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Most aren’t awarded a second chance in the music industry. With this in mind, rising artist Gilbere Forté already defied the odds when he signed a record deal with L.A. Reid’s Epic Records following a stint in Hip-Hop limbo afte leaving Universal Motown.

And that’s without mentioning his music, which those privy to his artistry hold in high regard. In fact, Forté is perhaps the best MC you should have heard of. But it isn’t too late to jump on the bandwagon. The Philly-bred lyricist celebrated the beginning of a new journey in May when he delivered his 10-track project, PRAY.

Who: Gilbere Forté is a 26-year-old rapper, born in Flint, Mi., but bred in Chicago, Ill. and Philadelphia, Pa. He gained his bearings as an MC in the City of Brotherly love while attending Temple University. There he deferred from producing and began penning rhymes. During his freshman year, Forté crossed paths with producer Raak, and together, the two honed an unique sound that’s emotional and vivid.

Credentials: Forté has been a fixture in this game for over three years. 2010 he broke through with a track called “Black Chukkas” that received rotation on MTV Jams. Over the following years, he released numerous mixtapes — including 87 Dreams, Eyes of Veritas, Some Dreams Never Sleep — featuring appearances from artists like Big K.R.I.T., Pusha T, Jim Jones, Joell Ortiz, Emilio Rojas, Bun B, and more.

Fun Fact: Forté has roots in the midwest and east coast, but he has since relocated to the sunny streets of Los Angeles to expand his fan base.

For our latest Certified Fresh feature, HipHopWired conversed with Forté about creating PRAY and what the mixtape symbolizes in his life.

Photo: Epic

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