An investigating magistrate has determined that French rapper Naps, who allegedly assaulted a woman in her sleep in 2021, must face r*pe charges.
The rapper from Marseille, whose best-known track “La kiffance” has over 186 million views on YouTube, is contesting all of the charges “as firmly as possible,” according to his lawyer, Nabil Boudi.
Boudi also stated that he had appealed the decision for a trial in Paris, which prosecutors say was filed on May 15.
According to prosecutors, a young woman filed a criminal complaint against Naps in October 2021, alleging that she and companions shared a table with the rapper during a night out at a capital pub.
The party moved on to a hotel room, and the singer’s companions gradually dispersed.
“The young women had fallen asleep when one of them says she was woken up by a sexual act she did not consent to,” prosecutors added.
Naps was charged later that month and placed under judicial observation.
Prosecutors took until February this year to request a trial, which has now been granted.
Naps’ first album “Ma ville et ma vie” (“My city and my life”) was released in 2015, but he shot to fame in 2021 with the release of “La kiffance”, a track from “Les mains faites pour l’or” (“Hands made for gold”).
He has collaborated with other major French artists including global star Maitre Gims.