Master M is as passionate about music as a DJ is supposed to be. He’s built his brand in the past couple of years by DJ’iing tirelessly at some of Joburg’s biggest hip hop pares. Additionally, he and his partner are also known for throwing legendary parties in the Vaal, his hometown. We caught up with this 5FM mix-show DJ and this is what he had to say:
Hey Master M, what’s good player? How are you living?
I’m all good thanks. Definitely living progressively!
You’re making serious waves in the Gauteng hip hop party scene. Tell the Head Honcho readers a little about yourself.
I am from the Vaal and I’ve been DJ’ing for just over 7 years now. I always loved music and began composing audio storyboards on cassette when I was 10 years old; DJ’ing was picked up late in high school.
You’re one of the few white dudes in the Joburg hip hop DJ’iing scene….. Have you found that as a hurdle or setback?
I get asked that question a lot and I don’t think the colour of your skin should be considered a hurdle or a setback and most of all it should not limit you to a specific genre of music. Like the saying goes “Music is food for the soul” irrespective of our race, we are all born with a soul and I’m here to feed it.
Apart from DJ’iing, you’re also involved in a number of other activities. Tell us a little bit about your other hustles?
Besides throwing some of the sickest events in the Vaal, I have recently gotten into the production side of things so expect some hot releases in the near future. I also co-host a weekly radio show on a local community radio station and provide strictly urban content, shout out to Big Rob.
Your company is known for throwing some of the biggest and craziest parties in the Vaal. What’s so special about the Vaal and what are the secret ingredients to a hot Master M party?
I own Hot Soup Entertainment with my friend Kgosi Nkaiseng whose DJ name is SoulKid, we have been doing events in the Vaal for the past 3 years and I think we just understand our market and are not afraid to throw bigger and better events. I love the Vaal as it is my home town and there are no fake-ass pretentious people, they are down to earth and know how to have a good time.
The local hip hop scene has grown in leaps and bounds in the past couple of years. What do you think is still missing from the scene? How can the respective role players make a bigger impact?
I think more market research needs to go into it; cats need to understand who they are making music for and adjust their style accordingly. On that note I think the relevant role players should offer more workshops at a grass roots level exposing all elements of hip hop.
How would you describe your DJ’iing style?
I would like to think that I am innovative and creative when it comes to my sets. I stay abreast with technology as I am a firm believer that you will get left behind if you don’t.
Which local and international hip hop players do you look up to and why?
I would definitely say Ready D is responsible for exposing the culture to a lot of people locally and props to C-Live exposing some of the best of our local talent. Internationally I look up to Craze and A-trak.
What’s a day in the life of Master M like?
I like to be awake by 7am during the week and my day consists of meetings, planning events, preparing for the radio show, recording mixes for 5fm and setting time aside for production work. Not one day is the same that is why I love what I do.
How far do you want to take the Master M brand and what do you want your legacy in the industry to be?
I would like to be left with a legacy of someone who was not afraid to try new things and bring a unique element to the dance floor. As for my brand, there are no limits; I’ll take it as far as I can.
How do you “live progressively”?
By staying humble and being thankful for my blessings and always using my talents to their maximum potential.
LOOKING COOL IN THE GEAR! HAVE A GOOD ONE.
AUNTY A AND THE GANG.X