Ninho Tells a Story of Shattered Dreams in “Des Piges”

Today, Zinédine Zidane will make his first major appearance at the helm of the French national football team. Everyone remembers him as the player who helped deliver France its first World Cup in 1998, ending more than half a century of frustration and disappointment. Zidane embodies the pre-9/11 Black-Blanc-Beur France — the image of a multicultural country capable of winning when united behind the same flag. It was Zidane himself who put France ahead against Brazil with two decisive headers.

Ninho released the mixtape M.I.L.S 4 last January. As usual, the project made an immediate impact, moving more than 50,000 units in its first week. Certified gold in just seven days, the project includes “Des Piges”, for which the artist has now released the official video. In the opening moments of the visual, Ninho looks back at France’s 1998 triumph before telling the story of a footballer whose dreams are shattered after an injury on the pitch ultimately sends his life down a path of crime.

When he was younger, Ninho dreamed of becoming a professional footballer himself, as he told Black Box in 2019:

“I wanted to become a footballer. At first, it was all about football. I didn’t even listen to music when I was a kid. It was later that my cousin started playing me tapes, and that’s when I began listening to a bit of rap. There was some rumba at home too, but I wasn’t really into it. I was focused on football.”

His only goal at the time? “To go downstairs, kick a ball around and become somebody. I was a huge Ronaldinho fan.”

That was around the time of his album Destin, which also became the first diamond-certified album of his career. Ninho has always maintained a particular relationship with the idea of destiny. In a joint interview with Ousmane Dembélé published by Billboard, the rapper spoke specifically about his belief in fate:

“Absolutely, we’re believers. Some things aren’t insignificant and don’t happen by chance. Encounters, whether good or bad, are often catalysts. You have to go through failures to get where you’re meant to be.”

On “Des Piges”, Ninho, alongside Hös Copperfield and Bien Vu on the screenplay, tells the story of a footballer whose dream is shattered. It is a story that could just as easily have been his own — or that of thousands of young people chasing a football while dreaming of a better life.

Ninho tells the story of a footballer’s shattered dream in the “Des Piges” video!

The instrumental production is handled by Zeg P. The producer is one of the most in-demand beatmakers in France. Today, he operates as both a producer and an artist in his own right, stepping into the spotlight through his own projects and solo singles.

Signed to Affranchis Music, Zeg P rose through the ranks alongside Fianso’s label. His production credits are extensive. The beatmaker notably earned a diamond-certified single with Ninho’s “Longue Vie”. More recently, in 2026, he worked with HMZ on “C’est pas mimi” and “Viseur Long”, before producing “Jack Honey” for Niaks alongside Seezy and Tarik Azzouz, two producers he has been collaborating with increasingly often.

Ninho’s “Des Piges” sits firmly within the melodic side of French urban music. The rapper was among the artists who helped make this more melodic approach an integral part of their repertoire, while remaining perfectly capable of delivering raw street rap when the moment calls for it. Among the most iconic tracks from this side of his catalogue is, of course, the classic “Lettre à une femme”.

On “Des Piges”, the lyrics themselves echo the story of a broken destiny:

“Time and money fly away, I’m still chasing after them, a tear rolls down, it’s there to sign the letter
A tear rolls down, it’s there to sign the letter, handcuffed, my neighbour watching through the window
10 a.m. sharp, already downstairs to make the cut, whistle blows, 11 a.m., we put our boots on”

The video was directed by Bien Vu Productions. Ninho’s cousin, Hös Copperfield, also contributed to the screenplay alongside Bien Vu Productions. The result is a genuine short film depicting the shattered destiny of an injured footballer who eventually turns to crime, with the idea of “destiny” running as a central thread throughout the story.

Bien Vu’s production credits are almost too numerous to list. The team has, for example, directed the striking “Tant Pis” by Rim’K, a tribute to Algeria featuring TIF and Sofiane Pamart, as well as “Coffio” for RK and “Tise & Ken” for Ben PLG.