Gilbere Forte
Gilbere Forte is an American rapper/producer born in Flint, Michigan on July 14, 1987. Following his parents separation at an early age, Gilbere headed to Chicago with his mother for several years before landing back in Flint for a short stint with his father. In 1999, Gilbere found a home in Philadelphia, where he remains today with his brother, DeNiro.
Biography
Music has played a central role in Gilbere’s life since birth. Learning from his parents taste, and healthy vinyl collections Gilbere was introduced to the likes of Isaac Hayes, Roy Ayers, Phil Colins, and Sade as a youth. By age 9 he was reciting raps from likes of 2Pac, B.I.G. and Outkast, which inevitably led to Gilbere penning his own songs by age 12. In 2000, songwriting gave way to production and an initial foray into beat-making with Fruity Loops and Reason. His sound captured the attention of the neighborhood, where Gilbere soon became known for his mixtapes and for supplying local singers and rappers with the soundtrack to their dreams.
The inspiration to take music seriously led Gilbere to pursue a degree in Entrepreneurship & Business Management at Temple University, where he enrolled in the fall of 2006. As Gilbere progressed as a musician, he was aided by his brother DeNiro’s own growth in the industry. Working in radio, brand management, and through his own production efforts, DeNiro provided Gilbere a trusted guide through the challenges of selling and working in music. Through him, Gilbere was introduced to the Junior Music Executive Program which lead to an internship with Studio 609 and award winning production duo Dre & Vidal. The experience and experimentation with Reason and Logic, along with live instrumentation, presented a true opportunity for Gilbere to carve out his own sonic identity. Staying close to the business while building his musical foundation he took another step in his progression as an artist – teaming up with fellow producer from Temple, Rakib “Raak” Uddin.
In 2009, Gilbere formalized his relationship with Raak. The two busily began preparing Gilbere’s debut, 87 Dreams. The release has successfully solidified Gilbere as a strong voice not to be ignored. The critical acclaim, led to a slew of 2010 featured guest appearances, most notably, Stromae's "Alors on danse" remix also featuring Kanye West, the Yeasayer remix of Florence + The Machine's "Dog Days Are Over", and the Diplo and Switch-produced "Up All Night" by Alex Clare. With the recent February 2011 release of his Don Cannon-hosted EYES of VERITAS mixtape and popularity increasing, Gilbere is promising to “change lives, moods, and vibes.”
References
BET.com Music Blog Asher Roth Performs at Hennessy Artistry Kick-Off in NYC w/Gilbere Forte & Maluca September 23, 2010
Hypebeast Black Scale presents Gilbere Forte is BLVCK by Staff, 2/14/10 Soundtrack to the New Year by Phillip T. Annand, 1/5/10
HypeTrak Stromae featuring Kanye West & Gilbere Forte’ – Alors On Danse (Remix) by Staff, 8/27/10
MTV Buzzworthy Blog Song You Need To Know: Florence + The Machine, Featuring Gilbere Forte, 'Dog Days Are Over (Yeasayer Remix)' By Chris Ryan, 9/29/10 Video You Need To Know: Gilbere Forte, Featuring Raak, 'Black Chukkas' by Chris Ryan, 8/3/10
NPR Music Nobody likes to be the last one to catch on to what’s next, Gilbere Forte' - 1st Floor by Staff July, 2010
Phrequency Music Video Premiere: Gilbere Forte "1st Floor" by Gabrielle Bonghi, Leah R. Kauffman, 9/17/10
Pigeons and Planes Gilbere Forte – Dog Days Are Over (Yeasayer Remix) by confusion, 9/28/10
The Smoking Section Gilbere Forte’ – “Wake Up” by Gotty, 10/7/10 Gilbere Forte’ Feat. Freelance Whales – “1st Floor” Video by TC, 9/20/10 TSS Presents Fifteen Minutes With Gilbere Forte’ by TC, 9/2/10 Gilbere Forte’ – “I’m So Appalled” Video by TC, 9/1/10