At a time when French drill was reaching its peak, Ziak emerged with “Akimbo”. Driven by a single feature with Maes, the project earned gold certification within just a few days and instantly established the rapper as one of the leading figures of the French drill scene, alongside collectives and artists such as Lyonzon, the 667, and Gazo.
While many artists from the drill movement gradually shifted toward more accessible and mainstream sounds, Ziak chose a different path. The rapper proved that he could evolve his universe without ever betraying the very essence of his music. More than just a representative of a generational trend, he established himself as an artist capable of turning drill into a fully-fledged artistic identity.
With “Essonne History X”, a title directly inspired by a cult movie from the 2000s, Ziak pushed this evolution even further. Since “Akimbo” and later “Chrome”, the artist has developed an instantly recognizable aesthetic. His productions, sometimes infused with oriental influences, coexist with cold, metallic, and oppressive visuals. For Ziak, imagery is never just an accessory — it stands as a central part of his artistic vision.
With “Essonne History X”, the visual direction became even more minimalistic, abstract, and at times openly subversive. Some videos rely entirely on static shots focused on a moving object, almost as if the artist were trying to deconstruct the traditional codes of rap visuals. Musically, the productions also expanded into a broader sonic palette while remaining deeply rooted in drill. More than a simple stylistic shift, Ziak gradually reshapes his own artistic language.
Ziak has now announced the release of his upcoming project “Hard”, scheduled for January 29, 2027. The rapper recently unveiled a first preview with “Catwalk”. While the atmosphere remains as dark, violent, and visually striking as ever, the artist seems to be entering a new creative phase directly inspired by the continuity of “Essonne History X”.
Ziak unveils “Catwalk” and announces his upcoming project “Hard”!
The track’s instrumental was produced by Rosaliedu38. The producer had already collaborated with Ziak on the album “Essonne History X”, notably on the song “La Tombe de Marley”. More recently, he also worked on the collaboration between Limsa d’Aulnay and Rim’K for “Enfants perdus”.
On “Catwalk”, the production remains deeply rooted in drill: fast-paced, cold, aggressive, and highly impactful. Carried by this tense and dark instrumental, Ziak stacks references and punchlines in a raw outburst of energy:
“J’reviens des profondeurs, et j’voyais pas d’Submariner
Ma grand-mère savait ni lire ni écrire, j’suis auteur
Et au restau’, j’suis en hauteur, tu veux la mâche, y a l’bosseur”
The visual for the track was directed by Cyril Gaborit. The filmmaker embraces the core aesthetic elements of Ziak’s universe, especially its omnipresent darkness and suffocating atmosphere. However, he also injects his own artistic identity into the video, notably drawing inspiration from his short film “L’Approche”. The main character from that project even appears during the opening moments of the clip.
The visual also appears heavily influenced by the universe of David Lynch, particularly the surreal sequences found in “Mulholland Drive” and “Twin Peaks”. More than just a music video director, Cyril Gaborit presents himself here as a true visual artist whose approach shares several similarities with Ziak’s own artistic vision. The deliberately grainy cinematography creates a dark, almost funeral-like atmosphere that perfectly matches the rapper’s world.
