The final steps of the Emperor, Alkpote, mark yet another explosive statement. After stacking collaborations with Gims, Gazo, Quavo, and Kaaris, the Emperor now teams up with the king of Troll Rap. When Alkpote’s razor-sharp lyricism and unfiltered punchlines collide with Vald’s corrosive irony, the outcome can only be unapologetically “not for minors.”
Alkpote unveils his project Les Ultimes Marches de l’Empereur with a clear ambition: to secure one of the strongest openings of his career. Yet these “final steps” feel more like a new ascent than a farewell. In rap, retirement is little more than a myth.
During an appearance on Planète Rap four years ago, Alkpote reflected on his factory days before success: “I was working on an assembly line with Indians in a factory for €1,200 a month.” Since then, Balenciaga sneakers have replaced steel-toe boots, as he put it himself: “It’s the same type of shoe — big, kind of thick.” In just a few years, the rapper has shifted from industrial shadows to the spotlight of major stages.
His collaboration with Vald launches this new chapter with force.
Alkpote and Vald — Pushing Even Further
The production is handled by Tarik Azzouz, Zeg P, and Seezy, a trio built for sonic impact. Tarik Azzouz, a heavyweight in French and U.S. beatmaking alike, has worked with DJ Khaled and Lil Wayne, among others. The trio previously collaborated on “Jack Honey” by Niaks. Zeg P and Seezy also crafted the album Horizon Vertical by Vald and Heuss L’Enfoiré, and delivered standout productions such as “Ghali” and “Dans tes bras” for Wejdene, as well as “Stigmate” by SCH. Seezy, long-time sonic architect for Vald, completes the trio here with a massive, tense, almost suffocating instrumental.
Over this explosive backdrop, the two rappers unleash a barrage of raw punchlines.
Vald fires the opening shots with a series of provocations:
“I put a geranium on hip-hop’s grave, you midweek bastard (bastard)
P. Diddy, R. Kelly — how many of the biggest hits did they shape?”
Alkpote follows up, true to his irreverent style:
“I mash that ass into compote or Liebig purée (splash); like Gainsbourg, I burn the llets-bi (burn)
I step on all these hoes (all), but I’m still dressed sharp like Thierry Mugler (stylish)”
The video, packed with special effects, portrays Alkpote in full imperial mode, surrounded by his vixens in a universe where monstrosity becomes aesthetic. Physical transformations, relentless energy, and incendiary flows: Les Ultimes Marches de l’Empereur move fast, hit hard, and showcase flawless technical precision.
