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Ghanaian Afrobeats artist Gibrilville presents the Kamhabit-directed music video for his new single "Kilodey", produced by Nigerian beatsmith Jay Synth, who produced Teni's 2018 hit "Case". Born in Accra, Ghana, Gibril a.k.a. Gibril Da African survived a traumatic birth, a near-fatal blood transfusion and civil wars in Togo and Nigeria before moving to the US in 2000, honing his craft during travels throughout the country before settling in Brooklyn. Gibril has collaborated with M1 of deadprez (stream "Streets Of Africa"), Blitz The Ambassador (stream "Ghetto Youths"), and has several releases under his belt including 2015's Foreign Exchange Hustler (watch the music video). "'Kilodey is a Yoruba word from Nigeria that means 'why,'" Gibril says about his new single. "The song is a love story about a guy trying to date a girl, and she is playing hard to get." "Kilodey" will appear on Good Things Manifest & Bad Things Defect, Gibril's forthcoming album featuring appearances from Wanlov, Tek and Kwaw Kese, coming soon on Foreign Exchange Records.
How did you get your name Gibrilville?
My ex-girlfriend Lauren came up with it. She said being a part of the crew was like being in a sitcom or watching a cartoon series called "Gibril Ville" lol.We all came from different countries and backgrounds. We joked a whole lot, and always went to my apartment after we left work everyday. I worked at a car dealership in Edison, New Jersey, called Route 22 Nissan, in the sales department. I was like, that's a cool name for my band!! I wanted to start a band at the time and i didnt think Gibril Da African was gonna work for a band.So i decided to keep Gibril Da African for my mixtapes and create Gibrilville for all my original content.
What are the biggest similarities and differences between Africa and America?
Wow, that's a huge question that i'll try to summarise. I see a lot of similarities in technology, music, fashion, and architecture industries. Differences would be in the governments, law enforcement, transportation industry, education, catering industries and obviously tradition and cultures. Sometimes I wonder if I was an African American born in America, would I be able to navigate these waters the same way I do now? My experiences and perspective in African cities since 2018 would probably be completely different.
Where would you prefer to live, all things being equal?
Bed stuy, brooklyn. Have a nice smoke and paint cafe/coffee shop and record music. Sell jahsanta products my cosmetic and fashion line, and Gibrilville Merchandise to the world. Have a mansion in Ghana with a beautiful view that will be my vacation home, in the hills overlooking accra city and a beach home in freetown sierra leone.
What is your experience as an African artist in the states?
Great. I got a chance to collaborate with artists and musicians across genres. I travelled to Detroit to perform at a country festival.. I learnt so much.I was blessed and fortunate to work with professional people in the music industry that taught me alot. The list is so long but a collaboration I am very proud of is a song called "streets of africa'' feat M1 from deadprez . That's my first single I released,in 2009 produced by coptic.The video was shot in Jersey city, New jersey.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from the COVID crisis?
Wash my hands often,and wear a nose mask at all times. I have had some different experiences especially when it comes to travelling in Africa internationally. Covid tests have become a thing now that creates extra costs on travellers and it can be super stressful. In Ghana you have to spend 50$ extra to take an anti-gene test when you get to Ghana, even though you left your origin with a negative test required by the airline. So check this, i get to the airport in ghana coming from namibia and the airport comes back 30 mins later saying my results are positive.We go to a hospital to take a second test, that requires 24 hours to get your results. I go into quarantine for 7 days,and get released without my results. I ask them what if i still have covid, and the response is well go quarantine at home now. You are discharged. I go home, and take my own test at a different facility and the results are negative. but I was told to pay em 500$ to quarantine in this hotel for 1 week . Crazy right, I refused to pay the bill because I could have been quarantined at home the whole time, especially since I was not receiving any treatment in the midindi hotel. So when it comes to covid i am super sensitive. I wear my mask, wash my hands and pray that the experience I had never happens again.
