'All of this has been planned': Maglera Doe Boy on his placement in the music scene and mentorship of Khuli Chana

Maglera Doe Boy has become one of Mzansi's most sought-after artists.

From emulating opera singing and belting high-end textures with his voice, Maglera Doe Boy's dedication to art is an undeniable force to be reckoned with.

After recently turning 30, the rapper and songwriter said he had had a shift in perspective of how he conveys his art.

“I used to think a lot but now I'm understanding that my heart comes from my art, and I don't need to think about how I feel, so I just let it out,

“Sometimes I just stand still. I don't move but it's very theatrical. All of those things stem from Wiseman Mncube wanting to be in theatre, wanting to make more high-end music,” he told TshisaLIVE.

While some artists might have started to be well-acquainted with his brand in the past two years, and he only got to attend his first award show in 2022 at the SA Music Awards (Samas) in Sun City, he has been pursuing music since he was 17.

His navigation in the music industry has been very deliberate.

“Over the years I wanted my sound to have its own space and it has its own space now in the culture, the lifestyle, and all. All of this has been planned. I did features for four years, positioning myself because a lot of people were questioning what I was saying because my slang is so different. So I felt the best way to teach South Africans was on other people's songs.”

He thanks rapper Khuli Chana for playing the role of a mentor throughout his career. Since meeting the rapper in 2017 through a mutual friend, the two stars formed a bond that saw them go on the road together with Khuli introducing him on stage as an artist to look out for.

“He always told me he wanted me to be self-sufficient, so my business and his business would collaborate, versus what an average link-up with an OG would be to sign me. I got to learn a lot, I was on the road with him. Sometimes he would tell me how he handles his deals.”