ZKR made a strong mark on 2024 with the release of his project “Mode opératoire: Vol. 1”, unveiled in February. Surrounded by major figures like Jul, Werenoi, Freeze Corleone, Zed, and Lesram, the rapper delivered a bold comeback. In its first week, the album debuted at No. 2 on the French Top Albums chart, selling 13,222 units across all formats. Just a few weeks later, ZKR was awarded a gold certification, solidifying his place as one of the leading voices in French rap.
Riding the wave of this success, the artist from northern France dropped the episode 0 of his signature series “Freestyle 5 min” — not a brand-new concept, but a symbolic reset. Known for regularly releasing these raw and stripped-down freestyles, ZKR uses this new episode as a personal checkpoint, a way to take stock of his journey and open a new chapter on his own terms.
ZKR reboots with purpose in “Freestyle 5 min (Episode 0)”
The beat is produced by Tony Toxic, a craftsman with a deep appreciation for vintage hip-hop textures. He previously worked with Davodka on “Mise à Flow” and delivered gritty, standout tracks alongside Souffrance like “Voraces”, “Authentique”, and “Van Damme”. His instrumentals have also featured on records by La Fouine and Swift Guad.
This time, the instrumental is elegantly minimal — built around a solemn piano sample. Over this intimate soundscape, ZKR delivers bars that hit with emotional clarity and grounded perspective:
“Why is there always someone running their mouth?
Why is there always someone trying to show out?
Everyone’s got their own path,
We’re not here to compete.”
The visual sets the tone perfectly: ZKR stands before a wall of old TV screens — a metaphorical nod to reflection, rewinding, and reinvention. The camera then follows him through his neighborhood, blurring the line between past and present. This isn’t a flashy premiere — it’s a clean slate.
