen…