Downloaded from YTS.MX
[tense music playing]
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
A NETFLIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY
[cheering]
[GIMS] It's very hard to pigeonhole me.
I'll be the first African
and the first urban rapper and singer
to have played the Stade.
♪ I'm the one That even the rich wanna buy ♪
What were the chances of it? What were the chances of it?
ONE YEAR EARLIER.
-[child] Daddy, you draw too fast. -[GIMS] Oh, yeah?
-No, but... -[child] Yeah.
MARRAKESH, GIMS' HOME.
[ethereal music playing]
[GIMS] When you draw,
you get a feeling of freedom.
I escape through my drawing.
I was in art school. I wanted to draw.
I wanted to live in Tokyo.
I wanted to eat noodles.
I never imagined success like this.
If it was up to me, I wouldn't sing.
I was like, "I want to draw. That's my way."
[child] Daddy, can you draw Mommy after?
GIMS IS THE MOST PLAYED ARTIST ON FRENCH RADIO.
HE'S SOLD FIVE MILLION ALBUMS.
HIS LAST SHOW TOURED IN EUROPE, AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, ASIA AND NORTH AMERICA.
[GIMS vocalizing]
NOVEMBER 9, 2018 THE DAY BEFORE THE NRJ MUSIC AWARDS.
THE BIGGEST MUSIC SHOW IN FRANCE.
[male radio host] One day to go until the NRJ Music Awards.
[GIMS] Then the tour begins on November 17th
and ends on September 28th, 2019 at the Stade de France.
[man 1] Stade de France!
[man 2] Hey, guys, well done!
[choreographer] Five, six, seven.
♪ I gave you my all, yeah Gave you my all, yeah ♪
♪ Gave you my all, gave you my all ♪
Okay. Know what? I'll just follow your movements.
[choreographer] Yeah.
You gotta handle success as best you can.
Success doesn't only affect you.
It affects your family and everyone around you.
It's business sprinkled with fantasy,
but it's a cut-throat world.
Shooting live ammo! Bang, bang!
You got actors. You got characters.
I am one of those characters.
The truth is, we don't know each other.
-[Bruel] Hi, how's it going? -Champion!
[Bruel] What's up?
-Okay? -Always an honor. Cool.
-[Bruel] It's a pleasure. -[GIMS] Thanks.
[indistinct chatter]
Showbiz can destroy you.
You can end up in the madhouse. You can lose everything.
If you're too sentimental,
I think it can be dangerous.
[Alonzo] How are you, my man?
Good to see some real, sincere people in this showbiz world.
At last, sincere people!
-So, how's it going? Cool? -Fine.
Showbiz.
[laughs]
-Thanks. Thank you. -Thank you.
[man] I keep thinking about what they said on TV.
-"After Rihanna..." -[GIMS] After, yeah.
[man] "...and her performance of 'Russian Roulette' in 2010,
this is the second most expensive performance
in NRJ Music Awards history."
[GIMS] Crazy.
-[man] Incredible. -[woman] Not bad, huh?
[GIMS] Honestly.
[ominous music playing]
[man] He's a record-breaking artist.
He is the greatest music lover.
He is the greatest hit maker.
The thing that makes him stand out is his famous sunglasses.
They helped him build a character for himself.
MORNING OF THE CEREMONY.
[man] You know all about his journey, have heard all of his records.
Ceinture Noire, his last album, just crossed a milestone
of 500,000 records sold in six months.
AWARDED TO MAÎTRE GIMS
[cheering and applause]
[GIMS] When you get signed by a label,
they welcome you with applause and all that, champagne.
But if your album doesn't sell, they send you an email:
"We're canceling your contract. Bye!
But let's meet for brunch in a couple of days."
That's what I mean when I say "this damned showbiz."
You have to make the choice to put friendships aside.
[GIMS vocalizing]
[man] He's someone who keeps showbiz and his real life separate.
There isn't a single day when GIMS doesn't make jokes and laugh.
That's how he really is.
He's joking around, making fun of himself, laughing with people.
But when he is GIMS, he's someone else. He puts his glasses on, he's someone else.
Putting on his sunglasses is like putting on a work uniform.
He takes out his heart
and goes to work.
A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY.
This really is...
my tour jacket.
[man] I'm surprised his image works so well in France.
He's a show-off.
On Instagram, you can see he has plenty of money. He shows it.
What's that?
-[woman laughing] -[speaking indistinctly]
He flies by private jet.
["10/10" by GIMS playing]
He wears clothes that cost more than my house.
He's a successful man, which is great,
but most of the time, it doesn't appeal to French people.
France likes Zidane,
who doesn't show off, doesn't say much, who's shy and reserved.
That's a French star!
-You show up with a cigar! -[laughs] Isn't that over-the-top?
They'll say, "We're not voting for him!"
[Maïzi] So, I'm quite surprised,
because he has a lot of things that people usually don't like,
but people love him.
There's enough charisma, I think.
It rocks. But the jacket's too small. I don't know.
There's this weird paradox where people hold something against you,
but they want to see it at the same time.
The press will be like, "GIMS, please! Over here!"
[imitates cameras clicking]
It reminds me of Zlatan when he came to Paris.
We'd rarely seen anyone so arrogant.
But the French liked that. It was Zlatan!
Black jeans, good makeup,
black T-shirt, chain.
Truth is, people wanna keep dreaming, keep wondering:
"Will we get to see his eyes?"
But if ever I take off my sunglasses,
they'll say, "You shouldn't have taken them off."
I think he sees himself as a manga character,
steering his career a bit like a manga character.
His name is Maître GIMS.
That's really the name of a manga character.
That's where people struggle to see the difference between...
the artist and the man.
I'll be like this in the photos.
No animals were harmed!
[woman laughing] It's been done.
-It's like your music video for "Corazon." -[GIMS] Yeah.
There's nothing particularly wild.
[GIMS] No, not especially.
-So, people won't be surprised. -Yeah.
[GIMS] She cuts through the madness.
She's radical.
"It's lame. It's been done.
That jacket looks ratty."
She's really...
She's really involved.
It annoys me that we aren't ready.
We should have looked at this stuff before.
You aren't someone who... You see?
I could've gotten you a fur. That's hot.
Maître GIMS is...
It's easy!
I think it's important for him
to have an image that matches the lifestyle we try to show off
and the evolution of his character,
because, for me, GIMS is a character.
Uh...
GIMS is bold, which I like, because I think only a handful of people
can get away with this in today's French art scene.
And if I believe something is bad for him or his image, I will say so.
[GIMS] That's what I need: sincerity, people who are objective.
That's super important.
Because you can be doing something, and everyone's like, "That's great!"
But those people don't know a thing, or they aren't objective or sincere.
-Without my glasses, they're not sure. -Come on. There are cameras.
-I'll play the bodyguard. -[woman] Yeah, do that.
[GIMS] Get back, please. Sorry, excuse me.
That's it. This way, Beyoncé. Come on.
Uh, let's go this way.
Sorry, we need some air.
Excuse me.
Sorry, not allowed.
Sorry.
Excuse me.
Let us breathe!
-We're being followed. -[DemDem] You know what will happen?
-[GIMS] We'll take everyone with us? -[DemDem] They'll all stay out front.
[GIMS] I don't have my glasses on. People are going to film me.
I don't like it. I don't feel comfortable here.
[GIMS] It's not a real exchange with people.
Keep moving. Don't stop. If I stop, I'm dead.
White stuff in the middle. No!
Can I have a photo with you?
[GIMS] People just want a photo with you.
-Thanks. -Thanks.
[GIMS] You don't feel like a human being anymore.
Thank you. Thanks.
You don't feel like a human being.
[ominous music playing]
[keys jangling]
You're in a cage, and people are watching you and filming you.
You hear them whispering.
But that's part of the game. I accept it.
-Yeah, that's it. -[man] Not bad, huh?
[GIMS] Yeah, classy.
I'm wondering how to get back to the hotel.
Maybe we should get a car.
Not bad, huh? It'll get people talking.
[Dadju] Some say it's the Congolese part of us.
That Congolese people like bling and showing off.
Maybe it's because we had so little that we now want to flaunt it.
But I also know him when he's not playing his character.
Uh...
He's very, very unassuming. You wouldn't believe it.
I mean...
you see a character
that's nothing like GIMS, that's the total opposite of GIMS.
But he is those two opposites.
He's both. Sometimes bling, sometimes discreet.
Sometimes he sings, sometimes he raps.
-[people chattering] -[GIMS] Hi. I don't have much time, sorry.
[woman] Please.
[GIMS] Okay?
While walking? Can we do it while we're walking?
-[woman] Oh, my God. I love you. -[GIMS] Thanks.
-[woman] Thanks. -[GIMS] Thank you.
[man] Please, please.
[GIMS] Thanks.
-[car door closes] -[whistles]
There were so many people!
You have to put on the character.
Maybe you're feeling sad, you've had bad news or something,
but no!
You belong to the people.
So, if they want a photo,
you give them one. If you don't, you're a bastard.
[cheering]
NOVEMBER 10, 2018 NRJ MUSIC AWARDS CEREMONY.
[hip hop playing]
[announcer] Maître GIMS climbing the stairs tonight.
Hey, this is for us!
[Dadju] We're talking and laughing like we're in the 'hood.
Talking and stuff...
"Yeah, dude. I like your threads!"
"Yeah, right!"
And then you hear, "Dadju! GIMS! A photo, please!"
So, you go and play the star, in character, you know?
Hey!
American-style.
Showbiz!
Show business!
Okay, dude?
[cheering and applause]
♪ Bella ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ She answered to the name of Bella ♪
♪ The people there Didn't want to lose her ♪
♪ She made all the villages quake ♪
♪ They all said, "Beware of that girl!" ♪
♪ She answered to the name of Bella ♪
♪ The people there Didn't want to lose her ♪
♪ She made all the villages quake ♪
♪ They all said, "Beware of that girl!" ♪
[announcer] Maître GIMS!
[cheering and applause]
[GIMS] I like to win. I like victory.
GIMS IS NOMINATED IN FOUR CATEGORIES.
HE DOESN'T WIN ANY AWARDS.
Yes, of course it's a pain.
People who say otherwise are bitter or have never won anything,
so they say, "Winning isn't what counts."
And so on, and so on.
Purists! That's why I don't like purists.
[in English] And the winner is...
-[in French] And the winner is... -Dadju!
[cheering and applause]
DADJU WINS FRANCOPHONE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR.
Yeah!
Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.
[GIMS] I was really happy when the kid won.
Dadju had to be the breakthrough artist.
Because he was the breakthrough.
No one else.
Today, there's no one!
[man] No one can say a word!
No one!
[laughs]
[laughing]
If he'd lost, I'd have been mad.
["10/10" by GIMS playing]
Coming back by private jet! [laughing]
♪ I got her scent Before knowing who she was ♪
[GIMS] At that moment, it's like a mini World Cup. You've won!
♪ I decided she was a ten ♪
JULY 16, 2019 GIMS SHOOTS A MUSIC VIDEO WITH STING
[GIMS] When you've started from nothing,
it seems crazy to be with these people, singing with them,
people who have made their mark on history.
The Nutella has to go right to the edge,
so you can't see any bread at all.
It's folded. It's stuffed. It's loaded.
Say "bismillah" as a blessing and eat.
[indistinct chattering]
How's it going? Okay?
-Yeah, a bit... -Police!
-I heard you're feeling a bit sick? -Sick.
[in English] There's always something to learn from a young artist, a new artist.
ARTIST
It's been a very nice relationship, and it's fun.
[indistinct chattering]
[GIMS, in French] For those people to notice you,
that means you've done stuff to attract their attention.
They rarely do something with somebody who's just starting out.
[Sting, in English] Just because you're a rapper doesn't mean you can't sing.
Uh, or just because you're a singer doesn't mean you can't rap.
I think GIMS is of a generation where you can do both.
[cameraman, in French] We need space for the camera!
Everyone out, please!
[laughter]
[Sting, in English] He has a very unique voice
which combines African pop with a kind of...
European operatic style.
[in French] ♪ But you will go where-where-where ♪
♪ If I ever leave? ♪
♪ It'd make me hey-hey-hey ♪
♪ If ever you left me ♪
♪ Like the red rose That she placed on my heart ♪
♪ I prayed out of fear She'd fly away and fall apart ♪
[in English] ♪ Her beauty fades behind my glasses ♪
♪ And every morning leaves me wondering If she loves me still ♪
[Sting] Aren't we interested in unique voices,
something that doesn't sound like anyone else?
And he is one of those people.
So that's-- that's what makes a star,
is to have a unique fingerprint, a unique signature.
When people hear you, they know who it is.
They hear my voice, they know it's me.
They hear GIMS', the same.
ALBUM RE-RELEASE CEINTURE NOIRE
[technician, in French] Tell me if I'm okay.
[clearing throat]
[GIMS] My first name is Gandhi, and my family name is Djuna. Djuna Gandhi.
I have a brother named Trésor, another named Bijou.
Uh, there are people named, uh, Glorytogod,
uh, Goodadventure. The Congolese are the best with names.
I think I got off lightly with Gandhi.
[chuckles]
My dad named me Gandhi because he really liked him. [inhales]
I've always been a bit of an orator, always been able to motivate people.
I realized that quite early on.
Names matter.
They say that children, people, wear their names.
I think that's true.
It's helped me a lot.
YOLO NEIGHBORHOOD
I was born in Kinshasa in 1986.
That was during the time of Mobutu.
I "discovered," so to speak,
my native land quite late, in a concert with Sexion d'Assaut.
That was the first time I went back, a few years ago now.
That first time was quite a shock.
It's always weird to think that this is your real home.
You're really in your real home.
You're with your people. You were born here.
These are people of your race, of your ethnicity,
your country, your city... That's really something.
[horn honks]
I have to go back to Yolo.
It's symbolic.
That's where I tottered around, bare-assed, at the age of two.
Like Winnie the Pooh, with a t-shirt,
with my fat little belly.
You think,
"This is where it all began, right here.
I walked along here. The house was here. I want to be back here right now.
I want to plant myself right on this spot."
SEPTEMBER 2017 RETURN TO THE CONGO.
GIMS RETURNS TO HIS CHILDHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME.
[GIMS] We're going to the 'hood, my childhood neighborhood.
-[man] Yolo? -[GIMS] Yes.
[crowd, in Lingala] ♪ Hear the news! ♪
♪ GIMS has returned! ♪
♪ GIMS isn't just talk! He acts! ♪
♪ Hear the news! ♪
[siren wailing]
[GIMS, in French] It was a challenge to go back.
It was a gamble.
And it made a big impression on me.
[upbeat music playing]
[man] We, the people of Yolo,
they used to call us "the people of Dallas,"
after the TV show.
FATHER
They'd call me Bobby Ewing...
[laughs]
back then.
[GIMS] My memories of Kinshasa as a small kid are just little flashes.
[horns honks]
I can't even say for sure
if they're dreams or sounds. I don't know.
[crowd chattering indistinctly]
[chattering indistinctly]
-[man] GIMS, come here. GIMS. -[GIMS] Yes?
[man] Stay in the car and get on the running board.
-[GIMS] On the running board? -[man] Wave to the front and back, okay?
[GIMS] Okay, go ahead.
[crowd chattering]
[cheering and applause]
Thank you.
[GIMS, in Lingala] ♪ Hear the news! ♪
[crowd] ♪ Hear the news! ♪
♪ GIMS has returned! ♪
♪ GIMS isn't just talk! He acts! ♪
[GIMS, in French] They made that song up themselves
to celebrate my return.
It was like a homage to me.
[crowd continues singing]
Thank you!
Next year, I'll do a free concert at the Stade des Martyrs.
[cheering and applause]
I repeat...
Next year, I'll do a free concert at the Stade des Martyrs.
-Free, okay? -[cheering]
Thank you.
[GIMS speaking indistinctly]
[crowd cheering]
[GIMS] Thank you.
Thank you, Yolo.
Thank you so much.
I felt self-conscious. I didn't know what to do.
It was a bit embarrassing.
I was embarrassed. I was at a loss.
Thank you.
Thanks a lot.
Take a photo. Come and have a photo taken.
Nobody could've imagined that today he'd be the French number one.
ARTIST CONGOLESE MUSIC STAR
But we could've expected that, like his dad,
he'd be carrying the music gene in his DNA,
the music bug.
[singing a Congolese song]
[GIMS] At that time, my dad was a star in the Congo,
throughout Africa.
[man] Djuna Djanana's specialty was creating that atmosphere.
He's a guy who chants his songs in a way that gets his audience moving.
[singing]
[Djanana] I sang with Papa Wemba.
We toured Europe,
Africa, everywhere.
IN THE '80s, PAPA WEMBA WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STARS IN AFRICAN MUSIC.
HE POPULARIZED CONGOLESE RUMBA AROUND THE WORLD.
[man] I was really little,
and I remember running after the trucks
with the ads for Papa
with his group, Viva la Musica.
We'd run after the trucks.
It was crazy.
[upbeat music playing]
[Djanana] We got everyone dancing the mbili mbili.
That was our generation's famous dance.
Mobutu danced the mbili mbili.
He was pleased.
We sang for the birthday of his wife, Bobi Ladawa,
at his home, in Mobutu's house.
[GIMS] I think my dad was sort of affiliated to him.
It's tricky in those countries if you're close to a president,
to a politician.
THE DICTATOR JOSEPH-DÉSIRÉ MOBUTU RULED OVER ZAIRE, NOW CONGO, FROM 1965 TO 1997.
[Mobutu] A multi-party system in Zaire?
Never!
That will never happen!
Let that be clear.
Mobutu was bloodthirsty.
He never hesitated to kill his opponents or make them disappear.
It was a pretty tough dictatorship.
IN 1988, WITH ZAIRE IN CRISIS,
THINGS GOT COMPLICATED FOR DJUNA DJANANA, HIS WIFE, AND HIS FOUR CHILDREN.
The people were suffering...
because Mobutu had completely changed.
And then, I released a song
against the Mobutu regime.
That's why I fled the country.
I didn't want to get arrested.
NOVEMBER 17, 2018
-[woman speaking indistinctly] -[GIMS] Yeah.
-[GIMS hums] -[woman speaks indistinctly]
-[GIMS] Is he in there? -[woman knocks] Omar?
[Omar] Yes!
-[woman] It's me again. I brought company. -[Omar] Yeah?
-[GIMS] Big brother! -[Omar laughs]
-[Omar] How are you, brother? -Good. You?
-Sorry, I brought the cameras. -No problem. How are you?
-Are you well? -Yeah, great.
-What's up? -[GIMS] Hey.
-Things are good, yeah. -You good?
-What are you up to? -[GIMS] I'm in the middle of my tour.
Playing Lille the day after tomorrow.
-So, in France, then? -[GIMS] In France, yeah.
-Playing Paris? -[GIMS] No, that's next year.
That'll just be for the Stade de France.
-When? -[GIMS] I hope you'll come.
-When? -September 28.
Inshallah.
-September 28, Stade de France? -Stade de France.
-Holy shit. You realize? -Make a note.
I already have.
[both] September 28.
-2019. -[GIMS] 2019.
-Stade de France. -I'll remember.
-That's crazy. -[GIMS] Yeah.
-Are you freaking out or chilled? -Freaking out.
-Yeah, it's scary. -Freaking out. Too many tickets to sell.
-[GIMS laughs] -You gotta score some goals!
[GIMS sighs, then laughs]
That's the problem! How are you gonna do that?
-[Omar laughing] -[GIMS] Ay-yay.
-Okay, makeup time. -[laughs]
-See you, Omar. -Thanks, see you.
[clippers whirring]
[audience cheering and applauding]
[Drucker] How do you react to everything that's happened in your life?
It was one of my brothers who was supposed to come to France,
but I got on the plane at the last moment.
So, I keep all that in mind at all times.
I feel privileged because none of this is normal.
My mom and dad took Gandhi, GIMS,
and one of my sisters, and came here.
And they left me and my older brother with one of his brothers,
who... who raised us over there.
I was supposed to stay and maybe come later or...
But in the end, I was the one who was chosen.
IN 1988, THE TWO-YEAR-OLD GIMS ARRIVED IN FRANCE WITH HIS LITTLE SISTER FITSCHA.
[GIMS] We got to France, and it really was an adventure.
At first, you can get a hotel, but then you run out of resources.
No job, no papers, nothing.
It really was an adventure.
My mom is very reticent to talk about all that.
My dad, too, so...
[clicks tongue] But I know it really was a matter of life or death.
GIMS WAS JOINED BY HIS ELDER BROTHERS, SATY AND AFI,
AND PUT IN A CHILDREN'S HOME.
CHILDREN WELFARE SERVICE CENTER
[barking]
[GIMS] We'd stay there all week,
and our parents would come to see us on the weekend.
[Afi] We'd seen white people before but not so many.
There, we were living with white people.
We were practically the only Black people.
We'd all eat together. We'd be told a story.
Sometimes we'd watch a movie. I first saw E.T. there.
We learned French. We went to school.
We learned all kinds of things we didn't know in Africa.
I discovered lots of things. I discovered Michael Jackson. [chuckles]
[crowd cheering]
And that's how my life in France began.
[GIMS] ♪ Glory, power, and beauty Often end badly ♪
♪ Hard to see tears through fire ♪
AT THE AGE OF FOUR, GIMS LEFT THE HOME.
THE FAMILY MOVED TO IVRY-SUR-SEINE BEFORE BEING EVICTED.
♪ All adrift at sea ♪
♪ I feel like I am free ♪
♪ In my eyes, you can see ♪
♪ I'm as solid as can be ♪
♪ I did what I had to ♪
♪ Even if it tortures my mind ♪
♪ I fess up to my mistakes ♪
♪ My conscience hangs by a thread ♪
♪ My mind's distracted ♪
♪ Don't tell me about living right ♪
♪ I'm living proof That life hangs only by a thread ♪
♪ I did what I had to ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh ♪
That'll do.
2:30 A.M.
[GIMS] When I came to Paris, it was here. This was the first place I lived in.
Number 61.
There was no shower, no bedroom.
It wasn't made for living.
I'd take this street to get to school.
We had a secret passage.
It goes straight through that building over there.
But we didn't know the code, so we'd kick in the door.
It was a shortcut straight to the other side.
Elementary school was a real shock.
I learned French values, French riches, French sources of pride.
And art obviously. That's where it began.
I was hooked straight away.
I acted in my first play in the 4th grade,
The Bourgeois Gentleman.
And at that moment...
I knew I'd found something I could do. I loved it.
Being onstage, being at the forefront, It was the first time I got applause.
That made an impression.
[humming]
[Afi] He tried to understand everything about music, about rap.
This was during the time of VHS and cassette tapes.
I had cassettes of...
the Wu-Tang Clan, loads of American stuff,
Dr. Dre and all that.
I'd be rapping. He was a kid,
and he'd be like, "Yeah, wicked!"
And I'd tell him, "Do it like that."
I wrote some lyrics...
♪ Bro, I'm doing my best Stay chill, I'm not stressed ♪
Just simple rhymes.
But that's how it was then. It's crazy.
♪ Bro, I'm doing my best Stay chill, I'm not stressed ♪
♪ Give it a rest ♪
They were my showcase lyrics.
I'd never have imagined
that he'd really get into it
and make a name for himself: GIMS.
And become... the GIMS!
I'd never have imagined it. No way!
I should've been the GIMS!
Know what I mean? It should've been me.
[man singing "Sapés Comme Jamais" by GIMS]
[man yells indistinctly]
[GIMS laughs]
IN 1995, GIMS' PARENTS SEPARATED.
GIMS WAS LEFT WITH HIS TWO LITTLE SISTERS AND HIS LITTLE BROTHER, BEDJIK.
[GIMS] I lived with my mom
in these squats, always with lots of people,
who were in the same situation we were.
We'd share the house.
It was hardcore. No shower, nothing. We washed in a bucket.
I remember it was blue or red.
You had to heat the water on the gas
and wash using that. I couldn't do it.
[camera shutter clicking]
Loads of people were on drugs.
I grew up with junkies. Lots of them.
I had an uncle... He wasn't really my uncle, but that's what we called him.
That was his business. I saw him dealing.
And I remember he hid his cocaine in yogurt pots.
One time I found some,
and I tore it open and tasted it.
I had no idea what it was.
I said, "I want to be like you.
Teach me how to do what you do."
And he really yelled at me that day.
One day, when we were all still asleep,
there was a police raid at six in the morning.
They smashed the door in.
You'd get back from school and have no home.
[GIMS] Yeah.
From then on, the family was totally split up.
I said, "Well, that's it."
I quit school,
and I really became a proper street kid.
♪ MC, mercenary from Kinshasa ♪
♪ I'm hitting you And everyone wonders who's doing it ♪
♪ In Kinshasa kids under seven Scream battle cries ♪
♪ Man, it's hard, okay? The mic? Take it back from me ♪
♪ Criticizing? Feel free You might lose it ♪
♪ If you had to leave your apartment By the end of the month ♪
♪ Good advice from a friend, I didn't know The government would screw me ♪
♪ Relax, no big deal ♪
♪ I'm here for the money I don't like arguing, okay ♪
♪ Okay, okay, okay ♪
I was convinced that I would make it through all right.
♪ 7, 5, 0, 0, 9 Not like New York or like Compton ♪
♪ I feel a bit dizzy Like Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap ♪
[GIMS] I met Maska, Adama, Lefa...
and we created the group Sexion d'Assaut then, in 2001.
We struggled together for years and years.
We went here and there, in the street, freestyling.
[inaudible]
I'd say to the guys, "I'm going home." But I wasn't going anywhere.
I'd walk around along the big Parisian boulevards.
I'd go to FNAC and listen to albums.
All I did was dream, nothing but dream.
I'd "sleep," in quotes, in the subway.
The train would reach the last stop, I'd get off, sleep,
and go around Paris again.
I'd sleep at friends' places, in stairwells.
I was in freefall. That's what my life was.
He was sleeping in the street.
-[interviewer] Didn't you know? -No, I didn't know.
He was underage, he couldn't be sleeping on the streets.
Uh...
He grew up with his pals.
He did what he could.
I know he doesn't blame anyone.
It's never crossed his mind.
He's not like that. [laughs]
You know, we're a real family. It doesn't matter.
There was no choice.
[GIMS] It was hard to think about all that, to...
to block it all out, thinking, "Why...
Why did my dad leave? I wanted to go with them."
It was so difficult.
Just having a good day, getting enough to eat, et cetera,
that was the most important thing.
Yeah...
[hip hop playing]
APRIL 11, 2019, GIMS' WIFE, DEMDEM, LAUNCHES HER FASHION LABEL.
I think we represent the classic pattern of people who grew up in poverty,
who became rich all of a sudden,
and decided to make up for lost time,
maybe too quickly and badly.
I wasn't prepared for all that.
There's no school to learn about being an artist's wife.
[GIMS] It's not easy being "the wife of..."
You're sort of a shadow, and you want to "exist," in quotes,
to do something.
So, it's not easy, especially for a woman.
He doesn't like to feel in a position of inferiority.
He's a winner. He wants to succeed. He doesn't like to lose. Uh...
He looks at his sales figures very closely.
When a new album is coming out, during the week,
he'll keep himself to himself more, be more reserved,
but I know that's just because he's worried.
Good evening, everyone!
[cheering]
Thanks for coming. Thanks for accepting the invitation.
Thank you, Dan and DemDem.
-[cheering] -Thanks a million.
-Make some noise for Maître GIMS! -[cheering]
♪ Once again ♪
♪ I widened the gap ♪
♪ Once again, I'm not bluffing I lay my cards on the table ♪
[Dadju] He won't let anyone overtake him, anyone.
You could be his dad, [laughing] he still wouldn't let you.
My goal is to overtake him.
And his goal is for me to be...
just... to be coming up, but just behind his shoulder.
[inhales]
We're obviously rivals.
It's crazy. It's...
It's a funny feeling.
There's a sense of pride,
but he's also a real rival now. He's put himself in that position.
His career may not be as big as mine yet,
but he will do and perhaps go even further.
I don't know.
Hello, my name is Dadju.
[cheering]
I am...
I'm Maître GIMS' little brother.
[cheering]
Which, of course, makes me DemDem's brother-in-law.
[cheering]
So, obviously the two of them had to force me to come.
[laughter]
No, I'm kidding. It's the family here today being honored.
She's made a success of what she wanted to do.
I'm proud of her.
So, make some noise for DemDem, please!
[cheering]
[Dadju singing]
["Reine" by Dadju playing]
♪ Today, I'm tired ♪
[audience singing] ♪ I watched you sleep ♪
♪ And if my voice can soothe you I'll sing for you all night ♪
[Dadju] At the end of 2018, they ranked the best sales in France.
The top three were Johnny Hallyday, GIMS, Dadju.
When I saw that...
I thought, "Now, wait! Do you realize what's happening?"
I've never seen anything like it. Two brothers at the top of the ranking.
It's historic. It's crazy.
♪ And I know, I trust you ♪
♪ When you smile, you're not acting ♪
It hurts when you work really hard, and they say,
"It's because you're GIMS' brother."
And GIMS knew that would happen.
It was bound to. He's the most popular singer here.
So, if you were Zidane's son, you'd be compared to Zidane, you know?
He took a step back from it.
He kept his distance a bit.
And becoming an artist in my own right was a victory for me.
And he was the first to be pleased.
[vocalizing]
TEN MONTHS BEFORE STADE DE FRANCE.
[clears throat]
[GIMS vocalizing]
[vocalizing]
BEFORE STADE DE FRANCE,
GIMS' FUEGO TOUR PLAYS IN 52 CITIES IN FRANCE AND EUROPE IN SIX MONTHS.
[singing]
[train driver] Wait for the train to come to a complete stop before descending.
[humming]
This is a nice spot for a photo.
I think most people get to know me with the big hits,
but the rappers know very well who I am.
They know very well where I come from, know my journey.
SOPRANO, ARTIST FRENCH RAP AND POP STAR
You know, when every day people say, "You're just a pop singer!"
But you know deep down
that if you started rapping again, you could really light it up.
At some point, your pride takes a hit.
And you go, "Okay, who's rapping now? I'll show you!"
[singing melody]
[man laughs]
-[GIMS] Good evening, sir! -[SCH] Hi, sir. How are you?
-Okay, bro? Sorry I'm late. -[SCH] No problem.
[GIMS] How's it going? Cool?
Welcome home.
Welcome home, guys.
-How's it going? Cool? -Hello!
Yeah, and you?
-Manon. -[Manon] Hello!
[GIMS] SCH.
[SCH] You need to be careful when asking him for a feature spot.
He's got a crazy flow.
ARTIST
I wouldn't have a rap battle with him, know what I mean?
-There's the beast! -[SCH speaks indistinctly]
[GIMS] You see that?
It's a really long stage.
-[SCH speaking indistinctly] -[GIMS] That's US-style.
[Maïzi] GIMS is a huge Eminem fan.
And one thing Eminem was great at was humiliating others on collaborations.
It was his specialty.
And GIMS has that competitiveness.
-[SCH] You're playing the Stade de France? -Yeah, September 28.
-That's sick! -[GIMS] Yeah.
Gotta sell out.
I'm totally stressed about it.
End up a mega-star, no need for promotion.
That's the ultimate stage.
It means you made it, you own the place, you don't give a damn anymore.
It doesn't matter radio or not. I've got my audience. They're there.
[GIMS vocalizing]
♪ But I know that you love me ♪
[cheering and applause]
[Sofiane rapping]
-♪ Hey buddy, hey buddy ♪ -♪ Don't stay there ♪
♪ Things are getting shady ♪
-♪ Hey buddy ♪ -♪ Hey buddy ♪
♪ Don't stay there There's something ugly ♪
-♪ Hey buddy ♪ -♪ Hey buddy ♪
♪ I'm gonna break your neck 'Cause life's been tough ♪
♪ It won't stop messing with my head I'm getting paranoid ♪
♪ I don't express my love Mugiwara, yes or no? ♪
[GIMS continues rapping]
FIRST RECORDING OF SONG "LOUP GAROU".
♪ Things are getting worse ♪
♪ The devil jerks off When humans get lost ♪
♪ Just stay on your guard This is not a charade ♪
♪ Hey, Agathe, let me tell you I get irritated when you're touchy-feely ♪
♪ Men like it when you spread your legs And things degenerate like in Kattegat ♪
[GIMS continues rapping]
♪ The manager knew the little bitch Would take screenshots ♪
[cheering]
♪ Hey, I'm the one Who doesn't get royalties anymore ♪
♪ Ladies and gentlemen I'm riding in a car ♪
[GIMS] This is what a "kicker" looks like, a technical rapper.
It's a guy who can freestyle, who has flow,
who has technique, who can do wordplay,
can speed up, slow down, rap to any production.
And I belong to that species which is dying out, real kickers.
[continues rapping]
[GIMS continues rapping]
I was recording it. It was just the two of us.
We weren't expecting to record this tune at the time.
It took three quarters of an hour, maximum.
And he got it down, wrote it down.
He had just a few lyrics, and he just wrote it all down.
He didn't want to stop.
He wanted to make a sick verse, and he did!
[inaudible]
[GIMS] I always want to do two or three rap numbers in a project.
I still keep an eye on what's happening. It's important.
That's where it all begins.
That's the foundation.
[SCH] You tore it up, man!
Thanks, man.
[speaking indistinctly]
[GIMS] I'm getting on the bus.
[indistinct speaking]
You need to battle each other, and we'll see who kills who.
-Oh, gosh. -[woman] Oh!
No, but...
I already killed Fianso! Who else?
[DemDem] He'll beat your guy. You know he'll beat him.
[man speaking indistinctly]
He'll beat him, but he'll try to respond!
[GIMS] Thank you. That's okay.
TOURING THROUGHOUT FRANCE AND AT THE STADE DE FRANCE ON 09/28/2019
["Jasmine" by GIMS playing]
[GIMS singing along]
Gonna be huge.
First tune from the new album.
-[man] Yeah? -[GIMS] Yeah.
I get off the stage after a two-hour gig,
I get on the bus, I eat, and I listen to the tune
for hours.
♪ You remind me of Princess Jasmine ♪
I don't have any lyrics. I wait for inspiration to hit,
to bring me some of its magic, and then go away again.
You need to adapt, to assimilate the song.
It has to...
It has to transcend you.
Once it's transcended you, you've got it!
♪ Ah-ha, easier said than done ♪
♪ Tell me, where's my heart? You had it, ah ♪
♪ Easier said than done ♪
♪ Tell me, where's my heart? You had it, ah ♪
♪ Easier said than done ♪
♪ Tell me, where's my heart? You had it, ah-ha ♪
♪ Easier said than done ♪
♪ Tell me, where's my heart? You had it ♪
THE NEXT DAY.
[man] He works all the time. I remember times,
driving around Paris...
ARTIST
...and not talking for an hour.
And for that hour, he was working away in his head.
He was coming up with a melody.
Then he'd be like, "Hey, I've got a tune!
It's a killer!"
♪ 'Cause I wasn't gifted Despite the hard work ♪
That's not bad.
[Bedjik] He gets inspiration everywhere.
He has this Mercedes which you start by pressing a button.
He heard the sound of the engine, "Vroom." He was like, "Shit, I've got a melody!"
What do you mean you've got a tune?!
[vocalizing]
-Ey, ey, ey. -[Dadju] He got a tune
from hearing a part of the jingle for The Young and the Restless.
You got the beat going...
[imitates beat]
[hip hop plays]
[music stops]
You know the synth you put in the background?
[singing melody]
Try to play it with just that.
I think we need to change it.
The beat is great, but there are a lot of filters.
He already has the whole song in his head,
and he tells the beatmaker, "Do this. Add that."
[singing along to melody]
FINALIZING THE LYRICS FOR "JASMINE".
"I tried. I tried."
[speaking indistinctly]
[sings]
[GIMS singing]
-Yeah. -[GIMS singing]
-[GIMS] "I tried." -"I tried."
-[GIMS] Yeah, that works. -It's good.
[GIMS] I'll make a note.
[GIMS] The public is pitiless.
They'll judge you the second they hear you.
[H Magnum] To me, a really good artist
is someone who can have a hit.
The problem is that while you get that hit,
you're already looking ahead, thinking how you can kill that hit.
Or the hit will kill you.
[GIMS] I'm always defending my title. That's how it is.
That's the scariest thing.
["La Nuit C'est Fait Pour Dormir" by GIMS playing]
♪ Night is made for sleeping ♪
♪ I said, night is made for sleeping ♪
♪ Night is made for sleeping ♪
♪ I said, night is made for sleeping ♪
[cheering and applause]
♪ We all know she's alone ♪
♪ Everyone's looking her way ♪
♪ We all know she's alone ♪
♪ She's always showing off ♪
♪ Everyone's looking her way ♪
♪ But she's a complicated lady ♪
♪ All Paris has seen your face ♪
♪ Gotta stop using Snapchat ♪
♪ Now you know what the game is ♪
[audience cheering]
[GIMS] Good.
One more.
[guitar playing softly]
[GIMS singing]
RECORDING OF "JASMINE".
[GIMS continues singing]
[Rebillaud] You can see he comes from rap. He turns up with nothing written.
He does it there and then,
and it's quick.
It's instinctive writing.
♪ It's there, it's there, it's... ♪
That's a nice little gimmick.
♪ It's there, it's there, it's... ♪
-Without the... Got it. -[speaks indistinctly]
The most sincere tracks, the biggest hits,
are put together very quickly.
No need to take three days.
If you take three days, something's wrong.
Maybe it shouldn't even exist, or you haven't got it.
[GIMS] ♪ You made your choice ♪
♪ And yet I tried ♪
♪ I tried again and again ♪
♪ And yet I tried ♪
♪ Alas, alas, yeah ♪
[Rebillaud] Great! There's just that bit which...
I'm in my socks, we've got granola,
we've got cookies, and...
the song will come out and be on the radio everywhere.
All France will listen to it.
♪ Don't tell me you're sorry ♪
♪ Where's my heart? You had it ♪
[Rebillaud] Oh, yeah!
♪ You didn't care ♪
♪ Tell me, where's my heart? You had it ♪
♪ I think we broke down the barriers ♪
♪ Today's way worse than yesterday ♪
♪ The past is far behind, far behind ♪
♪ What happened to "baby, baby"? ♪
♪ I think we broke down the barriers ♪
♪ Today's way worse than yesterday ♪
♪ The past is far behind, far behind ♪
♪ What happened to "baby, baby"? ♪
[GIMS] My first freestyle was right here,
in this park, with Barack Adama, Maska, Lefa, and the others.
This is where Sexion d'Assaut was born.
Right here, nowhere else.
The hard thing in all that is to find your own style, your own character,
find what is really you.
I think I found my character quite early on.
That made it possible for me to bloom. I didn't search for long.
♪ Where are the scared guys Getting slaps? ♪
♪ I definitely prefer To be the one getting claps ♪
♪ I've been watching ever since Benny B ♪
♪ Bump me off If I have the Kennedys' bad luck, shh ♪
I became the guy with the sunglasses
one night when there was no moon.
[laughs]
[hip hop playing]
♪ Okay, okay ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Don't screw me around I take no abuse ♪
♪ You don't calm a Tutsi With an orange juice... ♪
[GIMS] I was freestyling, uh,
and I had sunglasses on.
It was recorded and put online,
but there was no name, they didn't know who I was,
so... they started calling me "the Sunglasses Guy."
People wanted to freestyle, to do battles with the Sunglasses Guy.
We did freestyle battles.
I bought tourist sunglasses at Montmartre.
I needed sunglasses to be recognized.
I'm gonna tell them! I'll tell them!
♪ Life flies by, say goodbye It's no good ♪
♪ We check out 'cause of something weird But that's the 'hood ♪
♪ Bro, you'd better shut your mouth What are you talking about? ♪
♪ Maître GIMS, Black M One more step, you're dead ♪
For several years, we were just doing it for fun,
just to be together.
We shared the same passion. It was our happiness.
It became serious when we realized
that we needed to put some work into it,
-then it became serious business. -["Wati By Night" by historia playing]
BETWEEN 2010 AND 2012, SEXION D'ASSAUT SOLD OVER A MILLION ALBUMS.
Back then, our strength was being on the same wavelength.
We were determined. We were the best, the best European rap group.
We were sure of that.
♪ Hey, ho ♪
We doing "Wati by Night" or not?
♪ Nightclub, car park, so many plates ♪
When I saw him on TV, I went, "Shit!
That's GIMS! It's Gandhi!"
Hold on, GIMS! GIMS!
"What's going on? That's my son!"
"He's made it."
♪ Let's start again Whenever you're ready ♪
♪ Chicks are having a cat fight ♪
♪ Meanwhile my homie Jeryzoos's Boozing it up... ♪
[Orelsan] The group made history.
They kick-started rap again.
♪ To the sound of a sick tune... ♪
I loved them straightaway. They said, "Wait, please."
Boom! They smashed open the door, and everyone poured through.
They didn't stop.
They released song after song after song.
[accelerates]
It was a tidal wave.
They were big rappers, big freestylers.
[Orelsan] I listen to rappers today, and I think,
"Yeah, they've fed on Sexion d'Assaut,
and now they rap like that."
♪ Long hair, short hair Should I accost her or run away? ♪
♪ Oh, my God, she's fat ♪
They were the first to own and especially to enjoy making hits.
[Orelsan] Just yesterday,
I was somewhere where they were listening to...
♪ Saturday night parties ♪
♪ Sometimes disappoint me ♪
They became a legendary group
in just a year.
[audience cheering]
[host] Make some noise for...
ONE SONG SYMBOLIZES THIS SUCCESS, "DÉSOLÉ," WITH SALES OF 200,000 IN 2010.
[GIMS] At the time, I was embarrassed about singing.
At the time, it was all about rap.
If rappers wanted a singer, it would be a woman.
I think back then male rappers tried to show their masculinity,
that they were the alpha dogs.
The rap game was strong then. The rap game was heavy.
So, singing was something more elegant, more feminine.
So guys didn't dare go there.
But some of them did dare,
and I think when GIMS dared to do it, he came up with his big voice,
and he killed it.
So, I said, "Okay, rock style!"
That's how I saw it, as rock.
[chuckles]
♪ I had to live in the street ♪
♪ Step by step I thought it was unreal ♪
♪ Daddy, Mommy, buddies, I'm sorry ♪
♪ I feel I wanna shut myself away ♪
♪ I had to live in the street ♪
♪ Step by step I thought it was unreal ♪
♪ Daddy, Mommy, buddies, I'm sorry ♪
♪ I feel I wanna shut myself away ♪
♪ I had to live in the street ♪
♪ Step by step I thought it was unreal ♪
♪ Daddy, Mommy, buddies, I'm sorry ♪
♪ I feel I wanna shut myself away ♪
The genius came from his voice.
And I think it was that which...
blew everyone away.
I think that at first, he underestimated his capacity to be a real singer.
But he soon came to realize that he had a strength compared to others,
and that's why he took off.
-What's up, dude? -[GIMS] All good?
GIMS AND BLACK M HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE SEXION D'ASSAUT.
-New jacket, new life? -Stop it!
[both laugh]
-[music playing] -[Black M] Part two is more singing.
It's better adapted to GIMS than to me.
THEY'RE WORKING ON BLACK M'S NEXT ALBUM.
I can do it, but...
-[GIMS] Yes, I see. -See?
He has more fun with it.
[sings]
-You know? -[GIMS] And the... [sings]
before the chorus.
That sounds like just before the chorus.
-And then, bang, the chorus! -[Black M singing]
[GIMS] Yeah.
You need a simpler chorus,
but go into it with a Daft Punk robot voice, like...
[GIMS singing]
[Black M] Yeah, I see.
[GIMS singing]
[GIMS] When we get together, it's like nothing has changed.
Even if it isn't as strong as before.
That's logical. We aren't together 24/7. We aren't teenagers anymore.
[knocks] Meugui?
PERSONAL ASSISTANT
Yeah. It's time.
[newswoman] Next week, Maître GIMS will join
the select club of artists who've sung at the Stade de France.
The last date is Lille, right?
[Zaji] Yeah, Liévin. The stadium there.
The 19th. Next Wednesday.
[GIMS] Is it night or day? What's going on?
French rap often just copies American rap.
I think a track like "Désolé"...
has no equivalent
in American rap.
They invented something.
["J'me Tire" by GIMS playing]
[GIMS] Urban pop is a purist's nightmare,
rap sung with choruses.
But I think that it brought something new.
We were able to ignite interest
in people who had no interest in rap.
There isn't a new audience out there waiting for a hero.
There isn't.
All the audiences are accounted for, I swear!
-All of them. -All of them. Yeah. That's very true.
Each audience has its representative, its flag.
"I listen to Bigflo."
"I listen to so-and-so." "I listen to Damso."
"I listen to Orelsan." "I listen to Nekfeu."
All the audiences are taken. Now you have to win them over.
You look at rap today,
everyone sings.
Even the so-called "hardcore" guys
are in soft mode.
♪ I left school ♪
♪ If you only knew ♪
♪ How much it still hurts ♪
♪ It's my direction ♪
♪ I lost it but didn't renounce Never gave up ♪
♪ Uninformed, drained of strength ♪
♪ Under a curse ♪
♪ From now on, I'll keep moving on It's my direction ♪
♪ My direction ♪
[GIMS] After a gig, I usually...
the show goes on.
This famous game, Werewolf.
So, the village sleeps.
Where are we today? We were in Libreville yesterday.
Now we're in Canada.
You can hear the water over the rocks, rumbling.
And the wolves awaken.
The wolves suddenly wake up and look at each other.
[H Magnum] He never plays Werewolf. He's the narrator.
What he likes, what he enjoys,
is seeing that everyone is good.
-There are two wolves here. -No. What's he doing?
Yes, stop it. Come on.
-Are you a wolf, Adama? -No.
He's a wolf, and so are you.
You're a wolf. Sorry!
ARTIST
[laughter]
Show your card!
[woman] He's not a wolf!
-[Lefa] He is a wolf! -He's not!
I'm not a wolf!
He's a wolf!
[excited yelling and laughter]
[Lefa] I told you he was a wolf!
[excited chatter]
MARRAKESH
[GIMS] You'll get dirty.
You'll... No, you'll get dirty.
[child] No, it's in his pocket!
-[GIMS] No. -[child] It's in his hand!
-[child] Zero, zero, zero. [laughs] -[GIMS] Leave my phone alone.
[child yells]
[GIMS] Let go.
[child] I dare you! [laughs]
I said, I dare you!
[GIMS] The hardest part is explaining to the kids why you aren't there,
that you're away for six weeks, then back for three or four days, ten days...
That's harder than being on stage for two hours
or doing a 50-show tour.
[DemDem] I know it hurts him a lot to not be around for his children.
That's the worst part of the job for him,
not seeing his children grow up,
not being here for them every day, not having that routine.
Uh...
[clicks tongue] That's his biggest regret.
[children chattering]
[Boussif] During this month off,
we have to get a week to ten days in a recording studio.
[GIMS] I can't move.
I told you in January [clears throat] I'd be staying in Morocco.
If I go away for two days here, ten days there...
it'll screw everything up, my "vacation," the kids, everything.
Do you realize? It's...
How many years is it since I've had a full week or ten days off consecutively
with the kids in Morocco or whatever?
[child yells]
Hey, let him have the packet!
-Let him have it. -[child speaks indistinctly]
January, I said, I'd be in Morocco.
If it's to record, we can bring people here instead.
We have the space.
GIMS MOVED TO MOROCCO IN 2014.
I chose to live in Morocco because I visited a long time ago,
and I loved the atmosphere of the people and the country.
It's not so far away, but it's so different.
So, I came back the following year, and so on, I brought friends.
And then, so much happened.
I met people. I met the king.
I met powerful people, interesting people,
people who helped me.
And I decided to move here.
That's what's crazy about this place.
You've got a donkey there and a Range Rover here. That's beautiful.
Medieval over there and Louis Vuitton... Crazy!
The Knights of the Round Table and Louis Vuitton!
It's crazy.
I feel I'm a citizen of the world.
I feel at home in France, in Morocco, in Kinshasa.
They're places where I've always been welcomed.
I feel comfortable because it's a Muslim country.
So, of course I feel...
I feel included in their culture.
I was originally Christian.
I converted in 2004, when I was still at school.
It's so personal. It's so...
It connects to the invisible.
It's something you feel. It's...
It's spiritual.
I was always looking for answers
regarding creation, the world we live in,
where we come from.
And at that time, I was smoking a fair bit of hash,
so I was all over the place.
It opens up your chakras.
You're stoned. You look at the clouds and see all this craziness.
You see the clouds like this.
You have all these weird thoughts in your head.
So, I started getting interested in it at that time.
And I talked about it a lot with the guys from Sexion d'Assaut, Adama and Lefa.
[inhales]
I was fascinated. We talked about it all the time.
Aïsha, sit there.
-[child speaks indistinctly] -[DemDem] Here you go.
[GIMS] When I converted,
I didn't want to drink or smoke.
I just stopped.
It gives you a framework.
Stop that!
[children chattering indistinctly]
[DemDem] He has his own definition of a man, of a father,
and I think that was prescribed by Islam.
Those values are now entrenched in him.
Whatever happens, he always comes back to this line.
I talk about it with him a lot
because people often say our lyrics are innocent.
It's not that we're innocent. It's just that...
we respect our religion so much that I can't say...
I can't say "son of a bitch" or "motherfucker."
When we go too far, it helps us
to come back a little bit spiritually.
[GIMS] Gently!
Since converting, back in our Sexion d'Assaut days,
we've done nothing during Ramadan.
It's our spiritual month.
No promotion, no interviews, none of that.
We have him home for a whole month, and we can really enjoy it,
especially the kids.
It's really important for them to have a normal dad.
We want what others try to escape.
We want a routine for that month.
-[child] Daddy, look! -[GIMS laughs]
That's beautiful!
[GIMS] We want to get away from it all,
from this earthly world,
from all that's...
from showbiz.
And that's the only time when it's possible for us.
When I joined this religion,
with the best intentions, I was...
I was wide open to any guru.
I was, in quotes, a "pure heart" in this religion.
So, anyone malicious could have taken me under their wing
and weaponized me.
IN 2005, GIMS JOINED THE TABLIGH BROTHERS, AN ISLAMIST SECT.
HE WAS FORCED TO PUT AN END TO HIS CAREER
BEFORE CHANGING HIS MIND AND LEAVING THE MOVEMENT.
I had friends that I met in mosques and so on.
We developed together, and each took a slightly different path.
Some of them went off and ended up in Iraq.
This person went off to Iraq
and died...
committed suicide.
People who'd been with me.
"Remember so-and-so? He went to Iraq."
And that freaked me out.
I thought, "Shit, I came close!"
I don't know how I could've ended up.
[newswoman] Terrorism has been confirmed
in the investigation into the murder of two Scandinavians in Morocco.
On Thursday, three men were arrested in Marrakesh
according to authorities.
ON DECEMBER 16, 2018,
TWO SCANDINAVIAN TOURISTS WERE MURDERED IN MOROCCO
BY MEN CLAIMING TO BE WITH ISIS.
ONE WEEK LATER, GIMS WAS ON STAGE IN MARRAKESH.
[audience cheering and applauding]
[GIMS] I'm not going to go into detail.
But I'm a Muslim. I've embraced Islam.
[audience cheering]
But I do not recognize Islam in what's happened.
I totally disavow what has happened.
And I'm happy to be here tonight. I've been living in Marrakesh a long time.
I reject things like that happening here.
Thank you all.
Thanks to all the teams.
[cheering]
I have to disavow it, because kids watching me...
Thank you!
...who don't know, who mix everything up,
with the media not doing their job properly...
I have to say no.
I'm a Muslim, and that has nothing to do with me.
I have nothing to do with them.
♪ I'm always watching ♪
♪ I learn each time you cough ♪
♪ I hear, but I play deaf ♪
[in Armenian] ♪ I'm begging you, don't go ♪
♪ Don't go, go, go ♪
♪ Stay, stay in my arms ♪
♪ Stay in my arms, stay ♪
♪ I'll give you my heart's affection ♪
♪ If you'll only stay by my side ♪
♪ I'll give you my heart's affection ♪
♪ If you'll only stay by my side ♪
[audience cheering]
[GIMS, in French] The Congolese singer is more than a musician. He's a politician.
Music there is so important
that a singer is an ambassador, a representative of the country.
People ask more of him.
GIMS' DRESSING ROOM
[Adama] You can't be holding up your trophies every day.
"I sold a million, four million albums!"
You sell and sell... and then what?
What's it all for? You with me?
You have to make this thing real
and say, "Yes, I have a lot,
but I'm giving some of it back to the people. To my people!"
In your case, Congo.
Don't, and the Congolese will blame you. And they'd be right to do so.
Few people have that power. Even if you save two lives.
Thanks to you, some kid might be a doctor tomorrow.
He'll say, "I was in GIMS' association..."
He's right. Twenty years later, you say, "I was in the association."
-It produces results. -Yes, it does!
You have to do it. You have no choice.
If Jérôme Jarre goes to Congo
and does stuff, you'll be embarrassed.
-Do it! -[Magnum H ] I've done it!
I've been there. I've been to Benin. I've been all over.
-That's true. -[Magnum H] I've been loads of times!
The guys throwing a wrench in the works are Black people.
[Adama] Except that when you went, you were unknown.
If you go now, you have a different status.
-[man] That's true. -[Adama] That's the truth, bro.
[Magnum H] The problem is that he has to...
manage to do things
without getting appropriated politically,
do things without taking sides.
[GIMS] I'm doing something now, a new version of the Enfoirés charity
with a team, Jean-Jacques Goldman style.
Uh, one album per year, 13 tracks. All profits will be directly donated.
And a concert in Africa.
It will focus on access to water. That's why so many are dying.
[Adama] Whatever happens, do something. That's all I'm saying. Just act.
Yeah, it's... It really isn't easy.
You always feel that...
you aren't doing enough...
or that you can't do anything.
So every time I go,
we try to go and see the orphans,
and hand out food, clothes, school supplies...
That's all we can do.
I want to go further.
That's what I'm doing.
IN 2020, GIMS DESIGNED A WATCH
FOR A HIGH-END WATCHMAKER FOR THE BENEFIT OF UNICEF
I don't get the money. It goes straight to an organization.
-[GIMS] How are you? -All right?
Nice!
[GIMS] The money goes directly to an association for children
that we chose together.
This is brilliant. We have a crazy amount of work to do to bring it to life.
[GIMS] You can show off, but after, you give back.
You can't just make people dream.
You need to give people opportunities, reach out.
I have to do it.
I have to do something for the people.
I have to leave some mark. I have to do something.
TWO YEARS EARLIER.
I can talk about poverty because I did struggle with poverty.
I can talk about wealth because I am now wealthy.
I have experienced both,
so I can talk about it. I can understand.
-[woman, in Lingala] Is that him? -[GIMS, in French] Hello, ma'am.
[in Lingala] How are you, my boy?
I'm fine. Thank you.
Since I've been here, son,
on your father's side of the family, things have been hard.
Our life is really hard, and we can't get by.
We barely eat. Life is really tough.
I tell him. I beg him. I cry.
Sylvain and my sisters are in Europe. Two of my children are there too.
Sylvain and Mado are there.
But without Sylvain’s help, things are hard for us down here, son.
Things are really hard for us on your father's side of the family.
On your father's side, life treats us badly.
[in French] Apparently, she's my grandmother's sister
on my father's side.
I just found that out there, on the spot.
I don't know how she got there. She was really old.
[in Lingala] Sit here. Tell her to sit here. I'll be right back.
Sit here on this couch. I'll be right back.
[speaking indistinctly]
[GIMS, in French] It goes on all day long, people coming with their problems.
You have to give them money.
It's the culture. You have to.
-Hello, how are you? -[woman exclaims]
All right?
[laughs]
[indistinct chattering]
We'll get a photo.
[GIMS] I've involuntarily become...
the clan chief, the head of the family, the head of the whole family.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 CONCERT AT SHARK CLUB STADIUM, KINSHASA.
FIRST SOLO CONCERT IN THE CONGO.
[Olomidé] He's the boss,
the real boss of Congolese music.
It's incredible.
It's one of the best things to happen to the Congo for many years.
He's the incontestable number one.
Far ahead of me!
[GIMS] The people are with me.
They're there. They're with me. I'm in my country.
At that moment, you think, "Nothing can happen to me here."
[singing in Lingala]
[in French] ♪ It gets to me, but I'm still standing ♪
♪ I'm affected, but I'm still standing ♪
♪ I'm trying to make ends meet ♪
♪ It hurts, but I'm still standing ♪
♪ It gets to me, but I'm still standing ♪
♪ I'm affected, but I'm still standing ♪
♪ My clothes are dirty and beat ♪
♪ It hurts, but I'm still standing ♪
♪ Still standing ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Still standing ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Still standing ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Still standing ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Still standing ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Still standing ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Still standing ♪
[cheering and applause]
[GIMS] All those symbols are really important,
really important in those moments,
for me, for my parents, for everyone.
I'm happy to be here with my parents in the country of my birth.
They come with me every time I come back here.
It's an honor for me to still have them with me tonight.
[audience cheering]
[Mukiandi] He's more mature and is getting in touch with his roots.
All of us, when we were kids, in our parents' houses,
listened to Papa Wemba, Koffi,
Franco, OK Jazz, Tabu Ley.
I was sick of it.
It was that, all day long.
All the music videos and everything all day long,
so I'd had my fill of Congolese rumba.
When you're a youngster, I think you build up your character,
uh...
in opposition to the image you have of your parents.
But then, in a strange yet natural way, some things resurface.
This next one is the pride of the Congo and of all Africa!
You chose this song as the song of the year,
song of the decade!
-I want to see all your hands in the air! -[cheering]
["Sapés Comme Jamais" by GIMS playing]
♪ Someone kicks in your door It's Gestapo ♪
♪ I'll find you, Meugui Columbo ♪
♪ It'll sell tons like Gustavo ♪
♪ Coffee, no sugar, here we go ♪
♪ You look good with plenty of dough ♪
♪ Six years on the combo ♪
♪ I handle the flow Mugiwara, yes or no ♪
♪ You ask if it's a no-go ♪
♪ Hands in the air, hands in the air ♪
♪ Except the guys in Balmain ♪
♪ Balmain, Balmain ♪
♪ In those pants lookin' like Aladdin ♪
♪ Hands in the air, hands in the air ♪
♪ Except the guys in Balmain ♪
♪ Balmain, Balmain ♪
♪ In those pants lookin' like Aladdin ♪
♪ Come round before midnight ♪
♪ Come round before midnight... ♪
[GIMS] Yeah, I was proud of singing that right then.
That's the place to perform that song. [chuckles]
It makes sense there.
He's doing what his dad used to do with Viva Musica and Papa Wemba,
singing about a sort of lifestyle,
naming the brands,
showing off a bit.
He includes some Lingala language. He's singing about clothes.
It's all part of Congolese culture.
He honored the Congolese people and the country. A lovely gesture.
♪ Paris is really ma-ma-ma-magic! ♪
♪ Dressed to the nines ♪
♪ Loulou and Boutin ♪
♪ Coco 'n' Chanel ♪
♪ Coco! ♪
[GIMS] At some point, you think there's a magic formula, but that's not true.
There isn't.
Because music changes, you need to listen to what's new.
And above all, do what you like.
LOOKING FOR NEW SOUNDS,
GIMS WORKS WITH THE KING OF REGGAETON, COLOMBIAN SINGER, MALUMA.
[GIMS] I like reggaeton, rumba, so I really wanted to work with him.
THREE OF MALUMA'S VIDEOS HAVE BEEN VIEWED OVER A BILLION TIMES ONLINE.
In terms of numbers, and hits on YouTube, and so on,
we're bigger than the Americans.
Latin American music is the biggest thing in music right now.
-[indistinct chattering] -[in English] Thank you, thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, my man.
[indistinct chattering]
[Maluma] Well, I was in Paris for my last tour,
and my record label called me and told me that GIMS wanted to do a song with me.
ARTIST
And that was a... a big surprise,
because, uh, I--
I'm-- I'm his fan,
and I've been listening to his music for... for a long time.
So, we went to the studio.
In about one hour, one hour and a half,
the song was almost ready.
So there was a nice and very interesting chemistry.
[in Spanish] ♪ Dance, dance ♪
♪ Mamacita ♪
[audience singing along] ♪ Dance, dance ♪
♪ Mamacita ♪
[in French] ♪ Tell me what you want Tell me what you want from me ♪
♪ I saw you appear And disappear like a ninja... ♪
[in English] I respect him a lot. I know that...
that he's building his career from scratch.
[in French] I think these three are good.
So, maybe just...
We can have it in the background, or that in front.
-No, behind. -Or we can mask the...
See, the same kind of hair.
[Maluma, in English] It's just the beginning, you know?
Because I feel that the whole world, they... they gotta listen to...
to GIMS.
With this song, things are gonna change like crazy,
for me in Europe, and for him in Latin America.
So, I feel that it's gonna be a nice... a nice project, yeah.
[GIMS, in French] No more aiming at the States.
I have to stay true to what I do and sing in French.
I have to do my own thing.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2019
-Is Julien already at the Stade? -[man] Yeah.
[man speaking indistinctly]
Perfect. He told me exactly how many tickets are unsold.
Eighteen. There are 18 left.
They're the last.
Here we are.
D-Day. Just a few hours away.
At this legendary stadium.
I had a good tour with Sexion d'Assaut.
And I've had two good solo tours in France.
It's the biggest gig of my life.
We had to make it to the Stade, for France, for Africa,
for the Congo, for history,
for urban music.
All of that is for us.
[cheering and applause]
72,000 FANS
[tense music playing]
[audience cheering]
[dramatic music playing]
-[music stops] -[cheering and applause]
[GIMS] Stade de France...
welcome to the Fuego Tour!
-[cheering and applause] -♪ One, two, three ♪
♪ Let it go ♪
♪ Let me deal with it ♪
♪ Let me make you forget ♪
♪ Whenever they hurt you ♪
♪ I'll be your shield ♪
♪ Everyone, everyone, everyone ♪
-Sexion... -D'Assaut!
[cheering]
["Laissez Passer" playing]
[GIMS] Thank you!
[fans chanting] Who's coming? GIMS is!
Who's coming? GIMS is!
[cheering]
[Djanana] The Stade de France... it was all about emotion.
It was phenomenal!
♪ Don't lecture me ♪
♪ I'm in my right mind ♪
♪ Listen to the song ♪
♪ Keep your questions ♪
Don't lecture me ♪
♪ Keep your questions ♪
♪ One, two ♪
♪ Let it go ♪
♪ Let me deal with it ♪
♪ Let me make you forget ♪
♪ Whenever they hurt you ♪
♪ I'll be your shield ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪
-[song ends] -[cheering and applause]
[DemDem] He's done it.
Now what's next? [laughs]
I think he's made history.
[cheering]
Once again, he comes out and boom!
We performed in the Stade de France, and it was full.
Game over.
[audience cheering]
Yeah, I look weird in my sunglasses.
I never take them off.
But I assure you that I'm really grateful for all that's happened to me.
Thank you so much
for giving me all this for so many years.
Thanks a million.
["Changer" by GIMS playing]
I'm the first to have done the Stade,
and that's important for urban music.
Nothing would ever be the same.
♪ My friend ♪
♪ My future ♪
♪ My life ♪
♪ Forgive me my poker face ♪
♪ Full of sadness ♪
♪ I've had to lie to you so many times ♪
♪ Or pretend to be someone else ♪
♪ Miles and miles Between words and actions ♪
♪ In the end, you saw through my acting ♪
♪ But listen to me, I can explain it all ♪
♪ At times, I've done things I didn't understand ♪
♪ The night has helped me think ♪
♪ In those times, I tell myself I'm going to change ♪
♪ Change ♪
[cheering and applause]
[audience chanting indistinctly]
[cheering continues]
[chanting] GIMS! GIMS! GIMS! GIMS!
["La Même" by GIMS feat. Vianney playing]
♪ My friends hear about my life ♪
♪ People were waiting for me And I didn't show up ♪
♪ I confuse them, I disturb them ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm a mix, I'm a blend ♪
♪ I'm complicated, I won't choose ♪
♪ I'll keep both sides ♪
♪ Don't ask me where I want to go ♪
♪ Even apes ape wise men ♪
♪ And wise men built compartments To pigeonhole us ♪
♪ Hey, hey, ay, ay, ay ♪
♪ Ay, ay, ay ♪
♪ Too bad if I bother you ♪