Until about four weeks ago, Dam16 — also known as XVI — was more of a rap-game legend than a public figure. Back in 2015, while Booba was multiplying clashes and still posting strong sales numbers, several French media outlets relayed a rumour of an altercation between the two rappers. According to some sources, Dam16 even hit him with his own belt. In the overheated climate of that era, the story was picked up as far as the Huffington Post.
A month ago, XVI pulled a huge collaboration out of the vault, featuring Ninho and Davido. Today, the video is nearing two million views on YouTube — a major success. Dam16 now returns with the second single from his project, this time teaming up with Gims. The shoot, which sparked plenty of online reactions, quickly fueled speculation — some fans saw it as a direct provocation toward Booba.
Regardless, Gims — a long-standing rival of the Duc de Boulogne — joined forces with Dam16 to film a video in the Pablo district of Nanterre, in a highly charged atmosphere. As soon as the shoot wrapped, the three artists were already trading jabs on social media.
Gims and XVI shoot “Mi Amor” in the Pablo district of Nanterre!
With Dam16 aka XVI and a shoot set in what Générations FM describes as the “hottest neighbourhood in France”, many expected a raw, aggressive rap track packed with punchlines. But Gims and Dam16 take everyone by surprise with a caliente, sensual track built on a smooth production. The beat comes from Frangy, who previously worked with Gims on “Ciel”. The lyrics, however, lean fully into egotrip territory. Gims, a multi-diamond artist, brags about his lifestyle:
“J’suis debout sur les ennemis en train de célébrer
Demande au p’tit re-frè, au restau’, ça met la note”
XVI follows the same tone in his verse:
“J’confonds la Sacem et mon logement
Les autres, c’est des anciens, c’est des ossements”
The music video, directed by Nono, contrasts sharply with the romantic imagery suggested by the title. It’s a street-level visual, built around a tough, virile aesthetic true to the codes of the genre. Several residents reportedly complained about disturbances during the shoot — unsurprising given the wild rodeos filmed around Nanterre that day. Nono perfectly captures the raw energy the two artists wanted to project. He previously directed the video for “Mehlich” by GLK, as well as “Jamais Yensak” by Lyna Mahyem and Numida Lezoul.
