South African DJ, producer and television personality DJ Rhee is entering another chapter of his long-running entertainment career, revealing that he is working towards the release of a new EP as he continues to establish his sound within Afro House.
Speaking to TheJournalistDJ.com at Groovy Escape in Johannesburg, Rhee reflected on his journey through music and television, his approach to DJing and why, after more than a decade in entertainment, passion remains at the centre of everything he does.
Finding his calling while still in high school
For Rhee, the journey into entertainment wasn’t necessarily built around a perfectly mapped-out career plan. Instead, it began with recognising what he believed he was naturally drawn towards.
“I started with obviously the passion,” he explained, describing his path into music and media as something connected to discovering one’s gift.
Fortunately, Rhee says he recognised his calling relatively early, beginning to actively pursue opportunities while still in high school.
Growing up in Johannesburg also meant putting himself closer to the spaces where the entertainment industry operated. He recalled taking trains to Auckland Park and deliberately going into environments where he could meet people already working successfully in the industry.
Some of those encounters would eventually develop into mentorship relationships, giving the young Rhee an opportunity to learn from people who had already travelled the road he wanted to follow.
From television personality to the DJ booth
That persistence eventually developed into a career spanning different areas of entertainment.
Rhee has become known not only behind the decks but as a television host, producer and media personality, building an identity that refuses to place him into a single box.
Music, however, remains central.
Speaking shortly after taking to the decks at Groovy Escape, Rhee explained that he doesn’t place much importance on whether he’s booked for an opening, middle or closing set.
“You put me opening the show, you put me last set of the show, you put me middle, I don’t mind at all,” he said.
For him, versatility comes from preparation and genuinely loving the craft.
“This is passion for me and this is love. This is what I do.”
Afro House is where Rhee feels at home
While South Africa’s electronic music landscape continues to evolve through Amapiano, Afro Tech, 3-Step and numerous emerging sounds, Rhee is clear about where his own musical identity currently sits.
Afro House is the sound that speaks to him.
It’s also reflected in his radio selections, with Rhee pointing to his residency on Radio 2000 and appearances across other SABC radio stations as places where listeners have been able to hear his musical direction.
Rather than chasing whichever genre happens to dominate at a particular moment, his approach is centred on playing and creating the music that naturally connects with him.
New EP is on the way
Rhee is now translating that identity into new original music.
During the interview, he revealed that he has already released a single featuring Mntombizisi, whom audiences may recognise from Idols, and confirmed that more material is being prepared.
“It’s just music, music, music,” Rhee said.
“I’ll soon drop my EP and then obviously look into an album later.”
The forthcoming EP represents another step in Rhee’s evolution from someone audiences may have first encountered through television or radio into an artist increasingly focused on building his own catalogue.
Working closely with Oscar Mbo
Rhee also revealed that he has been working closely with Oscar Mbo, describing the internationally recognised DJ and producer as someone who has taken him under his wing.
He praised Oscar not only for his musical ability but for his approach to business and his character away from the stage.
Rhee’s appearance at Groovy Escape brought that relationship into focus, with the event itself forming part of the growing ecosystem around Oscar Mbo’s music and lifestyle brand.
For Rhee, being in that environment isn’t simply about appearing on another lineup. It forms part of a broader period of preparation as he develops his next body of work.
Rhee isn’t interested in the Amapiano versus 3-Step debate
With 3-Step continuing to attract attention within South African dance music, Rhee was also asked whether he believes the sound could eventually become as big as Amapiano.
He resisted making the comparison.
“I’m not the one to compare,” he said.
Instead, Rhee believes audiences ultimately respond to great records regardless of what genre label is attached to them.
“Just do the music, play the music, do what you do best. The result and the universe will tell.”
It’s an outlook that reflects the broader philosophy behind his career: focus less on where you’re positioned and more on consistently doing the work.
Consistency remains the real currency
Perhaps fittingly for someone whose career has moved between television studios, radio and DJ booths, Rhee repeatedly returned to one idea throughout the conversation — consistency.
More than a decade into his own journey, he believes longevity comes from understanding why you started and continuing even when other people don’t immediately understand the vision.
“Later on, those who don’t see it, they will see it,” he said.
“And all it takes is you and I to keep doing what we do.”
