The “Behind the Boards” playlists on Apple Music usually showcase the work of some of the biggest producers in the world, but not often enough do we get to hear from South African producers.
Hailing from Randburg, J Magnus manages to combine elements of modern hip hop, as well as life-long South African sounds into his music - it’s no surprise that the list of artists who want to work with the music-maker is growing by the month.
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“He’s a genuis at what he does,” says Tswakgoddess, one of the rappers he has worked with in the past. “He just knows how to capture the mood and essence of what you’re trying to create as an artist, and the final version is always something to look forward to”
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Despite his young age, J Magnus has made an impact in the entertainment industry that has had some of the biggest names in hip hop taking notice.
He explains his process: “It’s not always easy, but I try my best to put myself in the head and heart of the artist, and my work is guided by taking them to where they want to get to, not only where I think they need to go. I remove the ego from my work and focus solely on the end destination”.
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“The EP was an amazing project and it’s getting loads of love on social media.”. The Girls, Gotta Love Em EP has had people talking all December in South Africa. We asked if it was a deliberate year-end effort, “Yeah we wanted people to really be in a good mood when they heard this EP.”
Skilled in music with an understanding of theory, J Magnus has an idea of what South Africans need to start doing in order for producers to be appreciated.
“It’s not only about the artist at the front of the track, producers deserve recognition too. When fans start acknowledging the creative process behind the music, we will start to see change."
