Evil P. - Dante

Released on June 28, 2024 via Darkside music, Dante does not present itself as a sprawling album but rather as a sonic architecture where Antoine Tomé, better known by his alias Evil P and primarily recognized for his multiple roles as a voice actor and musician in the shadows of French hip-hop, redeployes his voice on terrain he has frequented for some time: gangsta rap and trap. Between the internal tension of an artist who has traversed several musical projects and voiceovers prior to this studio release, and the formal constraints of a short album, Dante positions itself as the second chapter in Evil P's story, following up on Trap In The Dark Mixtape (2019).

Malsain: the brutal opening that establishes the gangsta-rap pact

The opening track is titled "Malsain". This opening track is not merely a technical introduction; it immediately establishes the album's aesthetic pact. It defines the project's stakes from the very first second, installing a universe where raw introspection coexists with stage aggression. In this first section, Evil P traces the contours of a territory where every line is a movement across the soundstage, without one yet being able to identify the invisible hands behind the synths or the drum kit that support this initial flow.

Sur le coté: solitude before dialogue

The second track, "Sur le coté," continues this raw introspection. It marks an intermediate step between the aggressive opening and upcoming collaborations, confirming that Evil P explores registers where he owes nothing to acting but only to his own presence on the mic.

Baw feat. Young Chang MC: collaboration as narrative pivot

In the second quarter of the album arrives "Baw," a track that invites Young Chang MC to share the stage with Evil P. This presence does no more than add a voice in the background; it anchors the project into an interior tension duo. The collaboration functions here as a mirror: where Evil P can slip toward more melodic rhymes, his partner brings this roughness that recalls the codes of classic gangsta-rap while remaining within current trap aesthetics. It is a confirmed first jointure on the tracklist, that of an artist who confirms his ability to navigate between soliloquy and dialogue without losing the narrative thread of his album.

Four: return to monologue

The fourth track, "Quatre," marks a return to solo writing after this first collaboration. It reaffirms the stylistic coherence of the project by maintaining a continuous narrative line where each song serves the global message without weighing down the listening experience.

Cali: territorial exploration

"Cali" continues this exploration of varied sonic territories, confirming that Evil P masters the art of formal constraint: every track counts, every transition serves the overarching narrative.

If "Baw" already opened toward vocal exchange, "Démons" with Kalash reinforces this collective dimension of the album. Kalash's presence here is not anecdotal; it gives this song added depth and resonance, recalling the place some artists have occupied on landmark albums in Francophone rap. This second collaboration marks a turning point in the album, confirming that Evil P does not expose himself alone to the public but constructs his project as a space for exchange, where every guest adds a layer to the sonic edifice.

"Belek" ensures continuity between collaborations and the final closure, maintaining the producer's discipline that characterizes this short yet dense album.

The final track, "Rien à foutre," doesn't present itself as a mere technical epilogue. It closes out the journey by marking the end of a compact and intense sonic unit. This concluding song isn't a passive fade-out; it summarizes the ambition of the album: to stay short without being superficial, dense without suffocating. In this final minute and a half or so, Evil P seals the deal on an album that refuses excess in favor of careful architecture. Dante is above all about balance. Two confirmed collaborations—Young Chang MC on "Baw" and Kalash on "Démons"—are enough to add depth without weighing down the project, while six solo tracks ensure stylistic consistency. With a total runtime of 21 minutes 50 seconds, Evil P demonstrates his mastery of formal constraint: every track counts, every transition serves the overarching narrative. This is his second studio album after Trap In The Dark Mixtape (2019), and it confirms Evil P as an artist capable of carving out his own space in francophone rap without relying on fleeting trends.

Technical Details

- Release: June 28, 2024 - Label: Darkside music - Tracks: 8 (21 min 50 s) - Opening / Closing: Malsain / Rien à foutre - Guests: Young Chang MC, Kalash