Biography
PHFAT serves as the solo outlet for South African rapper Mike Zietsman, a nimble and dark-toned emcee who first rose to prominence within the Cape Town electronic rap crew P.H.Fat. After that collective disbanded in 2015, Zietsman adopted the slightly altered PHFAT name to begin his independent path. His adaptable approach enabled him to extend the earlier group's momentum through well-received tracks such as "Keep You Safe," "Caviar Dreams," and the 2019 EP sex | love | heartbreak.
Zietsman, performing at the time under the name Smooth Mike, formed the popular rap group P.H.Fat alongside fellow emcee Disco Izrael and beatmaker Narch. The outfit built a following both through live performances and via their 2011 LP Dinosaur Blood. Once Izrael exited in 2013, Zietsman and Narch continued as a duo for another two years until they dissolved the project. Shifting to a solo identity, Zietsman retained the prior outfit's recognition by styling his new work simply as PHFAT.
Immediate traction arrived with "Lights Out," a dark and moody cut featuring JungFreud that accumulated millions of streams. The 2015 single "Caviar Dreams," a collaboration with pop group Al Bairre, highlighted his broadening scope. In 2017 the Mac Motel-assisted "Keep You Safe" leaned toward a chill atmosphere incorporating R&B elements. PHFAT's initial extended solo statement came with the 2019 EP sex | love | heartbreak, a versatile five-song collection that included contributions from his former bandmate Narch among others. Zietsman opened 2020 with the scintillating solo track "New Boy."
Zietsman, performing at the time under the name Smooth Mike, formed the popular rap group P.H.Fat alongside fellow emcee Disco Izrael and beatmaker Narch. The outfit built a following both through live performances and via their 2011 LP Dinosaur Blood. Once Izrael exited in 2013, Zietsman and Narch continued as a duo for another two years until they dissolved the project. Shifting to a solo identity, Zietsman retained the prior outfit's recognition by styling his new work simply as PHFAT.
Immediate traction arrived with "Lights Out," a dark and moody cut featuring JungFreud that accumulated millions of streams. The 2015 single "Caviar Dreams," a collaboration with pop group Al Bairre, highlighted his broadening scope. In 2017 the Mac Motel-assisted "Keep You Safe" leaned toward a chill atmosphere incorporating R&B elements. PHFAT's initial extended solo statement came with the 2019 EP sex | love | heartbreak, a versatile five-song collection that included contributions from his former bandmate Narch among others. Zietsman opened 2020 with the scintillating solo track "New Boy."
Albums
Singles
