music
GILBERE FORTE’ “87 DREAM” by AMAURY FERON
H
ip-hop must be one of the only genres where every day, you will discover tons of new artists by just skimming through blogs and websites. If it is easy for a new artist to put his music on the web, it becomes harder and harder to separate him or herself from the rest of the pack. So once we have the opportunity to hear someone whose music has the potential to reach the masses it is our duty at The WILD to introduce you to him. Hailing from Philadelphia by way of Chicago, Gilbere Forte’ is what you could call an artist’s artist. The 23-year-old has the total package: he mixes, sings, and produces. From writing lyrics to making beats, there’s nothing he can’t do. “When it comes to penning down rhymes or producing to paint the best picture possible so the listener can envision everything that is being said on the track,” he boastfully admits. His first project, an E.P. entitled “BLVCK” done in collaboration with the brand Black Scale, was just an appetizer to his up-and-coming mixtape called “87 Dreams.” But tracks like the bass-hypnotic anthem to the famous Converse “Black Chukkas” and the Don Cannon-produced “The Color Black” are already a step ahead of a lot of songs that we can find on the internet. His music reminisces that of Kanye West — a more lyrical, 1987 version of the Chicago native. This explains the influence of electro music in Gilbere Forte’s sound. “The Louis Vuitton Don is one of my biggest influences in music,” the Michigan-born, Philly-raised artist eagerly states with a big grin. For this reason, he decided to freestyle over the track that West allegedly produced for Diddy’s “Last Train To Paris” called “I’m So Appalled.” Lately, things seem to have picked up for Gilbere: “Black Chukkas” is being heavily played on Hot 97, and he is being cosigned by heavyweight DJs by the likes of Dj Enuff. With a video shot by the world-famous video director Chris Robinson, it’s only a matter of time before the artist receives the attention he deserves. Produced exclusively by Gilbere Forte’ and music partner Raak, the mixtape “87 Dreams” might be one of the best projects to drop this year, and the anticipation surrounding the release of the project keeps getting bigger and bigger. If the leaks of tracks like “My Time” featuring S.T.S. (Sugar Tongue Slim) and the introduction to the mixtape “1st Floor” (featuring Freelance Whales and produced by Aislyn of Passion Pit) are any indication of what we will hear it won’t be a surprise to see “87 Dreams” top the year-end charts. Just remember where you heard about him first.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ARMEN