“Ken Kaneki” by Nekfeu: Connections to Manga Culture

This article explores how a rapper turns his passion for Japanese works into poetic and visual material.

What we offer: a structured, verified selection of the strongest references throughout his career, from tracks such as Martin Eden to Les Étoiles vagabondes.

We will set out the historical context and provide a precise reference for the quoted punchlines.

The article also covers the background, an analysis of the main track, an examination of its lyrics and the music videos.

This approach helps fans better understand the double meanings and parallels between anime characters and the artist’s journey.

The approach is factual. It draws on well-known album excerpts and the Fausse note video to avoid inaccuracies.

Why manga runs through Nekfeu’s rap: Context, influences and fans’ expectations

Anime has shaped the imaginations of French rappers since their childhoods in front of the television. Since the 1980s, its broadcasts have created a culture shared by artists and audiences.

From 1995 to $-Crew, this passion became a hallmark of his writing: wordplay around names, shōnen imagery and explicit references in tracks such as Nekketsu. His move from the group to a solo career carried these hallmarks forward.

To guide readers, we offer a structured list. It brings together scattered references and checks each allusion against his discography.

• Emergence: the generation growing up from the 1980s to the 2000s shaped a collective imagination.
• Hallmark of his writing: references are integral to his name and style.
• From words to images: from lyrics to the music video (see Fausse note), the imagery asserts this identity.
• Fans’ expectations: spotting hidden nods and decoding the connections between fictional worlds.

For more on this trend in French rap, see Konbini’s overview of verified references at Konbini.

“Ken Kaneki” by Nekfeu: Connections to Manga Culture

The track draws on the figure of an antihero to express a creative turning point. The punchline mentioning Gogeta explicitly connects the journey of the Tokyo Ghoul protagonist to a transformation after torture. The character thus becomes a mirror for a rapper seeking renewal.

The Fausse note video gives this idea a visual form. The mask worn on screen echoes the series’ dark, dual aesthetic. Words and images form a diptych around a fragmented identity.

Key themes: pain, resilience and transformation. The refusal to remain unchanged becomes a narrative motif. Gogeta’s appearance in the same song underscores the idea of fusion and metamorphosis.

• Choice of character: an ambivalent antihero.
• Words and images as a diptych: punchline and mask.
• Audience resonance: a figure that speaks to fans.

To place this trend in a wider context, see this look at French rappers inspired by manga.

Nekfeu’s manga references in punchlines and songs: The essential list

Here is a guide to tracks where anime allusions serve a specific purpose. Each entry identifies the track, the character or work mentioned, and the reference’s role in the lyrics.

Martin Eden

Reference: similar-sounding names such as Kenshin and Kentaro, and a nod to Berserk.

Wordplay and homophones built around names enrich the writing.

Le Horla

Reference: Broly and Kakarot (Dragon Ball).

The allusion to “carrot” plays on the origin of Goku’s name and supports an image of raw strength.

On verra

Reference: Krillin.

His lack of a nose becomes a metaphor for abstinence and self-control.

Réalité augmentée

Reference: Konoha, Hokage and Roronoa Zoro (One Piece).

Ambition and discipline are set alongside each other to define an artistic credo.

Nekketsu (with Crystal Kay)

Reference: Shenron, wishes and the shōnen spirit.

“I live my life like a shōnen” sums up the motif of effort and a heart that bleeds like Goku’s.

Les Étoiles vagabondes

Reference: Hisoka, Eren Yeager and No-Face.

These characters express moral ambivalence and a critique of consumerism.

Koala Mouillé

Reference: Goten and “L” (Death Note).

The mention of “L” places writing and style above appearances.

Music videos, visuals and style: When a manga reference goes beyond the punchline

When a reference moves from a line of lyrics into an image, it becomes a sign and part of the story. Its appearance on screen turns a simple allusion into an icon shared by fans.

From the studio to the screen: Fausse note and the world of Tokyo Ghoul

In 2016, a member of the group wore a mask inspired by Tokyo Ghoul in the S-Crew video “Fausse note.” The accessory carries the reference from words into images.

Effect: the mask’s symbolism amplifies the song’s message and creates a striking visual memory.

Shōnen and nekketsu aesthetics: Energy, visual conventions and staging

French rap makes frequent use of these influences: Orelsan and Gringe play the Knights of the Zodiac, D.ACE celebrates the shōnen spirit, Dinos evokes Namek and Kekra films Tokyo. These choices create visual continuity.

• Visual progression: from simply mentioning a name to adopting an image.
• Visual language: masks, lighting and framing bring the references to life.
• Nekketsu aesthetic: energy, self-improvement and camaraderie guide the staging.

“An image stays in the mind: it turns a punchline into a symbol.”

In short, the reference is no longer only verbal. It becomes a visual device that strengthens the protagonist’s story and the video’s reach.

Connections beyond Nekfeu: Manga and French rap

Beyond a passing nod, anime provides many artists with a store of images and metaphors. This phenomenon extends beyond any one artist or track: it creates a shared vocabulary in French rap.

Konbini has documented this trend: Orelsan mentions the “seven crystal balls,” Alonzo titles a track “Broly,” and MMZ refers to Tapion. These references show how Dragon Ball feeds stories of power and ambition.

Other borrowings involve Death Note, Naruto and Tokyo Ghoul: Black M draws on Kira, Népal uses Tobirama as an image of style, and Blaiz draws on the archetype of suffering and loyalty.

Why does it work? These mentions provide immediate metaphors for power, strategy, suffering and redemption. They create a connection between rappers and audiences, increasing the reach of songs and the visual impact of music videos.

To explore this trend and the artists involved, see this account of French rappers inspired by manga.

Heroes, antiheroes and identity: What Ken Kaneki reveals about the rapper

The hero’s metamorphosis helps explain the contradictions of an artist in motion. The protagonist’s journey from human to something else offers a vocabulary for thinking about transformation on stage.

Duality, mask and transformation: Kaneki as a metaphor for the modern artist

Archetype: the hero turned antihero helps us read both vulnerability and claimed strength.

The mask worn in the video gives a crisis physical form and opens the way to rebirth. This visual gesture conveys the tension between public identity and inner life.

Inner strength and nekketsu conventions: Protagonists’ journeys and the rapper’s ego

The nekketsu tradition values effort, relationships and progress. It supports a message about overcoming one’s limits while making room for private doubt.

The end of an arc marks a renewal. The character remakes himself, and the rapper turns this transformation into a creative strategy.

“Contradiction becomes a resource: the antihero carries the story.”

Conclusion

This overview shows that nods to manga series shape the visuals as much as the writing. In Nekfeu’s work, manga references guide meaning, themes and staging. Rap draws on this visual language to strengthen each track.

Elements from Dragon Ball and Tokyo Ghoul, along with the figure of Ken Kaneki, express the character’s transformation and duality. These choices turn a simple allusion into a shared symbol.

To revisit the detailed guide to these allusions and listen again to the tracks mentioned, read this article about his career. Fans will find material for revisiting and interpreting each album.