At last Saturday night’s BBTitans party, the versatile and very funky DJ Xclusive dropped his singular take and masterfully mixed blend of hip hop, Afrobeats and house.
And you were as amped as our housemates:
So, it’s on to our next superstar DJ: the man like Tira. What’s remarkable about DJ Tira – apart from how prolific and collaborative he’s been (see Durban’s Finest, Tzozo & Professor, Big Nuz, DJ Clock, Dladla Mshunqisi and countless more) – is how the now-elder stateman has navigated Mzansi’s ever-evolving dance scene. Across two decades, he’s embraced house, kwaito, gqom, amapiano and even hip-hop.
After winning a DJ competition at the turn of the millennium, Tira never looked back, releasing his first mix compilation in 2001. Alongside DJ Sox in Durban’s Finest and in his solo capacity, he’s made chant-heavy, chunky Afro-house that’s also a vehicle for fierce vocalists like Professor and Babes Wodumo.
The release of his debut album in 2008 on his own Afrotaiment label, ‘Ezase Afro Vol. 1’, cemented Tira’s deal: here was a flamboyant DJ with famous friends and a serious ear for a hook. Fast forward almost two decades and the ‘21 Years of DJ Tira’ album was a platinum success.
Along the way he found time to work with DJ Cndo, Big Nuz (RIP Mampintsha 😢) and Joocy, who appeared on his SAMA-winning ‘Ikhenani’ full length.
He also used his considerable clout to give a leg-up to gqom pioneers Distruction Boyz, an act that exploded overseas, and worked with DJ Maphorisa, Moochild Sanelley and Busiswa on the absolute smash gqom number ‘Midnight Starring’.
Lately his trajectory has encompassed amapiano too, but we shouldn’t forget that that flavour-of-month genre would not have been possible without his tireless work.
“I’m all about the good times and I’m all about making people dance,” he says. The Big Brother Titans housemates will have that pleasure on Saturday!
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