Ninho strikes again with his latest single, “5 Bleus”. The track arrives as the rapper increasingly hints at what fans have been waiting for: the fourth installment of his iconic mixtape series M.I.L.S. When he first dropped M.I.L.S, few could have predicted such a meteoric rise for this young artist from the 91. Since then, he has written one of French rap’s most impressive chapters: diamond certification for Destin, a string of triple-platinum awards, and unstoppable success. In 2023, he released N.I, an ambitious project featuring four international heavyweights — Lil Baby, Arya Starr, Central CEE, and Omah Lay. Just thirteen days after its release, the record had already gone gold. But today, Ninho seems less interested in chasing superlatives.
Is he turning his sights abroad? Quite possibly. Invited that same year on Léa Salamé’s show on France Inter, Ninho came across as true to himself: composed, grounded, and respectful. Crowned with a Victoire de la musique, he has moved beyond the old controversies surrounding an institution that long sidelined rap. Speaking about the Nahel case, he delivered a heavy line: “It’s been the same since 2005”, a direct reference to the tragedy of Zyed and Bouna. The statement reinforces his image as rap’s “quiet force” — impactful without ever raising his voice. With “5 Bleus”, he delivers a striking return: street-rooted, but sharpened by refined writing.
Ninho has to line up 5 Bleus!
On production, we find Jerzey and Camaya. The latter is no stranger to the scene: he’s the producer behind “Le poète noir” by Kery James, “Sur la selle” by Jul, and “Pansement” by Bouss. With “5 Bleus”, he delivers a dark yet melodic instrumental — the perfect canvas for Ninho to reconnect with the incisive style that first propelled him with M.I.L.S.
Lyrically, the track blends bitterness with confrontation. Like many of his peers, the rapper touches on jealousy, hatred, and the suffocating nature of the rap game:
“The looks that change at the first gold record but we savor (we savor)
I was never stingy, he wanted more, he took me for a bank
He took me for a bank, that bastard, fuck his aunt
Sticks in the spokes, they put in our wheels
It’s the evil eye they cast, but it’s the Lord who protects us”
Adorned with gold and platinum, Ninho approaches his next release with a single question: can he surpass his own records? The answer will come in the months ahead. One thing is certain: each of his releases only confirms his status as one of French rap’s undisputed heavyweights.
