Tchubi Fuses Rock, Drill and Trap on New Album ‘A Man With a Gun’

After two years of constant work and refinement, Moroccan rapper Tchubi delivers his most ambitious vision yet with the 16-track concept album, A Man With a Gun. Written and executive produced entirely by Tchubi, the LP pairs hard-hitting rap, intricate genre shifts, and deeply personal storytelling centered on regret, survival, and transformation under pressure. Taking the narrative a step further, the project unfolds alongside an episodic short-film series that visualizes its continuous arc.

The album establishes its cinematic tone through atmospheric arrangements. Co-produced by Tchubi alongside Foulane and Hicham Kebbaj, ‘Indar Abawi’ sets a grounded scene with a traditional Moroccan sample and spoken-word intro. The energy shifts dramatically on ‘Mad Dogs’, where mangled samples push traditional melodies into electronic territory over dynamic drum grooves, while ‘Family Business’ pivots inward, starting on a somber synth line before an unexpected drum transition transforms his reflective verses into a high-impact highlight.

Anchoring the early narrative arc is lead single ‘MATHASEBNICH’. Co-produced by Tchubi with IceBeatz, Marcelo, and Pix, the track fuses atmospheric production with Tchubi’s stoic delivery as he addresses a refusal to be judged. Its accompanying seven-minute short film, directed by Mehdi Messaoudi, follows a fictionalized version of Tchubi and his entourage navigating nocturnal city fringes.

The middle section erupts into raw, high-contrast collaborations that push Tchubi’s vocal delivery into chaotic territory. On ‘KSSIRI’, he unleashes an unhinged performance alongside Onzy over heavy 808s and bright B-section pads before a synth-led beat switch. Taking a theatrical turn, ‘Princes De La Ville’ features legendary Moroccan rock band Hoba Hoba Spirit, opening with a wrestling announcer skit before blending trap rhythms with distorted guitars and live percussion. The mood cools on ‘Rose’s On Fire Interlude’, where Bayadis and Simane layer weary vocals over dreamy piano and strings, before a distorted 808 wallop feeds directly into ‘Jefferson 24’ featuring FVHD! and Insannee, an upbeat electronic cut with dark undertones.

Across the record's back half, Tchubi leans heavily into bold sample flips and vibrant rhythm shifts. ‘Habibi’ flips a classic Fairuz sample into futuristic drill, while ‘Ana Bghitiek’, co-produced with and featuring Saintemen, merges choppy vocal cuts with pop-rap sensibilities and Chaabi rhythms. This energy contrasts with low-key, ambient moments like ‘And Still We Met’ featuring Najm and the title track ‘a man with a gun’, where faint traditional strings echo under a spoken-word interlude.

The closing sequence balances percussive traditional motifs with introspective trap. ‘Marhba’ featuring Nabil Sansi brings metallic chants and Chaabi drum setups, leading into the melodic, spaced-out flows of ‘Passport’ and the glitchy production on ‘Aziz’. Bringing the journey full circle, finale track ‘Gha Dikrayate’ opens on a somber solo piano before mid-track Chaabi rhythms inject an energetic closing contrast.

A Man With a Gun stands out for its versatile production choices and strong narrative cohesion. While its sheer scope occasionally stretches the project wide, Tchubi’s sharp writing, hands-on production direction, and cinematic vision make it a compelling landmark in modern Maghrebi hip-hop.