South African deep house DJ and producer Fatso 98 is continuing to build a distinctive identity in the country’s house music landscape, with his latest project, THE XO EFFECT 3, marking what he describes as the conclusion of an important chapter in his musical journey.
In an interview with TheJournalistDJ.com, the artist, whose name is Tshegofatso Mpyatona, opened up about his dual musical identities, his trademark “Sho” tag, his approach to collaboration and the creative evolution reflected across his XO Effect projects.
Fatso 98 and Mpyatona Are Two Sides of His Musical Identity
For listeners who may have assumed that Fatso 98 replaced his previous name, Mpyatona clarified that the two identities actually represent different sides of his artistry.
“Fatso 98 is my alias as a deep house artist, and then Mpyathona is when I do Amapiano,” he explained during the interview.
His government name is Tshegofatso Mpyatona, while Fatso 98 serves as his identity within the deep house space.
The ‘Sho’ Tag Has Become His Calling Card
Few things are as immediately recognisable in Fatso 98’s music as his signature “Sho” tag.
The producer says the sound has effectively become a way for listeners to identify his music wherever they encounter it.
“Every time you are somewhere, you’re outside or you’re watching the TV or you’re on Spotify and you play a deep house song and there’s a tag in there that goes, ‘Sho,’ just know it’s me,” he said.
His musical style, meanwhile, stretches across soulful house, deep house and elements of amapiano, reflecting his willingness to experiment rather than remain confined to one genre.
THE XO EFFECT 3 Brings a Chapter to a Close
For Fatso 98, the significance of the project goes beyond simply releasing another body of music.
He sees it as the culmination of the series and an opportunity for listeners to hear how much he has developed as a producer.
“I think it’s the best way of concluding the entire series,” he explained, adding that listening from the first project through to the latest allows audiences to hear “the growth” in his work.
Versatility Is at the Heart of His Sound
A major part of that growth, according to Fatso 98, comes from working with different artists and experimenting with different sounds.
“I work with different people to try and bring out different sounds and tap into different markets,” he said.
That philosophy is evident on THE XO EFFECT 3, which includes collaborations with artists including MDU aka TRP and Soulful Disciple on “Meet Me Halfway”, Salvation Pablo on “Life & Music”, LebtoniQ on “Breathe” and Deep Essentials on “Ovi”.
The project was released through 98th World.
Crossing Over Into Pop and R&B
Fatso 98’s willingness to experiment extends beyond collaborations within the house-music community.
During the interview, he discussed his work with Shekhinah and Brandon Dhludhlu, describing the collaboration as an opportunity to create a meeting point between house music, pop and R&B.
He explained that the song came together after Shekhinah and Brandon had worked on “Say You Love Me”. Fatso 98 was then asked to contribute production from his side, sending through several projects before the collaborators selected one that offered the right balance between the genres.
The resulting collaboration demonstrates his belief that house producers can benefit from stepping outside their usual creative circles.
“You Get to Grow”
For Fatso 98, genre-crossing isn’t simply about expanding his catalogue. It is about personal and artistic development.
“As a house head, most of the time we are fixated on just pushing the culture and working with each other within the space,” he said.
But collaborating with artists from different musical backgrounds, he believes, exposes producers to new perspectives.
“When you tap into other markets and you try working with other artists and singers that do different styles, you get to grow,” he said.
With THE XO EFFECT 3 closing the trilogy, Fatso 98 appears less interested in fitting neatly into one box and more committed to exploring where his sound can go next.
And if you hear “Sho” in the middle of a deep house record, you already know who it is.
