Gilbere Forte, Sap Da Beat Man Make Noise Beyond Philly Tri-State Area

Fire Starters: Gilbere Forte' & Sap Da Beat Man

For Philadelphia rapper Gilbere Forte', time was of the essence when he put together his debut offering, last year's standout mixtape, 87 Dreams.

"[Artists] don't normally put every bit of their talents all in one," he told Mixtape Daily. "They like to wait over time and say, 'I'm gonna do this next year or in a couple of years.' I felt like I was at a point in my life where it was all or nothing. I wanted to put everything right on the table from the gate. I figured if this is my only opportunity to showcase myself, I want to do it the right way and the best way that I can."

The result was a project that was as well-rounded as the rapper's trademark frames.

From the rumbling "Black Chukkas" (with its accompanying Chris Robinson-directed clip) to the angst-filled "Cold Summer" to the slow-winding "Blo (We Gon Roll)," Forte's talents as an MC, producer and songwriter are on full display. (He created his first buzz when he tried on Kanye's "So Appalled" for size and it proved to be a good fit.)

For his follow-up, the recently released Eyes of Veritas, Gilbere hooked up with fellow Illadelph representer Don Cannon. And he also extended the invite to a few more guests, recruiting fellow upstarts Emilio Rojas, Don Trip and Reek Da Villian.

The mission, after his introduction, was to prove he could make a polished effort that rivaled the feel of an official album. His time in the spotlight may have just begun, but Gilbere's still recording like the clock is ticking.

"I have this thing in life where I just want to meet everyone in the world," he explained. "And I may not actually get that opportunity. So when people listen to my music, it's an opportunity for them to say, 'I just learned this about this guy. And I'm so entrenched with his music that I know everything about him that if I never meet him, I know he's a good guy.' So I want to continue to promote that and give everybody in the world the opportunity to meet me, whether it's physical or through music."

Gilbere Forte' isn't the only one in his Tri-State area making noise. Newark, Delaware, native Sap Da Beat Man recently joined forces with Cool & Dre after laying down records with Rick Ross protégé Meek Mill and Mac Miller on "Donald Trump." Now, the 20-year-old beatsmith/rapper is ready to be newest cog in the Miami sound machine.

"When I first met Cool & Dre, it was basically them telling me it's a grind," Sap recalled the duo advising him. " 'You never sleep, you got to keep working and it's one thing after another, stay grounded. 'Cause the minute you think you have something rolling, then it's back to work the next day.' "

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