After briefly announcing his retirement following the release of his album Ultra—touted as his final project—French rap icon Booba has thrilled fans with a new single, "Kayna."
Booba wasted no time returning to the spotlight. Despite the hype around his 10th and supposedly "ultimate" album Ultra, loyal supporters sensed the Duke of Boulogne wasn't done yet. He proved them right on Thursday, May 6, at midnight, dropping "Kayna" just two months after Ultra's release.
On Twitter that same Thursday, Booba teased with a simple "midnight tonight," hinting at a fresh surprise for his community. Amid recent feuds—including digs at Damso, mockery of Hatik's Garnier ads, and heated threats toward reality TV star Seby Daddy after a Miami run-in—it's remarkable he found time to craft this track on the side.
Did Damso's smash hit Qalf Infinity spark Booba's competitive fire? Quite possibly. Booba publicly praised its quality and even live-commented its Instagram premiere. Weeks earlier, he'd dropped hints about returning to the studio. The move became official via a hilarious Instagram video from the "High Committee of Piracy," decreeing his retirement forbidden.
At this stage, Booba has little left to prove. With ten albums totaling over 2.7 million sales, he ranks fifth among French rappers for most albums sold historically.
Since bursting onto the scene with Lunatic alongside Ali in 1994, Booba has dominated French rap, often forging his own path. He's the first solo French rapper to sell out Paris-Bercy, the first independent album to go gold with Mauvais œil, and earned double platinum on his fifth album, Lunatic. His achievements continue to pile up.
