Alkpote has just unveiled the first episode of La marche finale de l’Empereur, alongside none other than Gims. An unlikely pairing for those who mainly associate the lead voice of Sexion d’Assaut with pop hits and mainstream hooks. But the Emperor of Filth has never shied away from unexpected collaborations, having already teamed up with Bilal Hassani and Philippe Katerine. This time, it’s not a melodic Gims we hear, but a raw cypher-ready rapper trading bars with Alkpote.
Much like Soprano, who once insisted on being recognized as a rapper rather than just a singer, Gims regularly circles back to his roots. His reference to the blue and red pills in MCAR already hinted at his fascination with duality. Later, with Le Fléau—a 100% rap project—he reminded fans that Sexion d’Assaut first came up dropping freestyles on Dailymotion long before crossing over into urban pop. Here, he sounds sharper and more uncompromising than ever.
Alkpote, meanwhile, stays true to his reputation: delivering fiery, tongue-in-cheek punchlines that blur the line between seriousness and parody. It’s this playful command of words that cements him as one of French rap’s most singular figures.
Alkpote and Gims join forces on Cypher
The beat is produced by Young Bouba, a name already familiar to fans since he’s worked with Gims on Spider and Only You. He also crafted Lumière for Kaaris and Malembé for Maes. Here, he lays down a hard-hitting, unapologetically rap-oriented production, giving both MCs the perfect stage to unleash their punchlines.
Gims delivers with a dark, intense verse:
Watching Africa get carved up while they feast on it raw
It’s midnight, there’s a knock at the door, and I don’t trust it
I get up, then find refuge in the hollow of a Glock
Alkpote, for his part, peppers his verses with cinematic nods—from La Haine by Mathieu Kassovitz to Rocky III (Eye of the Tiger), and even Lambert Wilson’s monologue in Matrix Reloaded. Mixing pop culture with provocation, he lands another outrageous couplet:
We’re immortal, with Maître Gims, I deserve the Nobel Prize
In the worst hotel, even my ass crack smells of citronella
Visually, the clip is directed by Ruban Rouge Corp., who deliver a wild, effects-packed production. The collective continues its eccentric streak after shooting Maison Blanche for Cheu-B.
