Gazo

The prince of drill set Plenitude Arena on fire on April 18, 2025. A one-of-a-kind event, with not an artist but a boxing match as the opening act, pitting Bakary Samake against South African Roarke Knapp, before what could only be described as the concert of the year.

Who could ever have imagined watching a boxing match before a concert?

An Opening Act Unlike Any Other

Impossible is not in Gazo’s vocabulary. The rapper pulled off a seamless collision of two worlds, placing a ring in the middle of Plenitude Arena for the bout between Bakary Samake and Roarke Knapp.

Before the fight, the Marseillaise rang out inside Plenitude Arena.

What followed was a contest of intense focus, watched in near-silence by the crowd. Eight gruelling rounds, settled in dramatic fashion by a KO from Bakary Samake.

A finish that set the stage perfectly for the exceptional concert to come.

© Apolline Cornuet

The Prince Makes His Entrance

Following Bakary Samake’s victory, Gazo appeared atop a container, introduced by a slick projection sequence on the curtain. He opened his set with Toki to a crowd already at boiling point.

Lasers, smoke, pyrotechnics: everything was in place to deliver a full sensory assault to the Plenitude Arena crowd. When Tchin, the drill prince’s iconic track, arrived, no more was needed to send the pit into a volcanic frenzy.

FEATURINGS, FEATURINGS… FEATURINGS… more featurings

Known for his collaborations across the scene, Gazo brought out an impressive roster of names to perform their joint tracks live. Ninho, who previously played Plenitude Arena on September 10, 2022, was there. So was Orelsan, who sold out Europe’s largest venue three nights in a row, alongside La Mano, Favé, Yamê and Freeze Corleone. And among the notable absences, though not entirely, Tiakola joined live via video link from his Bordeaux concert, beamed onto the giant screen at Plenitude Arena.

© Apolline Cornuet

The Concert Of the Year

In front of 40,000 people, Gazo took his audience through the full heat of his catalogue, delivering exactly what they came for with an unrelenting run of his most infectious tracks. Tchin arrived early in the setlist and left its mark immediately.

But it was far from the only highlight: Molly, Flashback, Mami Wata, Ça Mène à Rien, Céline 3x, Kassav, Drill FR4, Becte, Daddy Chocolat, Mauvais 2x, Die, and closing, of course, with Nanani Nanana.

Missed the show of the year at Plenitude Arena? No problem. Here’s your catch-up, in photos.