A 20-year-old Tasmanian rapper has attracted more than 300,000 views across social media platforms following his appearance on Australian Idol.
Jakob Gibson, who performs under the stage name IsThatGib, received three “yes” votes from judges Kyle Sandilands, Marcia Hines and Amy Shark but didn’t progress to the golden ticket round.
“I wasn’t on there to win,” Gibson told Pulse.
“I was just using Australian Idol to get my name out there, and it’s worked.”
The rapper, who describes his sound as “melodic rap” mixing hip-hop and pop, is planning to release an album in the next few months.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” Gibson said of performing for the judges.
“It’s scarier to perform in front of three people than like a thousand.”
The Exeter-born artist, who attended Riverside High School in Launceston, has since relocated to Sydney to pursue his music career.
Gibson said he moved to Sydney after receiving an offer from Sandilands to use his studio for free, though he hasn’t yet accessed those facilities.
“There’s so much more opportunity up here,” he said.
“Studios and content people, and this is where the industry is.”
Gibson is planning a Tasmanian tour, with a Devonport show locked in for April 25.
He’s hoping to secure venues in Launceston and Hobart around the same time.
“I’ve got the whole state on my back now,” he said, referring to the support from Tasmanian fans following his television appearance.
Gibson’s music is available on all major streaming platforms under his stage name IsThatGib and his Instagram is @isthatgib.
