Rim’K comes from a generation of rappers who witnessed a time when French rap was still confined to the “Urban Music” category at the Victoires de la Musique. Introduced in 2007 during France’s biggest mainstream music ceremony, the label itself may even have helped popularize the term “urban music”, which became unavoidable in the media landscape following the rise of Sexion d’Assaut. It is a period Rim’K knows all too well: alongside 113, he won the award for “Rap or Groove Album of the Year”. Driven by the now-classic Les Princes de la ville, the group from Vitry-sur-Seine did far more than collect trophies — they reshaped the imagination of French rap while achieving massive commercial success.
As a solo artist, Rim’K began a highly noticeable comeback in 2018. One of the standout moments came alongside Ninho, with the two artists flexing in “Air Max” surrounded by housing blocks. While some rappers from his era struggle to connect with the new generation, Rim’K moves through different eras with remarkable ease. There is little point in talking to him about nostalgia or “old school” rap: he can jump into trap territory like Kaaris, experiment with 2-step sounds, or reconnect with his Algerian roots through derbouka-driven rhythms, naturally extending the legacy of his iconic track Tonton du bled. An artistic direction he continues to explore alongside TIF and Sofiane Pamart on “Tant Pis”.
On his latest project, RUN, Rim’K collaborates with an entire new wave of French rap talent, including SDM, Kekra, Zamdane, and TH. During an appearance on Légendes Urbaines, he openly expressed his admiration for SDM: “Incredible, little bro, I really love him. Beyond the fact that, to me, he’s already an important artist for French rap and will continue to be in the future, he’s also an example of humility. He understands everything. He’s incredible. The perfect balance.”
Today, the artist unveils “Les Enfants perdus”, a deliberately old-school-inspired track alongside Limsa d’Aulnay. The title almost instantly brings to mind the universe of Keny Arkana, one of the defining voices of the 2000s, whose classic La Mère des enfants perdus left a lasting mark on an entire generation of listeners.
Rim’K and Limsa d’Aulnay are the “Lost Children”!
The instrumental was produced by Rosaliedu38 and Esone. Rosaliedu38 previously worked with PLK on tracks such as “Bleu & Rouge” and “Tu dors ?”, as well as with Ziak on “La tombe de Marley”. Meanwhile, Esone mainly collaborates with Ptite Soeur. Together, the two producers craft an instrumental that feels stripped-back, melancholic, and powerful all at once, giving both rappers the perfect space to deliver deeply personal verses:
“When you grew up in the countryside with cows, chickens and farmers
Aulnay-sous’ and Vitry really feel like another world”
Or again:
“We were lost children, but we never had our own Tinker Bell”
Rim’K responds with the same raw lucidity:
“Death rides around on a scooter, headphones on, the shooter’s young, still underage”
Before adding:
“I don’t get attached to material things, I insult you in my mother tongue”
The visual, shot around Boulevard de la Chapelle, was directed by Nexlab. The filmmaker previously directed “Humeur” for Rodes, “Bail” for DTF, and “OK” for Kodes. Staying true to his visual identity, the director plays here with desaturated tones, cold lighting, and grey urban landscapes that perfectly reinforce the song’s melancholic atmosphere.
