Gims (born Gandhi Alimasi Djuna in 1986) is a Congolese singer and rapper who grew up in France. He rose to fame as a member of the hip hop group Sexion d'Assaut before starting a solo career under the name Maître Gims in 2013. He has worked with several international artists, including Sia, Pitbull, Lil Wayne, Stromae and Sting, and has sold over five million records. His albums have topped the charts in France and elsewhere in Europe.
Early life
Gims was born in Kinshasa, in what was then Zaire, into a family of musicians, and his father sang with Papa Wemba's troupe. His undocumented parents moved to France when he was two, and his childhood was difficult, with periods in foster care and in squats until he turned 18. He took the nickname Gims from Asian cinema and martial arts, and he later studied graphic design and communication.
Musical career
Gims began in the group Sexion d'Assaut, whose early members formed the collective under names such as Prototype 3015. His solo debut album, Subliminal, appeared in 2013 and peaked at number two on the French album charts. His later albums, including Mon cœur avait raison, Ceinture noire and Le fléau, brought further commercial success, and his song "La même" was the most played track in France in 2018.
Recent work
In 2022 Gims released his fifth album, Les dernières volontés de Mozart, and he co-performed the song "Arhbo" for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He has topped the French singles chart five times, most recently in 2024 with "Spider" featuring Dystinct. That year he also released the EP Le Nord se souvient, his first release since 2006.