Simplice Himbaza

Himbaza Simplice Elinathan, commonly known as AY born in (2003-06-06) June 6, 2003 in Rwamagana, Rwanda is a Rwandan recording artist,[1] music producer and founder of record label called GMF (short for Get Money Forever).

Early life and career

He was raised in Kigali city after spending his early years in Rwamagana district, he developed a passion for music through his family, particularly his older brothers, and his early experience playing piano in church.[2] AY began his career as a music producer, working with prominent Rwandan artists in the hip-hop scene, as well as serving as a mixing and mastering engineer.[3] He later started working on his own projects.[4] His first notable project, the Exit EP, was followed by the "Ideas" Mixtape, which helped establish his reputation.[5] His production style blends hip-hop, afrobeat, and dancehall through both traditional and modern musical elements.[6][7][8][9]


During his secondary school years, he produced hip-hop instrumentals that gained recognition among his peers. His first releases included the Exit EP and the Ideas Mixtape, the latter noted in local media for supporting the emergence of the GMF collective.[10] In 2023, he founded GMF (Get Money Forever), a label and artistic collective that brought together performers including Hunni, Taz, Poppa, and Khire.[11] In 2024, Himbaza produced a track for rapper Ish Kevin that surpassed 100,000 streams within its first month of release. On 1 July 2025, he released his debut studio album Youngest,[12] a twelve-track record featuring guest appearances by Taz, Hunni, Poppa, Nzeythegreat, Real Roddy, and Khire.[13]

References

  1. ^ Bahizi, Heritier (2024-10-28). "AY talks music path, founding 'GMF,' repping street culture". The New Times. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  2. ^ Ruzigana, Prince (2024-11-28). "AY: Rwandan rising star taking music production to new levels". The New Times (Rwanda). Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  3. ^ Andrew, Shyaka (October 25, 2024). "Creating Hip Hop Beats Is My Calling-Producer AY".
  4. ^ Heritier, Bahizi (2024-03-08). "Top six rap collectives driving the genre forward". The New Times. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  5. ^ "Ndigukaba II mixtape review: A dive into Kigali's rap scene". The New Times (Rwanda).
  6. ^ Sibomana, Emmanuel (2024-12-10). "Simplice Himbaza(AY): The Rwandan Producer Dreaming of Producing for Global Icons Particularly Rappers - Global Vibe News". Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  7. ^ Bahizi, Heritier (2025-02-05). "Rwanda's hottest rising rappers to watch in 2025". The New Times. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  8. ^ "Simplice Himbaza (AY): The Rwandan Producer Leading Young Rappers to Global Success". IHIRWE. December 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "AY's 'Ideas' Mixtape Review: The beats, lyrics fueling GMF's breakthrough". The New Times. 2024-09-02. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  10. ^ Irakoze, Eliane (2025-06-18). "I Am Hip Hop Festival 2025 will be even better—organisers". The New Times. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  11. ^ Gatera, Emmanuel (2025-01-25). "What's hot in Rwandan music: Bruce Melodie, Kenny Sol, and the GMF collective". The New Times. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  12. ^ Bahizi, Heritier (2025-08-21). "AY turns youthful energy into artistry with debut album 'Youngest'". The New Times. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  13. ^ Bahizi, Heritier (2025-05-08). "Who are dominating Rwanda's rap scene in 2025?". The New Times. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
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