Zamdane, born Ayoub Zaidane on 25 September 1997 in Marrakech, is a Moroccan-born, Marseille-based rapper who raps in French. He is known for introspective, melancholic songs and for building his career first on his own label, Affamé Records, before signing with a major publisher.
Background
Zamdane grew up in Morocco and moved to France in 2015, at 17, to study economics. Universal Music France says he began releasing music in 2017 with the tracks “Sinbad” and “Favaro.” “Favaro” became his first big success, with more than 2.5 million YouTube views according to press reports, and he turned down early offers from labels to keep working on his own material. Between 2018 and 2020 he released a run of EPs, including Chrysalis in May 2020, and a series of freestyles called Affamé.
Albums
- Couleur de ma peine (25 February 2022): his debut studio album, released with Warner and featuring Dinos, Jazzy Bazz and Soso Maness. It entered the French albums chart at number five with 5,053 copies sold in its first week.
- Solsad (February 2024): a second album that sits between rap and chanson, with guests including Pomme, Josman, Kekra, Niska and Sofiane Pamart.
- Rahma (2025): his third studio album, described by the Fnac cultural magazine as introspective and thematically precise.
Sound and themes
His music mixes sincere, reflective writing with airy instrumentals. According to Universal Music France, he cites Nekfeu, Médine and Damso as influences alongside the Moroccan scene. Exile and belonging run through his early work. He has also supported the rescue organisation SOS Méditerranée, including through the song “Flouka” and charity concerts in Marseille.
Recent releases
In 2026 Zamdane has been putting out singles under the SABR label tag: “Princesse de Babel” (28 May), “En mémoire de nos premiers jours” (18 June), “Été solitaire” (9 July), “Bad Day” (3 September) and “Akira” (17 September).
Where to start
“Favaro” for the breakthrough, then the album Couleur de ma peine, and “Flouka” if you want the song behind his work for SOS Méditerranée.
Sources
- Universal Music France: Zamdane biography
- Wikipedia: Zamdane (chart position and first-week sales)
- Fnac L’Éclaireur: Zamdane portrait
- Bladi.net: Zamdane
- Deezer discography (2026 release dates)
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