Freeze Corleone: A controversial rapper who dominates the French scene
Summary
- Introduction
- Who is Freeze Corleone?
- Freeze Corleone's Musical Career
- The controversies surrounding Freeze Corleone
- Freeze Corleone and his concerts
- The 667 Collective and the Influence of Freeze Corleone
- Conclusion
1. Introduction
Freeze Corleone, whose real name is Issa Lorenzo Diakhaté, is a key figure in French rap. This rapper, songwriter, and producer is also known for his controversial stances. With millions of listeners and a career marked by both resounding successes and controversies, Freeze Corleone leaves no one indifferent. In this article, we will explore Freeze Corleone's impact on the French music scene, while addressing the various controversies that have marked his career.
2. Who is Freeze Corleone?
Freeze Corleone was born on June 8, 1992, in Les Lilas, Seine-Saint-Denis, to a Senegalese father and an Italian mother. He spent part of his childhood in Pantin before moving to Senegal, where he attended high school. Early on, Freeze Corleone began his musical career and founded the 667 collective, a group that would have a major influence on the French rap scene. Today, Freeze Corleone is one of the most controversial and respected figures in the genre, both for his unique style and his radical positions.
3. Freeze Corleone's musical career
In 2020, Freeze Corleone made a spectacular entrance onto the rap scene with the release of his debut studio album, LMF (La Menace FantĂŽme). The album was a huge commercial success, reaching number two on the French charts. Three weeks after its release, LMF was certified gold, and in 2021, it went platinum. This album perfectly reflects Freeze Corleone's musical universe, marked by drill influences and often cryptic cultural references.
Aside from his musical successes, Freeze Corleone is also known for his involvement in collective projects such as the CFR (Congo Français Révolution), a collective founded with Norsacce and Osirus Jack.
4. The controversies surrounding Freeze Corleone
Freeze Corleone's career has been marked by recurring controversies. His album LMF sparked a wave of outrage, particularly due to certain lyrics deemed anti-Semitic. The International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (Licra) criticized the artist for his comments. In September 2020, an investigation was opened for incitement to racial hatred, but it was ultimately dismissed. Despite this, the rapper has seen several of his concerts canceled or banned, such as the one planned in Rennes in February 2023, due to the controversial nature of his lyrics.
Freeze Corleone has also been embroiled in other controversies, particularly due to explicit references to sensitive historical events. For example, his song "Haaland" sparked strong reactions after it alluded to the Nice attacks. Politicians such as Christian Estrosi and Ăric Ciotti denounced these lyrics, adding to the artist's controversial reputation.
4.1 Pierre Palmade Freeze Corleone
Recently, Freeze Corleone has been the subject of a controversy related to comedian Pierre Palmade . Some of his song lyrics have been interpreted as referring to legal cases involving the comedian. This controversy adds to the long list of controversies surrounding the artist.
The accident in question sparked numerous reactions, particularly in the rap world. Freeze Corleone, in his song Tse Chi Lop, used explicit language when referring to the comedian with the phrase: "PDM for Pierre Palmade." This verbal attack particularly shocked Pierre Palmade, who saw the words as unjustified violence. Since the accident, he has constantly thought about the victims and regretted the media coverage he received, which further increased the weight of his remorse.
5. Freeze Corleone and his concerts
Freeze Corleone is known for his intense stage performances, although several of his concerts have been canceled due to controversies surrounding his lyrics. In December 2022, a concert planned for Montreal was canceled under pressure from the B'nai Brith organization, which deemed its lyrics anti-Semitic. Despite this, the rapper continues to sell out venues across France, particularly during his highly anticipated concerts, such as the 2024 Freeze Corleone concert, which attracted media attention.
However, some concerts have been banned, such as the one in Lille in February 2024, where the courts ruled that Freeze Corleone's lyrics incited hatred or discrimination.
6. The 667 Collective and the influence of Freeze Corleone
The Freeze Corleone 667 collective is a group of rappers who share a common musical and ideological vision. Members of the collective include artists like Norsacce and Osirus Jack , both of whom are very close to Freeze. Together, they have established themselves as a key force in the world of underground rap. The collective is also known for its obscure references and conspiracy theories, a style that particularly characterizes Freeze Corleone.
667 is a French-Senegalese hip-hop collective formed in 2013, comprising around fifteen members, primarily from Lyon and Dakar. The collective includes rappers and producers spread across Paris, Dakar, Lyon, and London. Freeze Corleone is the group's founder, having gathered its members in Gentilly to work on music. The collective has maintained a secretive identity from its inception, avoiding social media and using various aliases. Religious faith also plays a central role in the group's cohesion, a bond that unites them deeply.
The name 667 could refer to the Quran, adding the numbers 6, 6, and 7 together to equal 192. Other sources suggest that the name is a variation of the number 666, symbolically associated with the Beast, or a reference to Freeze Corleone's FFG collective. Since its formation, 667 has formed a close relationship with the Lyonzon collective, with whom it has collaborated on several tracks, including "669" and "669 part. 2." The collective released its first project in 2014 with the mixtape 667 Radio on SoundCloud, and between 2015 and 2016, beatmaker Ocho Puccino compiled two albums featuring the collective's tracks.
667's musical style is heavily influenced by American artists and groups such as Raider Klan and Gucci Mane, as well as Chicago drill and Memphis and Houston rap. Their lyrics are distinguished by a blend of references to esotericism, conspiracy culture, and elements of pop culture, often expressed in cryptic forms. Although they address classic themes such as money, drugs, and success, it is their unique approach to these themes that sets them apart from other artists in the rap scene. Their music, classified as trap, is also characterized by the use of chopped and screwed, a style influenced by the American Southern music scene.
6.1 Freeze Corleone ADC
Freeze Corleone's success isn't limited to France alone. His influence also extends abroad, where he enjoys a large fan base, particularly in the ADC (Afro Drill Community) scene. Freeze Corleone popularized this subgenre of drill, a musical movement imported from Chicago.
7. Conclusion
Despite the numerous controversies surrounding him, Freeze Corleone remains one of the most influential and controversial figures in French rap. His music, both dark and provocative, continues to divide public opinion while attracting a loyal fan base. With his future projects, notably his concerts and his collaborations within the 667 collective, Freeze Corleone proves that he remains an essential artist, despite criticism and bans.
