Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1980-01-30
- Born Place: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Also Known As:
Gnakouri Okou, Armand Gnakouri, Okou Armand Gnakouri
Kaaris
Kaaris, born Armand Olivier Okou Gnakouri on January 30, 1980, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, is a French-Ivorian rapper, actor, and record producer. Raised in Sevran, a suburb northeast of Paris, he began his music career in the late 1990s under the stage name "Fresh," inspired by the film Fresh by Boaz Yakin. After a brief return to the Ivory Coast during political unrest, he returned to France and released his first mixtape in 2001. His 2007 street album 43ème Bima marked his emergence in the French rap scene. In 2012, he gained significant attention with his album Z.E.R.O, leading to a deal with the independent label French Cut Music. His breakthrough came with the 2013 album Or Noir, which was certified double platinum and is considered a landmark in French trap music . Kaaris's music is known for its dark, aggressive tone, and he is credited with popularizing trap music in France. He has released several successful albums, including Le bruit de mon âme (2015), Dozo (2017), and OKOU (2017). In 2023, he starred in and co-wrote the Netflix film Le Roi des ombres (The King of Shadows) . Beyond his music and acting career, Kaaris has been involved in various controversies, including a highly publicized altercation with fellow rapper Booba at Paris-Orly Airport in 2018, which led to legal consequences . Despite these challenges, he remains a prominent figure in the French music industry.
