A First on TheJournalistDJ.com
There’s an undeniable energy in the air when Stakev walks into the frame. For the very first time, the Pretoria-born producer and DJ sits down as an interviewee on TheJournalistDJ.com. Calm, slightly overwhelmed but smiling, he leans in and says: “Other than that, I’m good.” It’s a modest introduction for a man who has quietly been reshaping Amapiano’s DNA.
Meet Stakev — The Face Behind the Sound
In his own words,
“A lot of people know the name, but they really don’t know the face.”
But beyond the quiet persona lies a groundbreaking artist. Stakev is the architect of Rekere, a sub-genre within Amapiano that has been steadily catching fire across South Africa.
What Is Rekere?
Rekere isn’t just another wave within Amapiano; it’s a statement. Stakev describes it as a sonic experiment:
“We took a sound from Pitori and merged it with Amapiano, making sure it was mature enough.”
The result is a hypnotic rhythm — both raw and polished — that resonates with the streets while carrying the depth of a crafted studio sound.
Rekere, like Amapiano itself, was born in the grassroots, nurtured by curiosity, and refined for the global stage.
The Lockdown Remix That Changed Everything
Sometimes, history starts in the most unassuming spaces. For Stakev, it was his backroom during lockdown. With time on his hands, he decided to remix Elaine’s “You’re The One” and shared it on Datafile Host, a platform every underground DJ once relied on.
The track exploded. Big names like DBN Gogo and DJ Maphorisa picked it up. Soon, Stakev’s notifications were buzzing, and then came the message that would flip his career on its head: a direct DM from Maphorisa himself.
“He was like, ‘Hey dude, this thing is nice.’ That’s how it all started.”
From Pretoria to Toronto: Working With Drake
If being noticed by Maphorisa felt surreal, what happened next was almost cinematic. Stakev got a call from Kabza De Small:
“He told me, ‘Hey dude, this is something we need to do right now and submit ASAP.’”
That “something” turned out to be working on a project for none other than Drake. In Kabza’s studio, Stakev joined the team tasked with remixing tracks sent directly by Drake’s camp.
“We were sent the separates of the songs they wanted us to work on. We did the remixes, and that’s how the whole thing happened.”
For an artist who started with free uploads on Datafile Host, to suddenly be credited alongside the world’s biggest rap superstar was nothing short of a breakthrough.
A Life Transformed
Since then, Stakev’s trajectory has shifted dramatically.
“My audience is growing every day. People are pitching, wanting to work. There are always new opportunities coming up,”
he says. His once local buzz has now expanded to international recognition, with Rekere positioned as one of the genre’s most intriguing evolutions.
What’s Next for Stakev?
Even with global co-signs, Stakev is far from slowing down. He recently released “Ngiyavuma”, a soulful yet dance-driven single, and is deep into studio sessions shaping a full Rekere project, which he hints could drop before November. Alongside that, the festive season calendar is filling up with gigs that promise to keep his sound alive on the dancefloor.
Closing Words at Loftus
We catch him at Scorpion Kings Live at Loftus, surrounded by fans and the thumping heartbeat of Amapiano. Despite his growing stature, Stakev remains grounded. He closes the interview with a smile: “Guys, we out here at Loftus. Let’s just enjoy ourselves and have some fun.”
From the quiet backroom in Pretoria to a phone call that led to Drake, Stakev’s journey is a testament to the spirit of Amapiano: unfiltered, innovative, and unstoppable.
