In 2010, Médine released the track “Animalement Rap” with the collective Sixième Sens, alongside Kalash L’Afro, Scylla, and Bakar, sampling the theme song from the series “The Persuaders”. This track offered an honest and raw vision of rap, far removed from the glitz and fabricated thug stories: “Free rap, that’s what’s stitched on our flag”. Nearly fifteen years later, Arabian Panther makes a strong comeback with the first installment of his new project, “Stentor”. The rapper could easily claim Booba’s punchline from “Kyll” as his own: “I spark controversy every month, but I stay cheerful”.
Frequently targeted by mainstream media, Médine fully embraces his identity and convictions, both in his lyrics and lifestyle. He embodies what some might call “the Frenchman they refuse to accept” (“RER D” – Médine). From his powerful “Les Enfants du Destin” saga, which sparked heated debates, to his controversial performance at the Fête de l’Humanité, and his track “Don’t Laïk”, which stirred more controversy than some political speeches, Médine has always maintained a strong voice of engagement. But this time, he sets aside politics to focus entirely on the rap scene with his track “QI.Rap”. Just like Casey and her Asocial Club collective did in “99%”, Médine delivers an unfiltered critique of the industry. As in 2010, he positions himself as an outsider looking in, echoing the famous quote: “The only people who see the full picture are those who step outside the frame”. And Médine will never be confined within the frame.
Médine breaks down the rap game with “QI.Rap”!
A razor-sharp production blending U.S. and French influences
The track’s production is handled by Kaonefy and Ashesswav. Kaonefy, a French beatmaker and long-time collaborator of Médine, has crafted several of his signature beats, including “Gaza Soccer Beach”, a politically charged track released long before recent events in Palestine and Israel. His production credits also include “Ray”, “La France au rap français” (a nod to a line from Passi in “Émeute”), and “Perle d’Insta”.
The instrumental blends modern sonics with a clear U.S. influence while avoiding the clichés of traditional boom-bap. It’s a carefully crafted balance that highlights Médine’s precise and razor-sharp flow.
Three minutes of relentless punchlines and razor-sharp critique
For nearly three minutes, Médine attacks the beat with dynamic flow variations and a brutal critique of the rap industry. The track is packed with powerful references:
“I’m a grain-fed bovine, not like these MCs raised on fake breasts
Chronic 2001 in my memory, back when the best rapper was white and the best golfer was Black”
A direct reference to “Chronic 2001”, considered Dr. Dre’s most iconic album, where the “best rapper” refers to Eminem and “best golfer” to Tiger Woods.
He doesn’t spare the media either:
“Watch out for stats, for rap media: most of them are just star-chasing rats
It’s our own fans who put us in boxes, they’re nothing more than wrestling referees”
And he closes with a cutting, cynical punchline:
“Only Michael Jackson went from poor and Black to rich and white
There’ll be more people when they hang me than at my coronation
Please leave rap the way you found it, clean and untainted”
A visual shot in Canada, between culture and icy landscapes
The video, filmed in Quebec, features symbolic elements of Canadian culture, including ice hockey, set against a backdrop of snow-covered landscapes. This contrast between freezing scenery and scorching punchlines amplifies the track’s impact.
The video is directed by Aloïs Bolou, a Montreal-based filmmaker known for working with Francophone artists during their Canadian tours. He has recently collaborated with Georgio, Angèle, and Hamza, bringing a cinematic and immersive touch to their visuals.
With “QI.Rap”, Médine once again proves he’s a rap visionary—an observer who refuses to conform to mainstream trends. Between sharp social critique and technical mastery, he continues to carve his own lane, always challenging the status quo.
