A French-Moroccan rapper known as “Mays” appeared before the Appeal Court in Tangier, facing charges of inciting the kidnapping, detention, and murder of a rival.
The case centers on a group of individuals accused of forming a criminal gang, allegedly led by a suspect named “Morad,” who is believed to have been tasked by “Mays” with the elimination of his rival in Marrakech.
During the proceedings, Mays denied the allegations, asserting that he did not know the defendants and had no connection to them, claiming he never planned any killings. The main defendant also testified that he did not know Mays personally and had not contacted him directly, although he admitted to listening to Mays’ music.
### Residence Certificate in Tangier
The court confirmed that Morad, the alleged gang leader, possessed substantial wealth, including homes, villas, and luxury cars. Evidence presented showed that he had communications regarding weapons and motorcycles while distributing gifts and acquiring properties under the names of his associates.
Morad attributed these transactions to not having a national identity card, denying any plans to kidnap anyone.
The trial revealed that Morad was well-informed about sensitive information, including an arrest warrant against him, which explained the prolonged absence of his identity card until he headed to Tangier, where he intended to escape to Europe.
With the help of intermediaries, he managed to obtain a “residence certificate” in his name, exploiting a police officer in exchange for 900 dirhams, to initiate the process for obtaining his national identity card. This venture ended with his arrest and the apprehension of the inciting rapper.
### The Empire
Days before the Tangier trial, a book titled “The Empire” (L’Empire) was published in France, revealing hidden connections between rap and criminal gangs in the country, detailing aspects of this case.
According to the book, Mays, now 30, had his life drastically changed since October 2023 when he was sentenced in absentia to ten months in prison for collective violence after an attack on a man in a Paris recording studio in 2018. His failure to attend court led French authorities to issue an international arrest warrant, forcing him to cancel a concert in Paris in June 2024.
### Extortion and Violent Response
Mays justified his violent reactions, claiming that since 2020, he had been a target of extortion attempts from individuals in the Servan neighborhood in France, controlled by drug lords and rappers.
He was accused of “forgetting his origins” and exploiting their stories in his songs without sharing the large profits or aiding new up-and-coming rappers in the neighborhood, which led to attacks on his music video crew.
Mays responded violently, allegedly injuring two members of a rival gang with gunfire. This escalation supposedly made him a target for “murder,” according to “The Empire,” which was authored by journalists Paul Deutschman, Simon Belle, and Joan Tailouin. In December 2022, a close associate of his was killed in Paris, fueling his desire for revenge.
### Escape to Dubai
Following the court ruling and escalating threats, Mays fled to Dubai with his wife and daughter. In the Gulf emirate, he invested a significant portion of his wealth in a luxury entertainment center aimed at attracting celebrities.
From Dubai, Mays insisted on seeking revenge and, per the book, paid 150,000 euros to hire hitmen to eliminate two of his enemies in Sevrin, as retaliation for his associate’s murder. These plots were devised via encrypted apps but were intercepted by French police through surveillance and testimonies.
Among those he also plotted against from Dubai was an individual in Marrakech. However, the plan was thwarted by security forces, leading to his arrest and that of his collaborators.
### Calling for the King
Mays was set to be arrested in Dubai under an agreement with France, but he received information about this plan two days before its execution, prompting him to leave the emirate for Oman and then Egypt, before arriving in Casablanca, Morocco, where he was detained upon his arrival at the airport on January 22, 2025.
According to “The Empire,” the rapper attempted to appeal to King Mohammed VI for assistance, asking singer “James,” who had been photographed with the king in Marrakech, but the surrounding accusations and suspicions made this impossible.
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