Lacrim and Missan Join Forces on Summer Track “Liberté”

Lacrim has established himself as one of the defining figures of French rap. While many artists spend years building their street credibility, the rapper from Chevilly-Larue never had to force the issue: his life story already spoke for itself. After leaving prison, he reached a major turning point in his career by signing his first two-project artist deal with Def Jam.

At the same time, he released the first two instalments of R.I.P.R.O, a mixtape series that gradually became one of the cornerstones of his discography. The journey came to an end in 2025 with a final chapter designed to bring the story to a definitive close. As he explained to Mehdi Maïzi on Le Code, R.I.P.R.O eventually grew beyond the mixtape format to become “a saga.”

The origins of the series also shed light on Lacrim’s early battles with the music industry. At the time, the rapper felt that he had “the smallest artist deal imaginable.” Yet Corleone, his first album released through Def Jam, was certified gold in France in just ten days. The record was a major success, but the terms of his contract allowed the label to claim the lion’s share of the profits.

Lacrim then asked Def Jam executive Benjamin Chulvanij for permission to release two mixtapes outside the terms of their agreement. Chulvanij accepted. It was within this hard-won creative space, on the margins of his original contract, that the story of R.I.P.R.O truly began. Since then, the rapper has continued moving towards independence. He now releases his projects through his own label, Plata o Plomo.

His latest album, Cipriani, nevertheless stands apart from the rest of his discography. For several years now, Lacrim has been building a career that extends far beyond France. Based between Dubai and Morocco, he now spends very little time in Paris. In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, he explained why: “It’s too difficult to go out in Paris, or even to have a private life there.”

His self-titled album, Lacrim, had already showcased his international ambitions through several collaborations with major American rap stars. On Cipriani, however, he turns his attention towards Italy, building an entire project around the country’s rap scene. The guest list includes Baby Gang, Simba La Rue, Guè, Lazza, Luchè, Noyz Narcos, Niky Savage, Nerissima Serpe and Papa V.

His connection with Italy is nothing new. For the video accompanying L’Immortel, Lacrim had already taken his cameras to Naples, filming inside historic buildings once associated with the Camorra. Throughout his career, he has also collaborated repeatedly with artists from across the Alps, eventually turning that connection into the backbone of Cipriani.

Following this Italian chapter, Lacrim returns with Liberté, a summer-ready track recorded alongside Missan. Introduced to a wider audience through the collaborative project 13 Organisé, the young rapper represents a different side of Marseille’s rap scene. Hailing from the Opéra district in the heart of the city, he comes from outside the geography most commonly associated with Marseille rap, which has traditionally centred on the northern neighbourhoods. With more than 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Missan can hardly be described as a rookie anymore.

Lacrim and Missan head into summer with Liberté

Liberté was produced by Chahid, according to the credits published on YouTube. The producer knows Lacrim’s musical world inside out, having worked with him for several years. His previous credits include Boss, featuring Rick Ross, as well as Cherngtalay, No lo sé, Colisée and Corleone II.

Driven by an infectious rhythm and a production built for summer nights, Liberté reveals a lighter side of Lacrim. Despite his status as a street rapper and his still-unquestioned credibility, he has never been afraid to occasionally step away from his darkest territory. His discography includes several introspective and melodic tracks, as well as songs made purely for the party.

Liberté belongs to that final category without abandoning the themes that have always run through his music. Beneath its summery atmosphere, Lacrim continues to address distrust, surveillance and a life governed by the codes of the street:

“I can’t stay, there are too many people on my list,
They want to watch us, track our every move.”

Even emotions retain a certain hardness in Lacrim’s world. Love exists, but it remains inseparable from loyalty, danger and distrust. Even when he ventures into more celebratory territory, the rapper never completely abandons the qualities that have shaped his identity.

Directed by Transac, a close associate of Hustler Game, the video extends the song’s atmosphere by placing both artists in a setting where luxury is displayed without restraint. Powerful cars, glamorous women and an unapologetically ostentatious aesthetic dominate the visuals.

Transac has gradually established himself as a regular director within the French rap scene. After working with artists such as Maes, he recently directed Santa Barbara for Lacrim and ZZ, Les Clés en main for Fresh La Douille and Saïf, and Quartier chaud for Hornet La Frappe and Leto.