In a Billboard interview with host Chelley Bissainthe, Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr pulled back the curtain on the creation of her Grammy-nominated hit “Gimme Dat,” sharing a story of serendipity, vocal struggles, and artistic vision.
The singer revealed that the track, which features Wizkid, samples the iconic Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige collaboration “911 (Diallo).”
Born in 2002, Starr admitted she wasn’t initially familiar with the original record, learning about the sample from her producer, Gonzazi, during the recording session.
The story took a fateful turn when she discovered where they were recording. “We recorded it in Wyclef’s studio,” Starr explained, a fact she only learned afterwards. “I didn’t even know… That just felt so meant to be.”
Ayra Starr unknowingly recorded 'Gimme Dat' in Wyclef Jean's own studio
The process wasn’t without challenge. Starr confessed to battling a severe loss of voice during the session, recalling she “sounded horrible.” Pushing through, she returned to the studio to give a full-performance take, later crediting “technology” for helping achieve the final, polished vocal.
Taking full creative ownership, Starr co-directed the music video, using it to visualize her evolution.
She described the two distinct halves—one featuring her with long hair, the other with short—as a direct reflection of her personal and artistic transformation, marking a new chapter of confidence in her creative direction.
