DJ Maphorisa Biography: Castle Lite Unlocks, Feud With Prince Kaybee, Maphorisa, Age, Music, Booking Fee, Girlfriend, Controversy, Cars, House - Updated, 29th April 2020

DJ Maphorisa is a platinum-selling DJ and record producer from South Africa. 

He has worked with musicians all over the world, including Drake, Wizkid and Mlindo the Vocalist. 

DJ Maphorisa started his career at an early age. He comes from a musical family. His mother was involved in the ministry and the DJ grew up listening to gospel music.

“I collected more than 10 000 music files on my computer. Every day after school, I would run home to share my music with friends. Music is my life and it comforts me when I’m sad,” he told the Daily Sun in an interview.

Being in the music industry however is not meant for the faint hearted and one would say it needs someone with a thick skin. DJ Maphorisa and Prince Kaybee with a few other artists were at loggerheads over the ownership of music masters. Apparently, DJ Maphorisa felt that some artists did not own their music masters and he decided to call them out. 
 
It was a mess!

Here’s a look at DJ Maphorisa’s biography.

Veteran DJs, Tira and Maphorisa  get a chance to prove who is the best DJ when they go head to head on the internet's most heated battle. The DJs come out guns blazing as always as they battle it out on Castle Lite's Castle Lite Unlocks in Bed With, a music and entertainment streaming show on YouTube.

The episode set to be hosted by DJ Zinhle. Tira, who was accused of faking the whole DJ 'thing' promised a good show as he will be pulling out all the stops.

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The live-streamed show aims to raise funds for the Solidarity Fund put in place to combat COVID-19.

Who will take the cup?

Well, to get a salutation from one of the world's renowned DJs is absolutely an honour and DJ Maphorisa recently got that.

Black Coffee recently paid tribute to the king of Amapiano, DJ Maphorisa for the amazing work that he's been doing off late in the music industry. The DJ took a moment to pen an appreciation post to Maphorisa. Black Coffee praised Maphorisa on his work on Twitter and said if there is any moment he felt unappreciated, he is here to tell him that, he is appreciated.

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We all need some love from time to time and this post right here, had us reaching for some tissues.

 The Twitter timelines are always ablaze with celebs going off at each other and this time, DJ Maphorisa caught the attention of many. DJ Maphorisa owned the trends list after he called out Prince Kaybee, Lady Zamar and Mafikizolo for allegedly not owning the masters to their music. Maphorisa felt the need to remind Mzansi of his star power in the music industry by taking shots at his fellow industry peers. That was a wrong move.
 
Prince Kaybee did not take kind to DJ Maphorisa's remarks and he clapped back and gave a list of things he owned. Yes, the list was impressive, but it didn’t include music masters. The back and forth continued with each artist defending themselves yet some other tweeps called Maphorisa out for throwing jabs instead of educating the streets about the importance of masters.

Lady Zamar was also not about to let Maphorisa play with her name on the timeline and made sure to hit back by reminding him that he didn’t need to be negative if he wants to educate musicians. 

Recently, DJ Maphorisa had Twitter engaged in a debate on who runs the music industry in the country. Phori tried to convince Twitter and Coffee why he believes he runs the music industry by mentioning the number of artists he has developed to be the household names they currently are.

A tweet that Black Coffee had replied 'No one' to, Phori went on to list the names that he's made popular in the game.

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But this is where it got interesting because fans said they actually knew Kabza de Small before Maphorisa. So who made who famous?

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Guess, that sums it up, right. 

DJ Maphorisa also reportedly has beef with several artists in the industry. Rumours have been swirling for years that DJ Maphorisa and DJ Cleo do not get along. The Y-Tjukutja hitmaker confirmed their beef in a 2018 tweet. A Twitter user asked if DJ Maphorisa would ever work with Cleo.

“I don't think so, I gave him my demo in Sunnyside PTA at a YFM show with DJ Fresh and Thato, I won’t forget that day. When he was pushing Brickz he gave me attitude. I told myself I will never be like that guy coz I was a f**kin kid and I know how it feels to be treated like s**t,” he wrote. [tweet edited for grammar].

DJ Maphorisa has also reportedly had beef with Shwi Nomtekhala and TDK Macasette.

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DJ Maphorisa was born in Soshanguve, Tshwane, on November 15, 1987. He is 32 years old.

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DJ Maphorisa’s real name is Themba 'Sonnyboy' Sekowe. He is also known as Lawd Porry and 'Lord of the Hits'.

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DJ Maphorisa has many hit songs under his belt.  He got his first big hit when he was a member of  Uhuru. The group featured on Mafikizolo’s 2013 smash hit, Khona. DJ Maphorisa was a co-producer on the track. 

Some of Uhuru’s other chart-topping songs include Y-Tjukutja and The Sound with Nigerian superstar Davido. The group has worked with Oskido, Professor, Kwesta and DJ Buckz.

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DJ Maphorisa made headlines in 2016 thanks to his contribution on Canadian rapper Drake’s hit single, One Dance ft. Wizkid and Kayla.

“We did something small, when I was in LA with Wizkid. He sent something to Wizkid, because I’m always with Wizkid I just added some few things…. I didn’t produce the song. I did [get credit] just a small thig. 40and Nineteen85 are the main producers” he told Gareth Cliff on Cliff Central.

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Here’s a look at some of the hit songs DJ Maphorisa has produced:

1.    Shekhinah – Suited

2.    Sjava & Dj Maphorisa ft. Howard - Ngempela

3.    Kwesta ft. Cassper Nyovest – Ngud

4.    Wizkid – In My bed

5.    DJ Maphorisa ft. DJ Tira, Busiswa, Moonchild Sanelly - Midnight Starring

6.    Major Lazer & DJ Maphorisa ft. Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking & Jidenna -  Particula 

Beyoncé has also given DJ Maphorisa some recognition. Several days after her appearance at the Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg in December 2018, the singer took to Instagram to share a video with highlights from her show. DJ Maphorisa’s iWalk ye Phara was the video’s backing track.

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DJ Maphorisa is one of the top DJs and producers in Africa. His booking fee reportedly starts at around R120 000.

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DJ Maphorisa is reportedly single. While many deejays are famous for their dalliances with their groupies, DJ Maphorisa likes to keep his personal life out of the spotlight.

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DJ Maphorisa has owned several luxury cars, including a Mercedes Benz AMG C63 worth over R1 million. Despite his impressive car collection, the Ama Blesser hitmaker says owning a fancy ride isn't everything. 

“Being an artist is not about buying cars but about finding wisdom and using my purpose in life, which is music to influence others,” he told TshisaLIVE.

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DJ Maphorisa owns a double-storey house in Midrand, Johannesburg. He has shared several pictures of his mansion on social media.

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Main image credit: Instagram/@djmaphorisa