DJ Cleo

Last updated

DJ Cleo
Birth nameTlou Cleopas Monyepao
Also known asM.R. Es'Khaleni
Born (1980-01-17) 17 January 1980 (age 44)
Vosloorus, Gauteng, South Africa
Origin Johannesburg
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active2002–present
LabelsWill of Steel Productions
Website www.djcleo.co.za

Tlou Cleopas Monyepao (born January 17, 1980), professionally known as DJ Cleo, is a South African Kwaito, House music and Hip hop producer. He was born in Gauteng. [1] DJ Cleo has enjoyed a long and fruitful career in the South African music industry, he produced successful singles and albums for various artists before going on to produce and release his debut album "Es'khaleni" in 2004. His 2012 Single "Facebook" earned him three awards at 18th SAMA. His eleventh album Eskhaleni 11 (2019), which include single "Yile Gqom" and Yile Piano, Vol. 1 (2019).

Contents

Life and career

Early life

Tlou Cleopas Monyepao was born in Vosloorus, Gauteng, South Africa. [2] Monyepao attended Springs Boys High School. With help of Hilde Buhr he developed his creativity reconnection so he started making music.

Career

He began his career as a producer of the Unrestricted Breakfast Show hosted by DJ Fresh on YFM. [3] Cleo found himself enjoying producing for radio and soon started exploring producing music for himself and others.

His debut recording was "Will of Steel", which featured on DJ Glen Lewis/DJ Fresh's "Gatecrasher double CD compilation. [4] [5] He remixed Bucy Rhadebe single "Uzugcin’ Impilo Yam", originally released in 2020. [6]

Television

He was a producer of the e.tv soapie Rhythm City (TV series). In 2013, he was the co-host alongside Angie Khumalo of documentary reality show Vaya Mzansi season 1 on SABC 1. [7] [8] Cleo competed on Lip Sync Battle Africa - Season 2. He performed live on Idols South Africa - Season 17.

Discography

Studio albums

Awards and nominations

YearAward ceremonyPrizeWork/RecipientResultRef.
2008
14th SAMAUrban DanceEs'khaleni Phase 4Won [9]
MTV Africa Music Awards 2008 Best Male Artist of the YearNominated
2012
18th SAMABest-Selling True-Tone Download of the Year"Facebook"Won [10] [11]
Best-Selling Ring-ToneWon [12]
MTN Best-Selling Mobile Music DownloadWon [10]
2021Mzansi Kwaito and House Music AwardsBest DJWon [13]

Related Research Articles

Mduduzi ThembinkosiEdmund Tshabalala, also known as Mandoza, was a South African singer-songwriter and kwaito recording artist. He was known for his contributions to the Kwaito genre and his numerous hit singles, including "Nkalakatha", Uzoyithola Kanjani, Tornado, "Sgelekeqe", "Ngalabesi", "Godoba", "Tsotsi Yase Zola" and "Indoda", which topped the charts in South Africa and all over the African continent. His second album Nkalakatha, released in 2000, became the biggest selling album of his career, selling 350 000 units.

Arthur Mafokate is a South African kwaito musician and producer. In 1994, he released his debut album titled Windy Windy with the hit track "Amagents Ayaphanda”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Music Awards</span> Annual music industry award ceremony

The South African Music Awards are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held annually, usually in late April or May, with the judging process starting in November of the previous year. The nominations are typically announced at the end of March. The winners receive a gold-plated statuette called a SAMA.

Mandla Daniel Mofokeng is a kwaito musician, singer and producer known as "Spikiri" from Meadowlands, Soweto and a member of the Kwaito group Trompies

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zahara (South African musician)</span> South African musician (1987–2023)

Bulelwa Mkutukana, known by her stage name Zahara, was a South African singer, songwriter and guitarist. Her music was classified loosely as "Afro-soul", and she sang in Xhosa, her native language, as well as in English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RJ Benjamin</span> South African singer-songwriter and director

RJ Benjamin is a South African award-winning vocalist, songwriter, composer, vocal coach, musical director and producer. Ghetto Ruff owner, Lance Stehr, once described him as "the best composer/singer/musician this country [South Africa] has ever produced".

Mafikizolo is a South African Afro-pop music duo formed in 1996, consisting of composer Theo Kgosinkwe and lead singer Nhlanhla Mafu. The duo rose to fame after they released their singles "Ndihamba Nawe kuphela", "Kwela Kwela", "Sibongile", "Udakwa Njalo" . The group released their self-titled album Mafikizolo in 1997 and Music Revolution in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kwesta</span> South African rapper

Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi known professionally as Kwesta, is a South African rapper and songwriter. Born in Katlehong, Gauteng, a township also known as "K1". In 2003, at the age of 15, he and his friends formed a rap group Ghetto Fellaz which then changed to The Juvenylz, same year. He is currently signed to his own independent media company known as RapLyf Records with co-founder Kid X.

Themba Sekowe, known professionally as DJ Maphorisa, is a South African DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter. As a record producer with a blend of house music, amapiano and afropop, he has worked with and has received production credits from several notable artists, including Wizkid, Sizwe Alakine, Kwesta, Uhuru, Drake, Black Coffee, Major Lazer, Runtown, C4 Pedro, TRESOR, Kabza De Small, Era Istrefi, Mpura, Young Stunna and Killer Kau. He was signed to Kalawa Jazmee Records prior to establishing his own record label, BlaqBoy Music.

Mkhonzeni Langa better known by his stage name Professor is a South African Kwaito musician from Durban. He first rose to prominence as part of the Durban-based Kwaito duo Tzozo and Professor before branching out on his own making a huge mark on the South African music industry with hit songs such as Jezebel, "Imoto", "Lento", "Fingerprints", "Speaker" & "Unobenga".

Big Nuz was a South African Kwaito trio from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, founded in 2002. The group was composed of three members known by their stage names Mampintsha, R Mashesha, and Danger.

Jabulani Hadebe, known professionally as Sjava, is a South African singer, rapper, and actor. He began his acting career in 2005, starring in several drama series and films including uGugu no Andile (2009). He then rose to prominence on the drama series Zone 14, where he starred for three consecutive seasons, Isibaya and the second season of eHostela. Sjava ventured into the music industry and signed to record label Ambitiouz Entertainment. He gained mainstream popularity after he was featured on Miss Pru's acclaimed song "Ameni" in 2015.

Mthokozisi Khathi is a South African DJ, record producer, kwaito and Gqom artist and businessman.He was born on 24 August 1976 in KwaHlabisa, South Africa. He is popularly known as "DJ Tira."

Yamikani Janet Banda, professionally known under the alias of Lady Zamar, is a South African singer, songwriter and author.

Zwai Bala is a South African kwaito and gospel musician.

MFR Souls is a South African amapiano music duo founded in 2012 by Tumelo Nedondwe and Tumelo Mabe, both of whom are DJ and music producers from Katlehong in the East Rand of Johannesburg. Their hit single "Love You Tonight" was commercial success certified platinum in South Africa.

Sandile Fortune Msimango, popularly known by his stage name Young Stunna is a South African singer. He is known for his hit singles "Bopha" and "Adiwele". He has also extensively worked with record producers DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small. Young Stunna is Xhosa and uses Xhosa and Zulu in most of his songs.

Black Motion is a South African afro house duo formed in Soshanguve, Gauteng and founded in 2010. The group is composed of Roy Thabo Mabogwane (Smol) and Kabelo Koma.

Kabelo Petrus Motha is a South African DJ and record producer, popularly known as Kabza De Small. He is a major figure in the amapiano genre of house music. Aside from his solo career, Motha is a member of the Scorpion Kings. Motha gained international recognition after the release of "Umshove", in 2018.

References

  1. "Cleopas Monyeapao". Discogs. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  2. "DJ Cleo: Everything about him will leave you in awe". 18 June 2020.
  3. "DJ Cleo | TVSA".
  4. "DJ Cleo's Biography". last.fm. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  5. "DJ Cleo". TVSA. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  6. "Home".
  7. Vomo, Munya. "Beauty and the motorbike…". Independent Online. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  8. Moloi, Karabo (20 February 2013). "DJ Cleo to present his first show on SABC1!". Soweto Life Magazine.
  9. "SAMA 2008: All the Winners!".
  10. 1 2 "The 18th Annual MTN South African Music Awards winners list". Times LIVE. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  11. "The 2012 SAMA awards winners". 2 May 2012.
  12. "Sama awards honour those behind the scenes". 11 May 2013.
  13. Shumba, Ano (2 December 2021). "Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards 2021: All the winners | Music In Africa". Music In Africa. Retrieved 9 December 2021.