Allen Akino is a rapper and singer. Now in his thirties, he keeps a low profile, but his résumé speaks for itself: albums, collaborations with IAM, work with Jul and lyrics written for a multitude of artists. Already considering himself part of the old guard, he enjoys tracking the differences in political commitment across generations. Each week, he leads writing workshops in social centers around Marseille, such as in the Notre-Dame-des-Marins housing estate in Martigues, a town just northwest of Marseille. The challenge of that day's workshop: a scenario, a story told in 16 bars. "A poor person becomes rich – you have to explain what happened," Akino instructed, as he started the instrumental track composed for the workshop.

A dozen teenagers filled the room. All of them live in the neighborhood, and all were surprised to see a journalist: "Le Monde, what's that? Are you on Insta?" They were especially surprised that the media would come for a topic other than drugs or gang violence – the everyday reality here. After an hour's work, every single one told the story of a character who got wealthy from drug dealing: "The chair/The jail/Marbella [flashy drug-dealer getaway in Spain]." But they aren't naive: "He ruined his life selling 100 grams in high school," "DPJJ [youth judicial protection services]/ I almost messed up my life."

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