More discreet than other French rappers like Joeystarr and Koolshen, Akhenaton is rather rare in the media. Leader of the cult group of the 1990s IAM, the rapper has always been better known for his committed texts than for his outbursts or his rants. However, certain choices were able, at one time, to make some polemics.
Guest in the Face Katche, the program presented by Manu Katché on Yahoo!, he notably agreed to discuss his conversion to Islam, at the age of 25. He acknowledged that his decision was related to “something purely intellectual” thanks to the books read and the frequentation of “people mainly in that religion“, who were able to convince him thanks to discussions which he claims to keep”a good memory“.
He then added that he was “came to Islam by sharing“, solidarity also, he who had started to fast to support his friends in the middle of Ramadan. A choice which has not always been understood, in particular by the family of the one who is actually called Philippe Fragione. His great -father, for example, never really heard that he wanted to stop ham and wine. However, Akhenaten assures him today, “there was absolutely no malice in it“.
Other cases, however, shocked him. Indeed, shortly after his marriage to Aïcha, the mother of his three children (Yanis, 26, Inaya, 23 and Reyan, 21), he was confronted with racism from certain real estate developers who did not hesitate to write on their announcements:No dogs, no blacks, no arabs“.
“When you see your wife, you look at your children and you see that, you say to yourself it’s hot. You tell yourself it’s not possible… And we’re still there“, he regretted, assuring that he only experienced discrimination after his marriage and his conversion. A strong position taken by one of the most famous rappers in France, appreciated for his committed lyrics , especially in the album The school of micro moneyreleased in 1997, or for his recent choice not to be vaccinated despite being hospitalized with Covid-19.