Abd Al Malik marks his return to cinema with Furcy, Born Free. After May Allah Bless France, an introspective work retracing his personal journey, the rapper-turned-filmmaker continues his exploration of stories rooted in struggle and emancipation. With Furcy, Born Free, he tackles a story that is both little-known and fundamental: that of an enslaved man determined to win his freedom through the courts, after uncovering a legal loophole at the very heart of his bondage. In interviews, Abd Al Malik suggests that Furcy’s fate resonates deeply with his own. For the artist, Furcy discovers in knowledge and learning the weapons needed to stand up to his masters.
Like many socially conscious rappers of his generation, he upholds the idea that “knowledge is a weapon” (Kery James), echoing a rhetoric deeply rooted in an enlightened and tolerant reading of Islam: “The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr” (Psy4 de la Rime). While Abd Al Malik brings together some of the finest talents in cinema to carry this committed, politically engaged project, he never forgets his roots: rap. To accompany the film, he curates the soundtrack Furcy Heritage, a heartfelt love letter to hip-hop. The project features Oxmo Puccino, Wallen, Soprano, Juste Shani, Kulturr, Pit Baccardi, Lino (Arsenik), Youssoupha, Passi, Mac Tyer, Neg Marron, Sams, Benjamin Epps, Tommy Bugsy, Samoa and Indigo.
Veterans and newcomers of French rap meet and converse gracefully within a project that pays tribute to rap as the “Noble Art” (IAM), now regarded by some as the new French chanson (Youssoupha). The artist has also unveiled a new track alongside Mattéo Falkone, a long-time collaborator throughout the project, and Wallen. An iconic vocal presence in French rap, the singer and backing vocalist accompanied an entire generation of artists before gradually being replaced by Auto-Tune. Today, the vocoder has become a cost-effective way for a new generation of rappers to inject melody into verses loaded with testosterone and punchlines, poured onto the pyre of injustice.
AMF and Wallen sound the alarm with If You Only Knew!
The track’s instrumental composition is signed by Bilal Al Aswad. A long-time collaborator of Abd Al Malik, the composer shaped the entire soundtrack of Furcy. A member of N.A.P., Abd Al Malik’s very first group, Bilal Al Aswad made his mark on the Strasbourg scene as early as the 1990s, already crafting distinctive instrumentals at the time. The composition emerges from a subtle blend of influences, driven by a smooth, uplifting rhythm and delicate piano notes. Mattéo Falkone, Abd Al Malik and Wallen together deliver a decidedly positive message. Notably, the chorus pays tribute to Johnny Hallyday and his song Marie.
“We are not seeking revenge, but to break the cycle of violence”
“Truth comes first, they want to turn it into a crime”
“I am only a man trying to break his chains”
“In justice, there is fairness—right?”
In the visual directed by Fabien Coste, the artists are followed without vixens, luxury cars or visual ego-trips, moving through a human-scale city. Fabien Coste has collaborated numerous times with Abd Al Malik, notably on This World, My Muse 1.0 and Trace of Light. He has also worked with Idir.
