Meet 20 of the world’s top music producers who hav...

Meet 20 of the world’s top music producers who have come out of Zimbabwe and are making waves on the international music scene

How To Network As A Music Producer | ReverbNation Blog

Plot Mhako

There are a number of renowned music producers for our local artistes that are readily known because, on many songs they produce, the singer chants out their names. This has applied for the likes of Munya Vyali, Tamuka, Oskid and Levels.

And yet Zimbabwe boasts of super talented and successful music producers who are currently working at various levels of their craft and living in different parts of the world.

For the uninitiated, a producer’s role is to arrange compositions, runr recording sessions, and suggests changes to instrumentation, effects, and lyrics. He or she also guides the mixing, mastering, and recording engineers and gathers ideas and inspiration for projects to develops the vision and direction for each project.

While I profile 20 of the most successful producers to have come out of Zimbabwe, let me hasten to mention that the list is not exhaustive. It is a fact that there are many more that may have missed my scrutiny and with time, I will always return to acknowledge them.

Simba Tagz

His real name Simbarashe Tagwireyi. He is an artist, producer and record label owner. Simba Tagz has produced for several African music heavyweights such as Burna Boy, Maleek Berry, Lady Zamar, Niniola.

Jusa Dementor

Jusa is an award-winning Zimbabwean born music producer and musician based in the United Kingdom. His real name is Tawanda Sibotshiwe. Jusa Dementor is producing for several international artists such as Red Rat, Beenie Man, Tuface, Winky D, Vybz Kartel, Lady Saw, Playbouy and T Rex and many others.

Mr Kamera

Real name Tatenda Terence Kamera, the South Africa based artist and music producer has worked with African musicians such as Ice Prince, L-Tido, Gemini Major, Victoria Kimani, Burna Boy, Cassper Nyovest, AKA and Yemi Alade, as well as top local artists. He is the producer behind the Music Score for Netflix’s Blood and Water series.

GeniusMithol

The Highfield (Harare)-based beat-maker and producer Milton ‘GeniusMintol’ Kanongwah has produced for international Dancehall stars from Jamaica such as Tanto Metro & Devonte, Spice, Kaibanon and 1MrSmooth. On the continent he has produced for Ice Prince, Roberto, NC Dread and locally for Nutty O, Guspy Warrior and many more.

Tinashe “T-Collar” Sibanda

Zimbabwean born but US-based music producer T-Collar has worked with American artistes such as Kevin Gates, Rita Ora and Chris Brown. He co-produced Rita Ora and Chris Brown’s popular song Body On Me. He was previously nominated for a Grammy award after the Suicide Squad Album was nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for the Visual Media category.

Rymez

Born Rodney Kumbirayi Hwingwiri in Zimbabwe, the producer-cum-artist moved to the UK in his teen years. Rymez has worked with top artists Frisco, Lioness, Krept & Konan, Wiley and G-Unit rapper Young Buck, Wretch 32, Sean Paul, Fuse ODG, Wizkid, Skepta, JME, Kojo Funds, Future, Stefflon Don, Idris Elba, X Factor winner James Arthur, Krept & Konan, Tory Lane, Cassper Nyovest, Amplify Dot.

Brian Soko

Brian is a Zimbabwean songwriter and record producer who is based in the United States. He won three awards at the 2014 edition of the Broadcast Music Inc R&B/Hip-Hop Awards for composing Beyoncé’s song, “Drunk in Love”, in 2014 and a Grammy Award for his production work on the same song. He has produced songs for and featuring artists like Lil Wayne, Vigilante, Kendrick Lamar, Detail, Birdman, Wiz Khalifa and many others. He also worked with South African hip hop artists such as Cassper Nyovest on his song, “Phumakim”, K.O’s “Mission Statement” and MaE. He has also worked with Tinashe.

Dr Chaii

Philip Kembo, known professionally as “Dr. Chaii”, is a Grammy-nominated record producer and songwriter. He has co-produced and co-written for Sean Paul, Pitbull, Chris Brown, Camila Cabello, Jason Derulo, Dua Lipa, French Montana and many others.

Mboks

Tanzania-based Humphrey Domboka aka Mboks On the Beat is an internationally sought after Zimbabwean artist and producer who has a long running catalogue of music projects he has been involved in, from film scores and other related productions. He has produced for artists such as Saudi Sol, Soweto Gospel Choir and many others.

Riffi Wacho

Award-winning producer and sound engineer based in South Africa. Affectionately known as the Sound Sangoma, Riffi is one of the best on the continent. He has worked on projects for the Sweet Symphony, Just 6, The Muffinz, PJ Powers, Soweto Gospel Choir, Zakes Bantwini, Davido, Jah Prayzah, Emtee, RJ Benjamin, Lokua Kanza and many others. He is also an artist in his own right.

Alie Keys

The Bulawayo-born and raised Almont “Alie Keys” Mthombeni is a producer, artist and music director who works with hip hop artist Cassper Nyovest. He is also one of the creative brains behind Nyovest’s Fill Up events. He has produced for Cassper Nyovest, Tshego, Riky Rick, Major League, Professor and many other artists. Alie Keyz has worked with big names in Africa including Soul Brothers, Himba Noi, Mzwakhe Mbuli and Exit.

Mr Brown

Mr Brown (born Lynol Siwela) is a Zimbabwean-born and South Afric- based artist. He grew up in Gweru. He is a renowned producer, singer, and songwriter. He has produced for Master KG, Nomcebo, Makhadzi and many other top artists.

Kooldrink

Munashe Kugarakuripi is a South African disc jockey, sound engineer and record producer who found fame with the name Kooldrink. Apart from making his own music, Kooldrink has worked with the likes of DJ Maphorisa, Shane Eagle, YoungstaCPT, and Sho Madjozi. He worked with Ed Sheeran on his hit single Bad Habits – Amapiano remix.

Murphy Cubic

He is a Bulawayo-based music producer whose real-name is Mefibosheth Kesani Ncube. He produces/beat makes a wide variety of genres namely Pop, Electro Dance Music, Hip-Hop, House Music (all its sub genres), Afro-Pop. Murphy Cubic has produced for SAMA Award-winning artists and a number of other SA artists such as DJ Qness, DJ Bigsky, Holly Rey, Ghanaian artists Budukusu, Verti, Kyn Citi and many more.

Verseless

Gwinyai Peter Tawanda Runyowa is an artist and music producer known as Verseless. Verseless specialises in Hip-Hop, Electro, House, Pop, Drum, and Bass. He has worked with the internationally acclaimed Shingai, Burna Boy and many others.

Daecolm

The US-based Daecolm was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South West London at an early age. He has worked with artists such as: Avelino, Shift K3Y, Labrinth, Brunelle, Feder, Elijah Blake, Mario, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Desiigner, Craig David, Original Dodger, Krept & Konan, Yungen, Sneakbo.

Nicky Genius

Kuwadzana-bred Norman Chipfumbu (Nicky Genius) is the fastest rising Zimbabwean producer. He has produced several hits for Winky D (Such as Rugare ft Buffalo Souljah, ft Beenie Man -My Woman, Dzemudanga, Chandelier, Reply), international artist Tory Lanez (It doesnt matter), Sulu Chimbetu (Alice Mbewe), Ishan and UK’s The Voice 2021 winner Anatoria (Lola lola) and many more.

Shayzar

South Africa based Shingirayi Zimanyi started off producing for his label MixMasters and is now working with Cloud9. He has won numerous accolades as music producer and director and mixed and mastered for many artists and record labels across the world. Shayzar he worked with Lady Zamar on her hit Collide. This year he worked on one of SA’s biggest songs Paris by Q-Mark & TpZee.

Young DLC

Young DLC (born Darlington Lazarus Chikwewo) is a dance music producer, songwriter and artist from Zimbabwe. He has produced for shows such as Coke Studio Africa where he was responsible for producing all the covers, remixes. At Coke Studio Africa he produced for Patoranking (Nigeria), Olamide (Nigeria), AKA, Shekinah, Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Kiff No Beat (Côte d’Ivoire), Rayvanny (Tanzania), Winky D (Zimbabwe), Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe) and many more.

Obi Mhondera

A Multi-Platinum Songwriter / Producer, Music Publisher and manager based in Umea, Sweden. Born in Mutare, the producer and re-mixer is responsible for many major releases worldwide, particularly in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Obi has worked with & contributed music to artists such as John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis, Jay Sean, Natasha Bedingfield , Newton Faulkner, Macy Gray, Wiley, Sugababes, Exo, Exo-Cbx, BTS, Tvxq, Astro, SUPER JUNIOR, SF9, V.I.