Kalash Criminel

Kalash Criminel is a French rapper born on 14 February 1995 in Sevran, in the Paris suburbs, from the Rougemont neighbourhood. Albino and of Congolese descent, he is instantly recognisable thanks to the balaclava he wears in every public appearance, which has become his trademark and a symbol of anonymity within the French rap scene. He began rapping as a teenager, freestyling in the streets with his crew Hall 14, and cites Lil Scrappy alongside French rappers such as Kaaris, Niro, Dosseh and Seth Gueko among his influences.

He built his reputation through raw, aggressive freestyles, most notably «Sauvagerie #1» and «Sauvagerie #2», which spread widely online and established his reputation for a violent, unfiltered delivery rooted in street storytelling. In 2016 he signed to Def Jam France, and soon after released «Arrêt du cœur» featuring Kaaris, a track that confirmed his rise within the label's roster.

Kalash Criminel is known for a minimal, direct approach to songwriting, often improvising verses in the booth rather than writing them out beforehand, which gives his music a spontaneous, confrontational energy. Songs like «Enterrez-les», «Piano sombre» and «Euphorie» further cemented his place among the harder-edged voices of contemporary French rap, and he remains associated with the 10/12 Records collective.