Get to Know Amapiano Producer and Hitmaker XDuppy
Hammanskraal-born producer XDuppy is among three producers behind the Mix It Up Vol.3 EP, with executive producer, award-winning singer and songwriter, Musa Keys, at the helm.
The 21-year-old self-taught producer worked side-by-side with producers like Nkulee and Toby Franco, and with artists he had never worked with before, dubbing this moment a growth point in his career that is to be remembered.
“I have a really close working relationship with Musa Keys, and I believe he recommended me for this project, which I will never take for granted because this entire process has really exposed me to different work styles and creativity, which in turn has contributed tremendously to my career growth,” he said.
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Music for XDuppy—real name Gomolemo Gumede—seemed to have always been on the cards, judging by how he would always knock on one thing or the other around the house to create a beat.
“My mother’s cupboards were my target always,” he said, laughing. “And not that I did it on purpose; it’s something I did without thought. I loved music that much,” he said.
The firstborn of two shares that his upbringing was characterized by his extremely quiet nature, being a lover of science/his school books, and being someone who mostly kept to himself.
“My close friend, while growing up, became my computer. I spent a lot of my time in front of it teaching myself music. I was locked on my screen so much so that my mother would encourage me to leave the house more often to make friends. But music has always been an escape for me, sort of like a vessel to express myself comfortably,” he added.
Growing up in an environment that never encouraged the arts, with little to zero for youngsters to do, he had to find a way to engage himself so as to not fall into the wrong
crowds.
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Years later, that escape combined with his passion, helped him find purpose and have a sense of direction in life. That decision also led him to meet and work with Musa Keys since the year 2022, sharing that in just two years he has been met with so many opportunities for him to better himself and his skills. A classic case of when opportunity meets preparation.
“This EP is a perfect example of how I was given a platform to expand myself. In just two years of turning professional, I have been blessed with opportunities to cement my name in big rooms. The Mix It Up Vol. 3 is a mash of different sounds—an Afro-feel, a Nigerian Afro-feel, a UK feel, and even amapiano all in one — making this EP an journey or an experience more than just an musical offering.”
With a stage name coined from Drake’s song Duppy Freestyle during his hip-hop-loving days, XDuppy is determined to create a global name for himself. But before that, he would like to see his work set the stage for him so people fall in love with that first before knowing the man behind the hits.
And for someone who has chosen such a public career, the producer is extremely shy and has been for as long as he could remember.
“Music has kept me out of trouble; it has given me perspective and focus. That’s how I know I am on the right track. Moving forward, I want to work with more international artists like H.E.R., but for now, I am happy to build my career one step at a time,” he said.
