Z.E.R.O is a street CD and mixtape by the rapper Kaaris. Released in May 2012 and produced by Therapy 2093, eighteen months before Or Noir, it is a project that already features many elements characteristic of Kaaris's later music. The work holds significant influence in Francophone rap, standing as a frontrunner in the arrival of the trap music genre in France.
| Z.E.R.O | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Mixtape by | ||||
| Released | May 2012 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 45:56 | |||
| Label | AM7 Music | |||
| Producer | Therapy 2093 | |||
| Kaaris chronology | ||||
| ||||
Analysis
editMusical impact
editThe work, which marks Kaaris's first attempt to delve into trap music, innovates in many aspects.[1] The production by Therapy 2093 is particularly noted for its avant-gardism.[1] The album is very raw and designed to shock; for example, Kaaris declares: "Hurry up and suck me, my tip is dried out".[1] Yet, he also references Marcus Aurelius[1] and displays a calmer lyricism, as in "Africa is a billion Jesuses on crosses".[1] The track Lourd Lourd is said to have "one of the most spectacular intros ever seen in a French rap song, embodying the two facets of Kaaris's writing: on one side, very brutal punchlines; on the other, more sophisticated and reflective lyrics".[2]
Legacy
editWith this release, Kaaris is said to have been democratized within the Francophone rap scene for the first time.[3] In 2018, Vice described it as an "essential prequel" to Or Noir.[4] The album is also referred to as a "monument" of Francophone rap by Mouv'.[1]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro: Ram Muay" | 1:27 |
| 2. | "Houdini" | 3:56 |
| 3. | "L'hôte funeste" | 3:26 |
| 4. | "Bon qu'à ça" | 4:34 |
| 5. | "L'oeil du mur" | 3:42 |
| 6. | "Lourd lourd" | 4:12 |
| 7. | "Criminelle League" | 5:02 |
| 8. | "Le légiste" | 5:22 |
| 9. | "Cayman" | 4:13 |
| 10. | "Hémophiles" | 3:56 |
| 11. | "Un caillou sur la langue" | 3:01 |
| 12. | "Super Nova" | 3:05 |
| Total length: | 45:56 | |
Charts
edit| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French Albums (SNEP)[5] | 141 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Genono (30 March 2020). ""Z.E.R.O" de Kaaris : retour sur ce projet qui a posé ses bases". Mouv' (in French). Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Genono (2 April 2021). "Kaaris : sa discographie décryptée". Mouv' (in French). Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Perkins, Johney (30 March 2015). "Kaaris". Lerapcetaitmieuxavant.fr (in French). Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Sar, Yérim (26 March 2018). "Vous vous souvenez de l'époque où Kaaris était le mec le plus dégueulasse du rap français ?". VICE. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Kaaris – Z.E.R.O". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 December 2024.