Dj Fantan
Dj Fantan | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Arnold Kamudyariwa |
| Born | 17 March 1987 Mbare, Zimbabwe |
| Origin | Zimbabwe |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | Chillspot Recordz |
Dj Fantan (born Arnold Kamudyariwa) is a Zimbabwean record producer, record executive, DJ and Zimdancehall chanter.[1][2]
Early life and education[edit]
Dj Fantan was born in Mbare, Harare where he grew up. He attended his early education at Gwinyai Primary School then did his secondary education at George Stark high School where he met his business partner Levels Chillspot.
In 2011, Fantan turned his bedroom set up into a recording studio, establishing Chillspot Recordz with Levels.[3] The duo went on to discover talents from around Zimbabwe through producing riddims which popularised the Zimdancehall genre hence its growth.[4][5][6] In 2013, his production with Levels (Zimbo Flavor Riddim) went on to win Riddim of the year. In 2014, they won Conscious Riddim of the year (Pure Niceness) and Best Collaboration Riddim (Mad Levels) then Riddim of the year 2015 (Stage Riddim) at the Zimdancehall Awards.[7][8][9]
On 3 January 2021, DJ Fantan and colleagues were arrested for violating COVID-19 regulations[10] after hosting a New Year's Eve bash that attracted thousands of people.[11][12] Their initial sentence of 12 months jail term was reduced to three months with an option to pay a $2,000 fine each, which they did on conditions of good behaviour from then to 2025.[13]
Mix tape sole productions[edit]
- Madlevel Riddim 2013
- Zimdancehall Mixtape 2013
- The Dj Fantan Zimdancehall Mixtape 2014
- Zim Lovers Mixtape 2014
- Zimdancehall Mixtape 2014
References[edit]
- ^ Mail, The Sunday. "Meet DJ Fantan, Chillspot's hype man". The Sunday Mail.
- ^ "I am not a drug peddler says DJ Fantan |". March 23, 2021. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ "Zimdancehall dreams: the back yard studios helping Harare get heard". the Guardian. May 3, 2021.
- ^ TV, Nakiso. "DJ Fantan, the Face of Ghetto Youths!".
- ^ chekai, Lemuel (March 27, 2019). "Chillspot Introduced Zimdancehall Not Winky D: DJ Fantan".
- ^ "I was wrongly interpreted: DJ Fantan". H-Metro.
- ^ "Zimdancehall Awards 2014 Winners". Pindula. April 5, 2018.
- ^ "Zimdancehall Awards 2015 Winners". Pindula. April 5, 2018.
- ^ "Chillspot drops double riddims". March 14, 2015.
- ^ Mupoperi, Elsie (January 21, 2021). "DJ Fantan, Levels & Dhama granted bail". Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Herald, The. "DJ Fantan, two others jailed six months". The Herald.
- ^ "Music Promoter DJ Fantan Pleads Guilty Over New Year Eve Gig". January 5, 2021.
- ^ Herald, The. "DJ Fantan, gig organiser escape jail". The Herald.