He is an award-winning DJ and producer who has seen many music trends come and go. In all the years, he has managed to stay remained relevant.
When kwaito was thriving, he produced kwaito hits. When gqom music was big, he dabbled, and recently with the rise of amapiano, he has been able to adapt. In a few weeks, he prepares to release his new project titled Eskhaleni Street Music Vol 1, a compilation of street music done the true Cleopus “DJ Cleo” Monyepao way.
“In the project, I feature new talent only, unknown artists and a protégé producer named Ceeka Dabule,” he tells Drum.
“There will also be two major remixes; one of which is the official Sista Bhethina remix with Mgarimbe, Hulumeni, and Ceeka Dabula,” he adds.
His last project was Eskhaleni Yanos vol 1, which he released in October 2021.
“It was an entirely Gospel-Amapiano album featuring the song the remix “Gcina Impilo Yami” with Bucy Radebe, which was nominated for best remix of the year at the South African Music Awards,” Cleo says.
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He has been in the music industry for almost three decades and tried his childhood dream of being a football player. But that was brief before he quickly went back to what he had mastered.
DJ Cleo has remained relevant with the old and new school music lovers and says his secret is making music that appeals to all people.
“Discipline has kept me relevant,” he says.
“But the trick to staying relevant is to do music that people want to hear. Also, music is all I can do, I have no plan B,” he adds.
In 2020, Cleo revealed that he went back to university and is currently studying doing his BA Degree in business Management and Media Studies.
“Today I embark on a journey that I’ve ignored for almost 20 years. I’m nervous and excited. It’s going to take a lot of dedication, hard work, sweat, and tears. I hope I can inspire many people out there. I’m ready. See y’all in 2023 on graduation day,” he shared with his social media followers.
The My Soul Says Yes DJ tells Drum that he went back to school for his personal development.
“It was all for self-betterment and empowerment,” he says.
“I am not seeking a job or plan to go work at a nine to five office. I like challenges. After this, I might decide to go for my Honours and finish my pilots Licence,” he adds.
Cleo also doesn’t believe that school is for everyone.
“Getting an education has zero importance, for me. It’s all talent-driven. People don’t love your education; they love your music. That’s why anyone can take a chance in it because there is no education required for talent and a love for music.”
He comes from a home where education is important.
“My mother had two degrees, so does my younger brother and my dad was a taxi driver. That impacted me in a big way,” he says.
Family is important to Cleo and his parent's love for each other impacted the way he sees the world and treats others.
“My dad was very respectful to my mother and never ever abused her in any way and that’s the path I’ve led all my life,” he says.
“They were both successful in their own right and I think I mirror that well, I achieved success without education and now I’m pursuing a degree.”
Cleo says balancing studying and making music requires discipline and living a well-balanced life has not been easy.
“It’s hard; one always suffers. When I started studying in 2019, my music suffered and Covid-19 came in and reset everything,” he says.
“In 2021 my studies suffered hard, but I managed to scrape through. Now I’m chasing the cum laude.”
Like many students who rely on funding, Cleo pays for his own fees.
“I pay my own fees and still owe a lot of money. Lockdown really almost disturbed me but I made a plan. I will have to settle so that I can be eligible to graduate,” he adds.
He also holds a Confederation of African Football (CAF) coaching badge.
“I have a CAF D license and CAF C license. I want to eventually get a B license and goalkeeper coaching license because of my soccer passion,” he says.
He also had an ABC Motsepe league soccer team.
“We sold it during Covid-19 because we could no longer afford to run it anymore under the tight restrictions,” he says.
“It was sad to have to let go of the talent we had nurtured for three years. But we will bounce back soon with another team.”
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While others look up to him as a source of inspiration, he also has his mentors, veteran radio jocks Ashifa Shabba and DJ Fresh and in music management, he admires Muthaland Records founder Lance Stehr.
“I also mentor a lot of people. I believe in giving back. I have had many artists at my label whose careers I contributed towards. Right now, I am mentoring Ceeka Dabula,” he says.
As an artist who has seen many trends come and go, he loves the direction South African music is taking with the rise of amapiano and popular culture.
“It’s beautiful, open for all. There’s enough room for all of us to co-exist. People that should be here are here and rightfully so as per their constitutional right to free trade,” he says.
DJ Cleo says he has learned to be respectful and not be “distracted by things of the world”.
“I learned to respect the game and be focused on all times," he says.
“I learned from others’ drunken stupors how not to behave. The game needs you to be sober. I still don’t drink, smoke, sniff, or spliff and that has helped me outlast many and keep going for so many years. The game needs you to be sober,” he says.
“Don’t be rigid in your existence in the music industry, learn to adapt. I’ve adapted very well."
Cleo says with experience comes making some mistakes and he has made his own.
“I was wrong to think that everyone is as committed as I am. I’ve had to cut people off because of lack of commitment,” he says.
“I was wrong to think that people would understand that I’m an introvert and that this is just a job and not an extension of my personality. Hence people think I’m full of it when I’m actually introverted and suffer from social anxiety.”
To young and aspiring artists, Cleo believes advises them to stay away from narcotics.
“Stay away from drugs, stop wasting your money at Diamond Walk. Invest your money. Tomorrow someone else will be hotter and more relevant. Also, do all interviews, don’t be selective and only want to focus on big stations and platforms. Community stations count too, hence they exist.”
His plans are to make more hits.
“I want to keep making people dance, and work towards that Grammy. It’s been my lifelong ambition and it’s just a dream deferred. I also want to see the motorcycle club make more meaningful contributions to charity, in and out of South Africa,” he says.
