Gims | |
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 Gims at the2016 Cannes Film Festival | |
| Born | Gandhi Alimasi Djuna (1986-05-06)6 May 1986 (age 38) Kinshasa, DR Congo |
| Other names |
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| Citizenship | DR Congo |
| Education | à la ceinture |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Agent | Saïd Boussif |
| Works | |
| Title |
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| Relatives | Dadju (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Kinshasa, DR Congo |
| Genres | |
| Instrument |
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| Labels |
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| Website | gimstour |
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Musical artist | |
YouTube information | |
| Channels | Gims |
| Subscribers | 12.9 million |
| Views | 7.49 billion |
Last updated: 24 September 2024 | |
Gandhi Alimasi Djuna (born 6 May 1986), known professionally asMaître Gims and more recently justGims (stylized inall caps), is aCongolese singer, rapper, producer, and songwriter. He grew up in France and currently lives in France and Morocco. He is a member of thehip hop groupSexion d'Assaut. He pursued an individual career under the name Maître Gims in 2013. He previously released anextended play in 2006, titledCeux qui dorment les yeux ouverts. During his career he has worked with several international artists such asSia,Pitbull,Lil Wayne,Stromae,Maluma,Sting, and others.[1] He has sold over 5 million records, including 3 million albums since the start of his career.[2] He started his solo career in 2013 with the release of his first album,Subliminal in May onWati B andMonstre Marin Corporation, which sold over a million copies and peaked at number two in the French album charts. In December he released a reissue titledSubliminal la face cachée. The album contained songs such as "J'me tire", "Bella" and "Zombie". From its first week of operation, the album certified platinum and would end up being double diamond disc for over 1 million in sales.[3] The album was a great success charting in France, Belgium as well as charting in Switzerland.
In August 2015, Gims released his second album,Mon cœur avait raison. The album was divided into two parts: the red pill, which contains rap songs, and the blue pill, which containspop-urban songs. The idea came from the movieThe Matrix. A year later he released a re-release titledÀ contrecœur. The album contained his best songs in his career, such as: "Est-ce que tu m'aimes?", "Laissez passer", "Brisé", "Sapés comme jamais", "Tu vas me manquer", "Je te pardonne", "Ma beauté" and "Tout donner". The album was well received and after having counted nearly 85,800 records sold for its first week,[4] it was certified platinum. At the end of 2018, more than 700,000 units had been sold in France and 581,000 units had been sold internationally.[5] He released his third album in March 2018, titledCeinture noire on theTF1 Group and Play Two labels. The album has been reissued several times:Transcendence reissue was released in April 2019 and an other reissueDécennie with 4 new titles was released in December 2019. The album entered pole position in Wallonia. 1st place remains for 7 consecutive weeks before dropping to 2nd place. The following week, he climbs back to first place. He entered Flanders 28th.[6] The album contained songs such as "Caméléon", "Miami Vice", "Hola Señorita", "Reste", "10/10" and "Mi Gna". His song "La même" was the most performed in France in 2018 and it helped Gims become the most performed artist of 2018 on French television and radio,[7] as well as the seventh most performed artist in the world onDeezer.[8]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic confinement, Gims announces on a liveInstagram a 100% rap album for the month of October 2020. According to some publications on his Instagram, Gims reveals that his album would be an 80% rap album contrary to what had been announced. On 4 December 2020, he released his fourth album titledLe fléau. In November 2020, In 2020, he won the International Artist of the Year inDistinctive International Arab Festivals Awards after his featuring inMohamed Ramadan's song "Ya Habibi". On 17 September 2020,Netflix released a documentary about the last ten years of his career titledGims: On the Record.[9][10] A reissue entitledLes vestiges du fléau was published on 28 May 2021.[11] A second reissue titledL'Empire de Méroé was released on 3 December 2021.[12] The album contained songs such as "Yolo", "Immortel", "Jusqu'ici tout va bien", "Belle" and "Only You".
On 5 October 2022, Gims revealed the new album's title, its release date and its cover.[13] At the same time, the pre-order of the record was made available,[14] accompanied by three tickets, gold, platinum and diamond to be won.[15] In December 2022, he released his fifth album,Les dernières volontés de Mozart orLDVM (Symphony). The album is certified gold with more than 50,000 copies sold in June 2023. In July 2024, the album reached 100,000 copies sold and was certified platinum. The album will have finally had its small success, although it has sold less than his previous projects.[16] In August 2022, he played the song "Arhbo" for the2022 FIFA World Cup Official Soundtrack along withOzuna, which they also performed during the closing ceremony.[17] He has topped the French singles chart five times, including once as a featured artist, most recently in 2024 with "Spider", featuringDystinct.[18] On 13 September 2024, Gims released a second EP and his first since 2006, titledLe Nord se souvient containing the tracks "Spider", "Sois pas timide", "Terminal 2F" and "Vent du Nord" as well as three new tracks.[19]
Gandhi Djuna was born on 6 May 1986 inKinshasa,Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1997). He comes from a family of musicians: his father Djanana Djuna is the singer ofPapa Wemba'sViva La Musica troupe. His parents, who were undocumented immigrants, moved to France in 1988 when he was two years old.
Because of his parents hiding, he explains having had a difficult childhood. He was placed with foster families, beforeliving in squats until he was 18 years old. This passage from his life is mentioned in his bookVise le soleil. He is part of a family of fourteen children. He is the brother ofDadju, member of the groupThe Shin Sekaï, of Bedjik, Afi (formerly Xgangs), and Djelass, all three of them rappers.[20] On his first albumSubliminal (2013), they participate in the song "Outsider".[21] Gims grew up in the3rd arrondissement of Paris. His family then moved to the9th arrondissement and finally to the19th arrondissement. Gims studied graphic design and communication.[22] He takes the nickname "Gims" in reference to Asian cinema and the world of martial arts.
In 2002, Gims formed with the rappersJR O Crom and Makan the trio Prototype 3015. The name of the group was chosen in reference to a film, mainly for its "combative" meaning. The nameSexion d'Assaut also includes a reference to theSturmabteilung (SA), in French "Section d'Assaut", a famousNazi paramilitary unit, which the group learns by chance during a concert for the City of Paris.[23] In 2005, the trio merged with Assonance, another group from the Sexion d'Assaut collective. The group is now called 3rd Prototype. After a few pieces produced independently, Sexion d'Assault meets their agent, Dawala, in the cellars ofChâtelet-Les Halles in Paris. With Dawala, the 3rd Prototype released its first mixtape,La Terre du Milieu, on 13 May 2006. Gims designed the CD cover. In 2007, they released the albumLe Renouveau, which contained the well-known piece "Anti Tectonick".
Through Prototype 3015 first, then Prototype 3, Gims is part of theSexion d'Assaut supergroup. Sexion d'Assaut released his first songs between 2002 and 2003. Among them, we find Gang yaba Gang, Coup 2 pression and Frères de rue. With Sexion d'Assault, Gims participates twice in the12 Inch'All Star, a famous rap competition in the Parisian underground which takes place at theBatofar. He came in second place and gained notoriety, now known as one of the best kickers (freestylers) in France. In 2008, the group presented monthly freestyles called Les Chroniques du mois: each month, at least two freestyle songs were released via audio or video. In January 2009, Sexion d'Assaut published a net-tape renamedLes Chroniques du 75, a compilation also containing previously unreleased tracks, including the solo piece "À 30%" by Gims.
Sexion d'Assaut's second street album,L'Écrasement de tête, was released in May 2009 on Because Music.[24] The last sub-entity of the supergroup, 3rd Prototype, disappears completely.LÉcrasement de tête acquired a certain notoriety with the general public thanks to titles and music videos, including "T'es bête ou quoi?" and "Wati Bon Son" (in collaboration withDry). Sexion d'Assaut goes on tour, notably opening forOrelsan andMedina. The Head Crush sells more than 50,000 copies. Following the release ofLÉcrasement de tête, the group left Because Music due to misunderstandings and signed withSony Music Entertainment.
In 2010, Sexion d'Assaut released the studio albumL'École des points vitaux.[25] Gims is credited there as a singer-songwriter. He composed the instrumental tracks of several pieces, including "Ils appellent ça "Casquette à l'envers". Other beatmakers also participate in the album, such as SoulChildren with "La drogue te donne des ailes". The album met with great success with the general public, selling over 400,000 copies. The group opens forSuprême NTM at the Parc des Princes and performs at theZénith de Paris.[26] In April 2011, a controversy broke out over the group's openly homophobic claims. In reaction to criticism,Sexion d'Assaut decided to release a mixtape entitledEn attendant L'Apogée: les Chroniques du 75,[27] which despite everything met with success with titles like "Paris va bien" and "Qui t'a dit". The project contains a DVD including a video of one of the songs, as well as a documentary retracing the group's journey.
In March 2012, they released their second album,L'Apogée,[28] which was more successful than the first. The album sold over 700,000 copies. The same year, Gims published an online comic entitledAu cœur du vortex. In parallel with his career with Sexion d'Assaut, Gims tried his hand at musical composition. At the end of 2006, he released his first solo project, anExtended play entitledCeux qui dorment les yeux ouverts.[29] The EP is produced by ATK's Fredy K and Noko.[30] With a very limited pressing, the disc aims to make Gims known to the general public.[31] The record features tracks withSexion d'Assaut,Scred Connexion rapper Koma and a singer named Carole.[32]
On 29 January 2013, in the videoWelcome to the Wa Part. 4: La Consecration, Gims announces the release of his first solo studio album,Subliminal, for 20 May 2013. On 1 March Gims publishes "Meurtre par strangulation". On 15 March he unveils "J'me tire", his second single which remains ranked number 1 on the French charts for four consecutive weeks, the clip being released on 10 April 2013. In an interview on the Rapelite.com site, Gims confirms the presence of rapperPitbull on a track entitled "Pas touché". His three brothers, Bedjik,Dadju and X-Gang, from the group MM Solja, are reunited on the track "Outsider".
On 4 May he published "Bella". On 13 May it broadcasts "VQ2PQ" exclusively on Skyrock. On 14 May it broadcasts, still exclusively, It Works, in collaboration withThe Shin Sekaï. Subliminal is released on 20 May. To promote it, Gims unveils previously unreleased tracks, which will not be part of the album, in the form of a series of video clips entitled This is not a clip. On the commercial side, the album is certified double diamond disc with more than 1 million sales.[33]
On 31 May 2013, he performed his first solo concert at theOlympia.[34] He participates in the albumRacine carrée ofStromae on the song "AVF" featuring withOrelsan. Gims announces that he wants to take a break after the last date of theSexion d'Assaut tour, 28 September 2013 at theStade de France for Urban Peace, which also brings together IAM,Orelsan,Youssoupha,La Fouine,Psy 4 de la Rime,Rohff andStromae. He also intends to take care of his couple and his four children, whom he says he has seen too little because of his career (the oldest of his four children was born around 2008 and the youngest in 2013). The newSexion d'Assaut album is then scheduled for November 2015.
In September 2013, he participated in the single "Game Over" by singerVitaa.[35] The song ranks first in sales of singles in France.[36] On 22 November 2013, Gims unveils his new clip "Changer", which ranks 17th for the week of 1 December 2013.[37] With this ballad, Gims hopes to reach a new, wider audience. In February 2014, Gims was nominated in the Urban Music category at theVictoires de la Musique, but the award was finally awarded to the 1995 group. His solo career was nonetheless a success. According to the magazineChallenges, the singer is the second highest paid French artist of 2013, behindMylène Farmer but just ahead ofJohnny Hallyday.[38]
In parallel with the announcement of hisWarano Tour, Gims published videos via social networks with extracts of songs that turned out to be those of his future album. In addition, he announces the release on 20 February 2016 of the seventh video of This is not a clip with Fuck Ramses which could not take place. Although announced for the month of March, the release of the first single from the album "Est-ce que tu m'aimes?" took place on 28 April on Skyrock. In addition, he announces that the album will be divided into two parts: the Blue Pill which is a part made up of urban pop songs, and the Red Pill which is oriented towardsrap. This concept was inspired by the movieThe Matrix. Some time later, the first single from The Red Pill titled "Melynda Gates" followed by a clip is released.
Then, Gims unveils the second extract of the Blue Pill called "Laissez passer", the clip of which brings together his family, his father and his brothers. At the end of July, Gims continues with "Longue vie" (Red Pill) with Lefa which marks his return to the music scene, the clip brings together all theSexion d'Assaut. The tracklist and the release date of the album are announced by Gims on social networks: the album will be released on 28 August. At the end of August, a new single: "Brisé", is available. Subsequently, he released 4 other singles from his double album ("Tu vas me manquer", "Je te pardonne", "ABCD" as well as "Sapés comme jamais"). Then he announced the reissue of his album which will be released on 26 August 2016.Mon cœur avait raison runs out to 700,000 copies.[39] On 23 April 2016, Gims gave a concert before the football match betweenParis Saint-Germain F.C. andLille OSC for the2016 Coupe de la Ligue final. He performs there excerpts from three of his hits "Est-ce que tu m'aimes?", "Bella" and "Sapés comme jamais".
The singer is booed by the spectators,[40] upon his arrival on the lawn. When the rapper shouts to the audience "Shall we continue?" ", The spectators shout" No! ". Interviewed in Morocco, Gims reveals that he did not hear the whistles when he sang and that these violent criticisms did not shock him. He argues that the supporters are alcoholic and some of them were for Lille, while Gims is Parisian. The rapper ends by acknowledging that there are a lot of people who do not like his music but would be ready to redo the experience for his fans.[41]
Gims announces the release ofCeinture noire on 9 November 2016. Having left theWati B label in December 2016, the album is released onTF1 Group under the Play Two label. On 7 May 2017, shortly after his official announcement, Gims published an extract onInstagram entitled "Marabout". The title accompanied by a clip is officially released on its new YouTube channel on 12 May 2017.[42] On 10 November 2017, Gims broadcast the first official clip ofCeinture noire, titled "Caméléon" on streaming platforms. On 12 December he posted the clip on his YouTube channel. The clip exceeds 10 million views in 2 weeks.Ceinture noire is released on 23 March 2018. Gims unveils the tracklist and release date of his third solo albumCeinture noire for 23 March 2018, with 31 tracks +3 bonus tracks to choose from. Then he reissued 4 bonus tracks on theCeinture noire album in full version for 24 August 2018.[43] On 14 March 2019 on YouTube, Gims finally released the reissue of theCeinture noire album entitledTranscendance with 13 bonus tracks.[44] It includes South American superstarMaluma andJ Balvin as well asVitaa, his brotherDadju,Alonzo andSting. In 2019, he sang "Reste" withSting. The clip was shot inTransports en commun lyonnais. The album is currently certified diamond disc with over 990,000 sales. It is approaching 1,000,000 in sales, synonymous with the double diamond disc. On 28 September 2019, he officially became the first French-speaking rapper to fill theStade de France with more than 72,000 spectators.[45]
In 2020, Gims announced his plan to release an entirely rap album.Le fléau was released on 6 November 2020. On 27 March 2020, during a liveInstagram withDadju, Gims announced the albumLe Retour des Rois for release that year.[46][47][48] "Here we are in the negotiations, of who, or, the album will be released, with whom it will be distributed. You know, the things a little technical." On 30 March 2020 in this recording, Gims listens to several songs from theSexion d'Assaut albumLe Retour des Rois while driving in his car.[49] On 2 May 2020, during a live return to Instagram withSniper,Sefyu andGradur.[50] Gims has formalized his 100% rap album for the start of the 2020 school year at the latest, andLe Retour des Rois for the end of 2020, or even the beginning of 2021. After the end of the first confinement on 11 May 2020, Gims announces the return of the Sexion d'Assaut with the new albumLe Retour des Rois, scheduled for the fall.[51]
The Sexion d'Assaut made its comeback in concert atParis La Défense Arena on 25 September 2021, a date officially set for January but postponed due to the ragingCOVID-19 pandemic.[52] On 28 August 2020,Kendji Girac and Gims unveiled their title "Dernier Métro", produced as a duo. The same day, he released the first single, "Yolo", from his upcoming albumLe fléau. On 17 September 2020, onNetflix, a documentary was released retracing the last ten years of his career titledGims: On the Record.[53] On 25 September 2020, he released the second single fromLe Fléau, entitled "Immortel", a purely rap song reminiscent of Gims' early freestyles with Sexion d'Assault.On 2 December 2020, Gims unveiled the tracklist ofLe Fléau with 17 tracks, including features fromVald,Kaaris,Heuss l'Enfoiré,Leto,Bosh andGazo.[54] The album was certified platinum a month and a half after its release.[55] On 17 March 2021, Gims published a new freestyle named "Pyongyang" in collaboration with l'nsolent.[56][57][58] On 5 April 2021, he published on streaming platforms a new track called "GJS" in collaboration withJul andSCH, as well as the track "Belle", in collaboration withDadju andSlimane. He appears in a video supporting right-wing candidateValérie Pecresse in the run-up to the 2021 regional elections inÎle-de-France.[59]
On 28 April 2021, Gims announced the reissue of the album entitledLes Vestiges du Fléau which will be released on 28 May 2021. On 19 May 2021, he published the list of titles composed of 10 tracks including 8 collaborations and two solos . Among the guests of the reissue, in addition toJul,SCH,Dadju andSlimane, participate, in particular, international singers such as the EgyptianMohamed Ramadan, the TanzanianRayvanny as well as the German-Albanian singerDhurata Dora.[60] On 28 May 2021, the same day as the release of the reissue, Gims released the clip for "Only You" in collaboration with Dhurata Dora.[61] On 8 October 2021, he released a new single in collaboration with Vitaa named "Prends ma main".[62] In November 2021, he participated in the collective projectLe Classico organisé, on Jul's initiative, bringing together more than 150 rappers from Bouches-du-Rhône and Île-de-France.
On 28 September 2022, Gims unveiled a date on social networks, 09/30. On 30 September 2022, Gims released the single "Maintenant".[63] On 5 October 2022, Gims revealed the album's title, its release date and its cover.[64] On 10 November 2022, he unveils "Thémistocle" and announces the release of the clip the next day, 11 November at 1:00 p.m.[65] On 14 November 2022, he unveiled part of the album's tracklist containing 14 titles and three collaborations withCarla Bruni,Soolking andTayc. In reality, the album contains a total of 18 tracks but only 14 have been revealed so far. On 25 November 2022, two titles are revealed "Après-vous madame" featuringSoolking and "Demain" with Carla Bruni.[66] The album was released on 2 December 2022, containing 18 tracks and three features with Soolking, Carla Bruni and Tayc.[67] On 2 May 2023, the title "Horizon" was released as a single and its music video was unveiled on 4 July 2023.[68] On 13 April 2023, after a controversy about the pyramids of Egypt, he revealed the title "Hernan Cortes".[69] On 15 September 2023, he released the title "Si te llamo" in collaboration withMaluma, accompanied by its music video. On 6 October 2023, he unveiled "Seya" featuringMorad and SativaMusic. He subsequently reveals several tracks which, like these first two, are not part of the album.
In early 2024, Gims released several singles such as "Loco" featuring Lossa (certified platinum single),[70] "Ma douce" withBaby Gang,[71] "Sin Ti" withMaria Becerra andJoe Pesci in collaboration with Inso le Véritable not part of any album.[72] In May 2024, he released "Spider" featuringDystinct which ranked number 1 in France for 7 consecutive weeks and was certified diamond single.[73] Then, in July, two tracks "Mamacita" withSfera Ebbasta and "Sois pas timide" were released which ranked number 1 for 3 weeks and was certified gold single.[74] At the end of August, he released "Terminal 2F" featuringDadju then at the beginning of September the track "Vent du Nord" was released.[75] On 13 September 2024, his second EPLe Nord se souvient was released containing the tracks "Spider", "Sois pas timide", "Terminal 2F" and "Vent du Nord" as well as 3 new tracks "Carbo", "Avec tes mains" et "San Goku".[76] In February 2025, after receiving the Male Artist Award at theVictoires de la Musique, he suggested he wanted to end his tours.[77]
Gandhi Djuna married Demdem, a French woman of Malian origin, in 2005. They have three children[78] and split their time between France and Morocco.[79] He converted toIslam in 2004. In 2005, he joined the revivalist movement of theTablighi Jamaat, which he then left and now considers a sect.[80] He says in a documentary dedicated to him onNetflix: "There were people who ended up dead, committed suicide in Iraq. People who were close to me, and that freaked me out. I don't know where I could have ended up."[81]
Originally a Catholic, he indicated in 2016 thatBarack Adama, his friend from the groupSexion d'Assaut, convinced him to convert to Islam, as well as after an interview with an imam. In March 2018, he indicated that he had applied forFrench nationality and that it was refused.[82] According toCloser magazine,[83] this decision is because of his “bigamy”, which is not authorized inFrench orEuropean law.[84] However, Maître Gims disputes this version of the facts. In an interview withLe Journal du Dimanche, in 2022, to the question: “We lend you a second wife in Morocco. Are youpolygamous?", he replied: "That's completely false. I live with Demdem and the children. I was married only once." He specified that "the refusal [of the nationality application] is linked to an offense that I committed when I was a minor. But my record is clean"”[85]
According to an investigation by the newspaperLe Parisien, his first application for nationality was blocked for failure to pay fines for traffic offenses, and due to his inability to establish the center of his material interests in France, the interpreter and his family would live too much in Morocco and not enough in France to be considered French. In early 2022, he relaunched the procedure for obtaining French nationality.[86] TheMinister of the Interior,Gérald Darmanin, estimated on 25 January 2022 onFrance Inter that the rapper's recent comments on the New Year did not demonstrate "good proof of assimilation into French society", going to against article 21-24 of theNapoleonic Code. However, the minister assures that his request would be, like all the others, re-examined by his services. He has a Congolese diplomatic passport obtained in 2022.[87]
In 2013, Gims foundedMonstre Marin Corporation with Pascal Nègre. The latter announces the direct integration of MMC into Universal.[88] "Gims is one of the most gifted artists of his generation! I am delighted to accompany him with Universal Music in his discovery of new talents and in the development of his label Sea Monster", he explains on his Twitter page.[89] The label's logo was unveiled in early 2014.[90] In February 2014,L'Algérino joined the label, followed in June 2014 byMac Tyer.[91]Monstre Marin Corporation published its first compilationLa Monster Party chapitre 1 on 30 June 2014.[92] According toBFM TV, Gims sold 50% of the label Monstre Marin Corporation in 2014 for 500,000 euros. This structure sold toUniversal Music France brought together many artists such asVitaa,Souf,Mac Tyer,L'Algérino, MA2X,Lartiste or even the Marin Monster duo,[93] now all gone and replaced by emerging artists likeDJ Arafat, DJ Last One, Amalya or Savana blues.[94] The label ends its activities on 13 January 2020.[95]
Gims is famous for always wearingsunglasses in public; in fact, it is rare to find pictures of him without glasses on the Internet. The reason for this is so that he is not recognized on the street when he is without glasses because of his wide popularity in France andParis in particular,[96] and he has stated that this method works.[97] The only time Gims took off his glasses in public was at a live concert with the groupSexion d'Assaut when he danced with the group members but little was noticed on his face because the stage was almost dark.[98]
Gims' music is influenced byhip-hop and dance, with pop and Latin touches. Just before his first album, Les Inrocks compares Gims to footballerLionel Messi for his versatility: "Gims has a vast arsenal. He sings, raps, composes and produces."[99] For his first album, the artist addresses his joys, his questions, his anger and his rants. In September 2013, he told Liberation that "he is not forbidding himself anything. A rock or even varietal album 'does not scare him'.
The second album is divided into two parts: an "urban pop /R&B" oriented, widely broadcast by radio and music channels, and a "rap" oriented as it did when it started. The humorist of the web Jhon Rachid deplores that the second part "old-fashioned rap" is less known than the first, which hurts him "rap" (title of his show on YouTube). As forJoeystarr, he often criticizes him on social networks, calling his music "music for prepubescents". The slammer Grand Corps Malade said in an interview that he does not adhere to the music of Gims, which is "teenage pop" with "poor lyrics and an unpleasant voice".[100]
TheBooska-P site evokes "Gims-bashing" in an article presenting the most hated French rappers which also includeBigflo & Oli,Jul andBooba. Rap "purists" likeJoeystarr or Jhon Rachid cited above reproach him for the touches of pop and dance; some calling his music "camping music" or "zumba". Hated by a part of the rap fans, he is also hated by a part of the general public who do not like rap and prefer variety or rock. Literary criticÉric Naulleau has called Gims' "Bella" "the worst text he's ever heard".[101]
In April 2017, it was said that he cancelled a concert inAlès due to the lack of a private jet to take him there, the organizer did not have the means to pay for it. The headlines criticised it as a "star whim". Following the media coverage, he gave a free and improvised concert in theParis metro.[102] In the programTouche pas à mon poste !, Gims explained that the concert was initially only a proposal which was ultimately not accepted. However, the promoter had already started selling the tickets. Faced with the risk of financial loss, the promoter contacted the rapper's producer offering to fly Gims to the concert by private jet, but Gims could not attend due to a scheduling conflict with another concert.
Gims andVianney were accused ofplagiarism by the Belgian directorCharlotte Abramow for the clip "La même". Abramow had directed a video for the International Women's Day of 7 February 2004, with which "La même", according to her, had many similarities: "[the video for La même has] the same structure, the same esthetics, the same decorations in pastel colors and especially the same types of portraits".[103] Maitre Gims responded by accusing Charlotte Abramow of having herself violated copyright by using a clip from the music video for the song "Silent All These Years" byTori Amos.[104]
At the end of 2021, he stated in a video that celebratingChristmas or wishing a happynew year "is not Muslim".[105] He is also opposed tobirthday celebrations because this tradition is of non-Muslim origin.[106] He subsequently apologised for the video.[107]
Among several homophobic lyrics with his band Sexion D'Assaut, in 2008, in the song "On t'as humilié" which uses the instrumental from the singleSoldier by American rapperEminem, Gims pronounces the sentence "I think it's time for the faggots to perish, cut off their penises and leave them dead on the ring road."[108]
In March 2023, he got into a controversy after claiming that ancient Egyptians had electricity. Among other theories, he claimed that "the gold at the tip of the pyramids is the best conductor of electricity".[109] He claims these statements were taken out of context and that he can not definitely say this happened.
At the beginning of 2013, Gims founded his own clothing brand, Vortex Vx, sold in particular atVeepee and Gémo. On 31 October 2018, themangaDevil's Relics was published, imagined by Gims with his brother Darcy, and co-signed by the two brothers with screenwriterJean-David Morvan and designer Yoshiyasu Tamura.[110]
In addition to writing his own lyrics, he also writes for other artists. In 2013, Gims participated as a "guest" in thePopstars program, in which he gave young groups advice for their career. Following this intervention, he wrote the first single of the winning group,The Mess, entitled Au Top. This single reached eighth on theiTunes chart.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Gims: On the Record | Himself | Documentary |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Male Artist of the Year) | Nominated | [111] |
| Himself | MTV Europe Music Awards (Award for Best French Act) | Nominated | [112] | |
| 2014 | Himself | MTV Europe Music Awards (Award for Best French Act) | Nominated | [113] |
| Subliminal | Victoires de la Musique (Album Révélation of the Year) | Nominated | [114] | |
| "J'me tire" | Victoires de la Musique (Original Song of the Year) | Nominated | ||
| Himself | Trace Awards (Francophone Male Artist of the Year) | Nominated | [115] | |
| "Prie pour moi" | Trace Awards (Duo/Group of the Year) | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | "Sapés comme jamais" | Victoires de la Musique (Original Song of the Year) | Won | [116] |
| "Sapés comme jamais" | W9 d'or de la musique (Most streamed French song) | Won | [117] | |
| "Sapés comme jamais" | W9 d'or de la musique (Most viewed French music video on the internet) | Won | [118] | |
| Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Male Artist of the Year) | Nominated | ||
| Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Duo/Group of the Year) | Nominated | ||
| "Sapés comme jamais" | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Song of the Year) | Nominated | ||
| Himself | MTV Europe Music Awards (Award for Best French Act) | Nominated | [119] | |
| 2018 | Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Duo/Group of the Year) | Nominated | |
| Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Duo/Group of the Year) | Nominated | ||
| Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Male Artist of the Year) | Nominated | ||
| "La même" | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Song of the Year) | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Male Artist of the Year) | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Male Artist of the Year) | Nominated | |
| "Reste" | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Collaboration of the Year) | Nominated | ||
| Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Performance of the Night) | Nominated | ||
| Himself | NRJ Music Awards (NRJ Music Award of Honor) | Won | ||
| Himself | Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards (International Artist of the Year) | Won | [120] | |
| Himself | MTV Europe Music Awards (Award for Best French Act) | Nominated | [121] | |
| 2021 | Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Male Artist of the Year) | Nominated | [122] |
| Himself | NRJ Music Awards (Francophone Collaboration of the Year) | Nominated | [123] | |
| 2023 | Himself | Latin American Music Awards (Best Crossover Artist) | Nominated | [124] |
| "Arhbo" | Latin American Music Awards (Collaboration Crossover of the Year) | Nominated |
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(in French)| International | |
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| National | |
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