Award-winning rapper accused of raping lady whereas she was ‘asleep’ after evening of partying
A rapper often compared to Stormzy is on trial accused of raping a woman while she slept. Naps, from Marseille, denies the charge and insists the encounter was consensual
French rapper Nabil Boukhobza aka Naps arrives to attend his trial for sexual assault at the Palais de Justice of Paris, on February 16, 2026(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A rap superstar is appearing on trial today. He is accused of raping a woman while she was asleep.
Naps, a French rapper from Marseille who is notable for his chart-topping hit “La Kiffance” and often compared to Stormzy for his level of fame, has denied all allegations. Naps (born Nabil Boukhobza), faces up to 15 years behind bars if convicted.
Prosecutors have said DNA evidence links Naps to the alleged attack, while the rapper insists the encounter was consensual.
The trial concerns an incident from October 2021.
According to the prosecution, a woman, then aged 20, reported spending the evening at “The Key” nightclub in Paris’s 9th arrondissement with two friends. Naps was also reportedly present, accompanied by his cousin and manager, a bodyguard, a sports journalist, and a friend of the journalist.
The rapper is said to have invited the women to join their table to party together, French news outlet La Dépêche reported. At around 4:30am, Naps suggested continuing the night at his hotel near Gare de Lyon.
On the way, the alleged victim reportedly consumed cannabis, alcohol, and nitrous oxide. Upon arrival at the hotel, the rapper’s friends gradually left, leaving him alone with three young women, who had reportedly been asked to leave their phones at the entrance.
Eventually, the rapper and the three women ended up lying on the same bed, still clothed.. The complainant reportedly said she was “in and out of consciousness” between waking and sleeping, when she felt someone pulling down her underwear.
She said she was awakened by “the pain of vaginal penetration” and alleges she tried to push the rapper away. When the group left the hotel around 10am, one of her friends reportedly encouraged her to file a complaint.
Traces of the rapper were found on her clothing. Naps claims the sexual encounter was consensual, arguing the young woman “made sounds of pleasure”.
However, the court noted that the complainant “may not have been in a state to give free and informed consent”, particularly given “consistent testimony from two witnesses” that she was asleep. The complainant has reportedly said she is “determined” and has not requested a closed hearing.
The verdict is expected to be shared on Thursday (February 19).
The 40-year-old Marseille artist won the Francophone Revelation of the Year at the 23rd annual NRJ Music Awards in 2021. His 2021 hit single “La Kiffance” was the most-streamed song in France that year and received a Diamond certification from the SNEP (National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing).
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