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DJ Cleo, who put up a superb performance in Bulawayo last weekend together with his side kick, DJ Choice, said gone are the days where up-and-coming musicians would lean and rely on established artistes to fund and support them.
“Its each man for himself. The industry is no longer paying as it used to, so one must make sure they come up with great ideas to be great musicians.
“Oliver Mtukudzi did not just sleep in Harare, he worked hard to be a great musician. Oskido and Jah Seed Mupemhi are some of the top musicians who worked their way up to the top,” said the 31-year-old premier beat maker.
Cleo, who rose to fame as the award winning producer of kwaito kingpin Mzekezeke, said even top musicians were struggling to make ends meet as piracy had crippled the once lucrative and vibrant music industry.
“These days we are surviving on live performances because no one is buying our music due to piracy, so we don’t have much to give to the up-and-coming musicians and they should also not expect much from us. They must stand up and work hard.
“It is not a one day thing but it is about producing great ideas that sell,” said Cleo, who was decked in a Mohawk hairstyle.
The founder pf E’skhaleni stable which housed Bricks, Mzekezeke and Brown Dash among others, boasted that he was a brand and he would not work with “any” artiste, as he did not want his “brand” to decline.
“I do not just work with any artiste, I am a brand and I work hard to maintain the brand that I am, so most music collaborations I have made have become because of me,” said the DJ.
He quickly pointed out that most fans thought the latest chart topper Hlokoloza was his track.
“The track Hlokoloza is not mine. I just featured. It belongs to Soul T, but just because people associate me with quality they think its mine,” he said.
Cleo, real name Cleophas Monyeapo, is ranked as South Africa’s finest wheel spinner.
Cleo has been the most upfront, significant, and influential dance music producer in South Africa for the last six years, having repeatedly proven himself with kwaito and hip-hop productions for such prodigies as Brickz, Pitch Black Afro, Mzekezeke, Brown Dash, Mandoza, Kabelo and Skwatta Kamp, as well as having done some work on the soundtrack of award winning movie Tsotsi.
Cleo said he was only familiar with two artistes in Zimbabwe, Oliver Mtukudzi and Alick Macheso for his “zora butter” dance which has become synonymous with Dynamos players.
The show pitting Cleo, Choice, local dance group Iyasa and the city’s finest spinners Mzoe, Mpho, Slimzar and Mphoe was one of the best shows held this year.
DJ Choice who rose to fame with the track Sky is The Limit produced by Cleo said visiting Zimbabwe was like touring America because of the multi currency.
“Its like I have travelled to America as you are using United States dollars.
“Before buying one has to calculate the prize of the commodity with our own back home in SA before making a decision,” said Choice.
He said he was surprised that Zimbabwe has equally the same facilities and infrastructure as South Africa.
“I am surprised that we have almost the same facilities and infrastructure we have in South Africa,” said Choice.
Choice is making waves with his hit tracks Woza and Cassanova.
The two very close colleagues shared the stage till the break of dawn last weekend, much to the delight of the scores of fans that thronged the venue.
Online Reporter