For most, a childhood hobby in music remains just that—a pastime. But for 21-year-old AY, it’s turning into something much bigger. Already a rising name in rap production, he’s carving a path in a field as demanding as it is fulfilling. His journey began with crafting a sound that resonates with the streets and speaks to real-life hurdles. To him, “everyone was making scripted music, painting a fake picture.” “I grew up loving musical instruments, playing piano at church and soaking up all the music I could, especially hip-hop thanks to my older brother’s influence,” AY, whose real name is Simplice Elinathan Himbaza, shared in an interview. “When I entered high school in 2019, I felt a real pull toward audio production. I started with FL Studio, which most people know as Fruity Loops, and my friends began noticing something unique in my beats. With each new song, I refined my sound, working with other producers and taking courses to reach a professional level.” ALSO READ: Bushali’s identity, talent shine in his bold 17-track ‘Full Moon’ LP Beyond beat-making, AY is deeply involved in his collective, GMF (Get Money Forever), where he produces, engineers, and even directs music videos. “GMF came together in February 2023 when we worked on a song called ‘Aim Ni City’ for the EP “Exodus,” he explains. “We had all studied at the same institutions, but this was our first real collaboration. Through Taz, HUNNi, PoppA, and later Khire, we found that we had become more than collaborators—we were a family, with each of us bringing our own artistry to GMF.” When asked about his biggest influences, AY said, I’d love to meet producers like Dr. Dre, Metro Boomin, Timbaland, and Kanye West. But it’s more than just wanting to work with them—I want to understand the stories behind their success because I know it would make a big difference in my career. My dream project would be an album where we collaborate with Rwandan rappers and some of their artists to elevate Rwandan music on a global scale. ALSO READ: Manzi Fleur’s ‘MABEL TRAIN TO THE SKY’ takes listeners on a journey of love, self-discovery As for the tracks that best capture his artistic style, AY admits, It’s hard to choose because there are so many, but some of my favorites are Gospel, Exit, 5 Niggas, Die Trying, Dark Mode, and the entire GMF EP, “Speed Race.” I connect deeply with these songs, as their lyrics often align with the ideas I had while creating the beats, even though I never guided the artists on what to write. A lot of the feedback we get from fans is that our songs really resonate with people out there grinding on the streets, pushing them to keep chasing their dreams and believe they’ll reach their goals, no matter the obstacles, says AY, reflecting on the impact of GMF’s music. AY’s music trajectory is on a steady rise, and 2024 speaks volumes about his growing influence. With an EP, a mixtape, and numerous singles to his name, his work has garnered over 500,000 listens across major streaming platforms.
