DJ Maphorisa describes his upcoming Scorpion Kings Live with Friends concert as a love letter to 2019 a pivotal year when amapiano was still an underground force that echoed at kasi grooves, and thumped through taxi speakers.
Songs like Amantombazane, Lotto, eMcimbini, and Banyana werent just hits they were cultural timestamps that marked the genres breakout moment.
For Maphorisa, born Themba Sekowe in Soshanguve, Pretoria, the upcoming concert at Loftus Versfeld Stadium next month is both a tribute to that raw, creative energy and a reminder of where it all began long before the genres global acclaim.
Having cemented himself as a producer, curator, and sonic visionary, DJ Maphorisa's hand in shaping the amapiano sound launched many household names into the spotlight, names such as Kabza de Small, Kamo Mphela, Uncle Waffles, Felo Le Tee, Scotts Maphuma, Focalistic, Tyler ICU, Musa Keys, Dlala Thukzin, DBN Gogo, Sir Trill, Daliwonga, Young Stunna, Toss, Mr JazziQ, Kelvin Momo, and many more.
From selling sweets in high school to fund his music dreams to co-producing Drakes 2016 global hit One Dance, the 37-year-old, also popularly known as Madumane, told Sowetan that his career has been defined by reinvention and cultural foresight a journey he hopes will come full circle through a direct collaboration with Drake.