Z.E.R.O
2012 mixtape by Kaaris
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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.
Analysis
Musical impact
The 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
With 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
| 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 | |