What comes next? Back in 2021, Alkpote released Ogre, an album heavily shaped by the creative constraints of his record label. Today, he looks back at it as a misstep—an album that strayed from the dark, ironic signature style that defines him. In an interview with Générations FM, he said:
“I still stand by it. Every line is me. Belles is me. There’s a side of me that’s… let’s say, playful. I enjoy being an entertainer. But with Ogre, the label knew my darker rap wouldn’t do big numbers, so they pushed me in another direction. They only cared about figures. In the end, it underperformed. They miscalculated. I’ve got more experience than they do in this game. They’re young, they just arrived. Now, I’m back to what I do best. The beats I like are dark. I’ve always been a dark person. That’s who I am.”
In 2023, he made his comeback with Le Spectacle Doit Continuer (“The Show Must Go On”), a project that reaffirms his roots. The album is fully produced by Tarik Azzouz, a prominent name in US rap production, and this time, fans responded—the success was immediate.
Currently, Alkpote is gearing up for the release of Réjouissance, with an early single featuring Pétroville already online. The full project drops this Friday, May 23. Meanwhile, Alkpote continues making headlines, notably for his appearance on a talk show geared toward CBD enthusiasts.
Alkpote is in “Pétroville”!
The track is produced by Pandrezz, Pprod, and Epektase. From the first bars, Alkpote takes time to shout out the entire production team—a rare move in France, where unlike in the United States, beatmakers, directors, and sound engineers are often sidelined in favor of the front-facing artist.
Pandrezz, for instance, is known for his work with Yamé, on tracks like Bécane (a clear hit), Ayo Mba, and Call of Vahalla. On Bécane, he was already collaborating with Epektase. The beat on Pétroville is intentionally “basic”, almost cliché—but delivered with such punch that it becomes a stylistic statement. Alkpote takes genre conventions and flips them with a boldness bordering on irreverence.
When it comes to punchlines, irony and sarcasm are in full effect—exactly what fans expect from him. The bars are sharp, and the references anything but shallow:
“I’m chillin’ on a yacht, far from the provincial crew
You bark like a pup, I vibe with organic wine
That’s the life you love, I ask forgiveness from my victims
Lured by sirens, I wanted to taste their juice (Splash)”
And sometimes, the Emperor leans into the graphic, staying true to his provocative persona:
“I had to do dirt (do dirt), like them escort teens (bitch)
I had to do dirt (bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch), to come out clean”
The video, directed by Léo Htag, blends humor and bling in a raw yet stylish aesthetic. His visuals perfectly complement Alkpote’s unique universe—a far cry from the homogenized tone of much of modern French rap. Few artists still dare to stand apart like this.
Léo Htag has also recently directed videos for Demi Portion (Ça parle de, a tribute to Marseille), as well as for Souffrance and Soprano.
