Kaaris

Kaaris (born Armand Olivier Okou Gnakouri on 30 January 1980) is a French rapper, actor, and record producer who rose from the gritty suburbs of Sevran in Seine‑Saint‑Denis. Raised in a multicultural environment, he began writing verses in 1999 and released his first mixtape two years later, displaying a raw lyrical intensity that would become his signature. After a brief return to his native Ivory Coast amid political unrest, he came back to France and in 2007 dropped the street album 43ème Bima, catching the attention of the independent label French Cut Music. A pivotal moment arrived when he collaborated with Booba on “Criminelle League” and later featured on Booba’s hit “Kalash,” propelling him into mainstream French rap charts. His breakthrough studio album Or Noir (2013) on Therapy Music/AZ/Universal Music is heralded as a landmark release, blending dark trap beats with stark storytelling, and the 2014 re‑issue earned platinum certification. Subsequent projects such as Le Bruit de Mon Âme (2015), Okou Gnakouri (2016) – which achieved double‑platinum status – and Dozo (2017) cemented his reputation for relentless lyrical aggression and prolific output. Kaaris has also ventured into cinema, appearing in films like Braqueurs (2015), Overdrive (2017), The Bouncer (2018), and the Netflix production The King of Shadows (2023), showcasing his versatility beyond music. In August 2018, a widely publicized altercation with Booba at Paris‑Orly Airport led to legal consequences, including an 18‑month suspended sentence and a €50,000 fine. Despite controversies, Kaaris remains a dominant force in French hip‑hop, continually evolving his sound through collaborations with artists such as Gucci Mane, Kalash Criminel, and Future, while managing his own label OG Record.