Biography
DJ Black Low crafts an experimental strain of amapiano, the South African dance music that surged in popularity at the outset of the 2020s, relying frequently on improvisation. His first full-length release, the 2021 album Uwami, preceded the 2023 follow-up Impumelelo, a project marked by stronger vocal presence and more immediate hooks.
Born Sam Austin Radebe, the producer launched his creative efforts inside a home studio in Pretoria, South Africa, during 2013, only to lose access to his equipment the next year. Production resumed in 2017 after a friend abandoned music-making and transferred the gear to Radebe. Early experiments centered on hip-hop alongside commercial house before a shift toward amapiano, prompted by the achievements of fellow Pretorian Kabza De Small. Online uploads of his tracks soon drew attention from the blog-turned-label Awesome Tapes from Africa. The debut album Uwami surfaced in 2021 and included contributions from guest vocalists and producers Licy Jay, DJ La Bengwa, and TapSoul. A vinyl-only companion, Uwami II, arrived in 2022 and spotlighted tracks omitted from the original LP edition, while the same year also brought the digital EP Monate Wa Piano. The second album Impumelelo—Zulu for “success”—appeared in 2023 and featured appearances by Black R, K.Dalo, Lah Presh, and Frego.
Born Sam Austin Radebe, the producer launched his creative efforts inside a home studio in Pretoria, South Africa, during 2013, only to lose access to his equipment the next year. Production resumed in 2017 after a friend abandoned music-making and transferred the gear to Radebe. Early experiments centered on hip-hop alongside commercial house before a shift toward amapiano, prompted by the achievements of fellow Pretorian Kabza De Small. Online uploads of his tracks soon drew attention from the blog-turned-label Awesome Tapes from Africa. The debut album Uwami surfaced in 2021 and included contributions from guest vocalists and producers Licy Jay, DJ La Bengwa, and TapSoul. A vinyl-only companion, Uwami II, arrived in 2022 and spotlighted tracks omitted from the original LP edition, while the same year also brought the digital EP Monate Wa Piano. The second album Impumelelo—Zulu for “success”—appeared in 2023 and featured appearances by Black R, K.Dalo, Lah Presh, and Frego.
Albums
Singles
