After a long period of incarceration, the loss of his parents, and several betrayals, rapper Akbess, real name Abass Khadim Al Rassoul Akar, makes a remarkable comeback with his new album Upgrade. This musical project embodies his desire for progress, resilience, and transformation.

Refusing to stagnate, the artist, who spoke to L'Observateur, asserts: "I don't want to be reborn, I want to move forward." For the interviewee of the daily newspaper of the Groupe avenirs médias, prison was a true "school of life," which hardened him without making him bitter: "I'm not proud of having gone to prison, but I am proud of what prison has made of me."

Far from holding any grudge, Akbess also discusses the betrayals he suffered. He harbors no bitterness toward those who walked away when circumstances changed, instead seeing it as a salutary lesson:

"When you're happy, everyone is there. When you're at rock bottom, there's no one there. [...]. Everything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Those who turned their backs on me just showed me their true colors. I thank them for showing me that."

It was in this isolation that he honed his craft, learning to transform his pain into music.

A two-part album and an eagerly awaited concert

Comprised of 13 tracks, including seven already available and six more to come, Upgrade is unveiled in two stages, a strategy designed to encourage attentive listening. While Akbess has collaborated with several artists (Dip Doundou Guiss, Xiirsa, Nick Silver), the work remains above all an inner dialogue, a musical introspection.

The rapper is determinedly preparing for a major concert scheduled for November 15th at the esplanade of the Grand Théâtre National. Akbess wants to make his mark in the long term, building and transmitting a message of hope to Senegalese youth:

“No matter where you come from, you can achieve your dreams.”