Hailing from France’s 77 district, ISK has just completed his powerful Hannibal trilogy with a much-anticipated third installment, following up Hannibal Part.1 and Part.2. This ambitious release brings together an impressive lineup of guests: JRK 19, Saïf, Soprano, RK, Fresh La Douille, La Plaie, La Fouine, YL, Lesram, Kaaris, La Honda 19, and Mola.
First gaining public attention with his Acharné freestyle series on Daymolition, ISK truly made his mark with Vérité, a string of raw, sharply written freestyles. With a razor-sharp pen and an assertive flow, he’s carved out his place in the scene — and he’s still only getting started.
While much of the French rap game is leaning into experimentation and genre-blending, ISK remains grounded in his roots. Fully independent under the Bendo11Records banner, he stays loyal to his no-compromise vision and hard-hitting style.
That said, the track Lion, taken from the new Hannibal release, signals a shift. For the first time, ISK flirts with melody — subtly, without ever dulling his impact. It’s a small evolution, but a meaningful one.
ISK is a lion.
The production behind Lion comes courtesy of Phobos on The Track and Big Bou. Phobos, known for his work on Ma Jolie and Coloré by Bouss, as well as Mon cœur s’abîme by Gambino, is a rising force in the beatmaking game. Big Bou, a frequent collaborator, also contributed to Ma Jolie and Coloré. Together, they craft a dark, atmospheric soundscape — equal parts power and emotion.
While the track remains rooted in pure rap, the hook leans into melodic textures — a bold first for ISK.
True to form, he delivers punchlines with surgical precision:
“We’ll find oxygen at the bottom of the sea, in the abyss.”
“That 14-year-old with the angel face — he’s got a dark side.”
“Bro, we’ve all got fangs, but not the same bite. While sheep graze on grass, the lion hunts the gnu.”
The video, directed by Kabaw Visu, opens in a hookah lounge and transitions into a gritty garage setting. It continues the visual aesthetic established in earlier collaborations such as Freestyle Impact #3, Chino, Jules Koundé, Brav-M, and Vérité 7.
