Among the founding fathers of French rap stands Passi, an emblematic member of the legendary Ministère A.M.E.R.. From his early years within the collective active around Sarcelles, one remembers in particular this single from the soundtrack of La Haine, written with razor-sharp intent and carrying an unmistakable title: “Sacrifice de Poulet”. A track that would earn him and his crew heavy backlash, including charges of incitement to murder. But it was with his scathing critique of the rising television culture, “Je zappe et je matte”, that Passi firmly etched his name into French cultural history. For many, his album “Les Tentations” marked a turning point—a project that made rap more accessible without sacrificing thematic depth. He went on to pursue an unapologetically political career with tracks like “Émeute”, and became one of the first artists to bridge rap and Afro-inspired sounds through the Congolese collective Bisso Na Bisso. Without question, Passi is a trailblazer.
The rapper now returns with a fiercely political single alongside Stavo and Athaya Mokonzi. Stavo, a member of 13 Block, has already clarified that a new “BLO III” is not on the agenda. The trio of artists—Stavo, Zed, and Oldpee—are currently focused on solo careers, each expanding their own artistic universe. Their approach echoes the strategy devised by RZA for the Wu-Tang Clan before the release of Wu-Tang Forever: a method in which each member develops a solo identity before regrouping for a major collective project. This formula became legendary with the release of “Reunited”, the cornerstone of what would later be known as The 5-Year Plan.
As France—like much of the world—faces an unprecedented social, political, and economic crisis, many accuse today’s rappers of staying silent in the face of power. Passi, Stavo, and Athaya Mokonzi, however, choose confrontation. Their track “Marionnettes” hits hard with its direct message, its oppressive imagery, and a chorus borrowed from a children’s rhyme turned into a warning siren.
Passi, Stavo and Athaya Mokonzi unleash fury and resistance in “Marionnettes”!
The production, crafted by Jordan, delivers a powerful and modern instrumental far removed from the old-school sounds often associated with Passi. A guardian of the genre since the 90s, he surprises by embracing a raw, almost martial sonic palette. The track unfolds like a political pamphlet, reminiscent of the explosive energy of a “Hardcore” by Kery James or “La Fin de leur monde” by IAM, stacking bar after bar in direct confrontation with the world’s fractures:
“Kid, we fucked up your planet like we fucked up Nazareth
Russian roulette, finger on the trigger
Chechens on YouTube cutting off heads.” (Passi)
“It’s the ram’s hour, armed, broken
On your balaclava you put on a yellow vest
It’s as dark as the road of weapons.
We don’t really know where we’re going.
We don’t know who we should follow—
Or in whose hands we will end up.” (Stavo)
“Watching calmly the blunders of Nazi fathers
The police station burning.
A lame, failed five-year term
Boosted by paparazzi playing Yamakasi.” (Passi)
The visuals, directed by Passi and Sébastien Fallourd, use AI-generated imagery to reinforce the message delivered by the three rappers. A note at the end of the clip explicitly states that the video was created with artificial intelligence. As in “Le maton te guette”, Passi pays tribute to incarcerated people, continuing his long-standing commitment to social issues. Sébastien Fallourd previously worked with him on the music video for “Attachez vos ceintures”.
