Karim Gharbi walking towards a helicopter, a frame from the I AM K2 teaser

Documentary film, out now

I AM K2

From humble beginnings to history's witness

or watch the teaser (3 min)

After 23 years of rule, who buried Ben Ali? Not his son, not his uncle, not his brother. Karim Gharbi did it.

Mounir Ben Salha

I AM K2 film poster: Karim Gharbi in front of the Tunisian flag, with Nesrine Ben Ali and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

A story of dreams, destiny and history

I AM K2 is a feature-length documentary about Karim Gharbi, known as K2Rhym. It premiered on YouTube on 13 January 2026.

It follows him from Ksar Said to Marseille and Paris, to a Universal record deal, productions with Snoop Dogg and The Game, crypto in Dubai and humanitarian work across Tunisia. Alongside his story, people who lived it retrace the Ben Ali era, from 7 November 1987 to 14 January 2011. The film ends with Karim's marriage to Nesrine Ben Ali and the former president's burial in Medina.

Rise to fame

From Ksar Said to a contract with Universal Music.

Love and family

A marriage into the family of Tunisia's former president.

History

Witnesses of 7 November 1987 and 14 January 2011.

Giving back

Schools, hospitals and an oxygen campaign across Tunisia.

Released: 13 January 2026, on YouTube
Running time: 1 h 55 min
Language: Arabic and Tunisian dialect, with English subtitles

From the streets to history

Karim Gharbi on a film set next to a camera crane

Humble beginnings

Born in Bab Jedid and raised in a small flat in Ksar Said, Karim discovered rap on a friend's satellite TV and gave his first show with a kitchen pestle for a microphone.

Karim Gharbi talking with Snoop Dogg outdoors

The dream realised

In 1996 he left for Marseille with one bag. After nights on the street and years of night shifts in Paris, a song with Tunisiano led to a contract with Universal, then work with Snoop Dogg and The Game.

Karim Gharbi with Nesrine Ben Ali

Witness to history

He married Nesrine Ben Ali, stayed beside the former president through his illness and carried his coffin to Al-Baqi in Medina.

Inside the film

Jump straight to a chapter. The film starts playing at the top of the page.

Featuring

Voices in the film

Family, friends, former officials of the Ben Ali era and the artists who crossed Karim's path.

Karim Gharbi — Karim Gharbi
K2Rhym

Nesrine Ben Ali — Nesrine Ben Ali
Former First Daughter of Tunisia

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali — Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Former President of Tunisia

Mounir Ben Salha — Mounir Ben Salha
Lawyer at the Court of Cassation

Snoop Dogg — Snoop Dogg
Rapper

Ronaldinho — Ronaldinho
Footballer

Mohamed Ben Rahouma — Mohamed Ben Rahouma
Director of Presidential Protocol, 1989 to 1997

Abdel Karim Jilani Ghouma — Abdel Karim Jilani Ghouma
43 years at the Ministry of the Interior

Habib Ammar — Habib Ammar
General, former Commander of the National Guard

Mokobe — Mokobe
Rapper

The Game — The Game
Rapper

Fat Joe — Fat Joe
Rapper

French Montana — French Montana
Rapper

DJ Khaled — DJ Khaled
Producer

Also in the film

Djamila GharbiKarim's sister
Mohamed GharbiKarim's father
Asmahan Al-ChaariFormer president, Tunisian performing arts federation
Ahmed SoussiLongtime friend
Salem KhamasBusinessman
Menoubia NeqaaCivil society activist
Souad AyadiCivil society activist
Nabil AtabouFormer chef to the Presidency

Memorable moments

“I consider Karim a success story. He is a role model who has made it.”

A neighbour from Ksar Said

“He's a fighter. He started from scratch.”

A longtime friend

“If you don't take risks in your life, you won't progress.”

Karim Gharbi

“He is polite, with fine morals. My daughter is marrying a very good man.”

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, as recalled by Mohamed Ben Rahouma

I AM K2 poster in a cinema light box

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