Jul’s protégé has once again made a strong impression with his project “Épreuves,” unveiled on February 23, 2024. He also revealed the second excerpt from this opus, titled “Cristalline.”
Moubarak: Close to Jul!
Moubarak shared with “Trente Trois Degrés” magazine in 2022 the details of his encounter with the most “bankable” rapper in French rap history: “We’ve known each other for a long time, being from the same neighborhood as Jul. One day, he came to pick up several rappers from the area and proposed to us: ‘Guys, it would be great if I signed you to my label and we tried to promote the neighborhood together.’” A strategy reminiscent of Jul…
In the first part of his musical narrative, he delves into the poignant story of a desperate man. As for “Cristalline,” he explores the origins of evil in a flashback. Has he ventured into the creation of a “concept album“?
Moubarak unveils the visual for “Cristalline!”
The musical composition of this track is the work of Madnzo, Maz Beats, Yazou, and Nina J. The first excerpt from the EP was also signed by Madnzo and Maz Beats. Madnzo also collaborated with GLK on “Appart des Alpes” alongside Maz Beats. The latter also produced “Joli” by Zed. Until recently, Moubarak operated in a style similar to that of his mentor, Jul. However, at times, he strays from the aesthetic of the Marseille rapper, widely recognized worldwide, to venture, as is the case here, into a track imbued with mystery.
With a slightly autotuned voice, this dreamlike track oscillates between dream and nightmare, describing the slow descent into hell of a man who gradually abandons his family until he loses himself.
The visual realization of this track, entirely scripted, is the work of DrB, a faithful collaborator of the Marseille rapper. He is notably behind the visuals of “Bousiller,” the first installment of this series, as well as “Trésor,” and “Moral par terre.”
