Weekend Turn Up powered by adidas sat down with Maglera Doe Boy to discuss his unique brand of music.
One of the surprises during our exclusive interview was how strongly this abstract vernacular township poet was influenced by SABC 1 night time playlists from 2000 (when he was considered old enough to stay up late, bless) through to 2006.
He grew up in a really rough township and the channel’s programming resonated with him and helped form his identity. “I felt like SABC 1 had a brand that just made a black kid understand what it felt like to be black,” he recalls. “I gravitated towards the music, including the kwaito of the day. That was very dark. I think that was the darkest era of music in South Africa. They wouldn’t play music like that today.”
The channel’s playlist also catered for the happy side of him. (His environment was tough but he was a much loved child.)
Influenced and inspired enough to go out and make his own music, the 21-year-old already showed the discipline and refinement that is so distinctive of Maglera Doe Boy’s work. Send him the beat, but he doesn’t like to go into the studio until he’s got the words airtight. Some songs take four days, smash hit Bodega only took around two hours – but he spent a week on a verse for Wordz Tha Prince because he “went in hard”.
Maglera Doe Boy is much loved and respected for his authenticity, intellect and unique combo of tough and tender. Peep the poet here.