Major League DJz, Major Lazer release Mamgobhozi off upcoming collabo album

20 Mar 2023 - 17:09

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

South African amapinao duo Major League DJz and American electronic dance music trio Major Lazer have published a new single titled ‘Mamgobhozi’ ahead of the release of their nine-track collaborative album Piano Republik on 24 March.

Major Lazer and Major League DJz.

The album will be released via Mad Decent (North America) and Because (UK/Europe). It can be pre-ordered or pre-added here. ‘Mamgobhozi’, which features vocals from the late South African music icon Brenda Fassie, is available for streaming and download here.

The track samples Fassie’s 1997 song ‘Vuli Ndlela’, which is one of South Africa’s most celebrated hits, marrying her classic vocals with the signature amapiano sound.

‘Mamgobhozi’ is Piano Republik’s third single after ‘Koo Koo Fun’ featuring Tiwa Savage and DJ Maphorisa and the newly released ‘Designer’ featuring Joeboy. The track has a special meaning for Major League DJz, as the opportunity to feature vocals from the late Brenda Fassie on a global release of this magnitude has great significance for South African music.

Piano Republik will also feature appearances from local artists including LuuDaDeejay, Msaki, Gaba Cannal, Tyla and Russell Zuma as well as American singer Ty Dolla $ign.

“Brenda Fassie was not only an icon but she inspired many black South Africans to be their authentic selves,” Major League DJz said. “Her music catalogue brought joy to the many South Africans that filled stadiums to see her perform and is a true reflection of South African history.

“‘Vuli Ndlela’ is undoubtedly one of Brenda Fassie’s best bodies of work, holding the title of ‘Song of the Decade’ and a song we heard playing at every South African wedding and home then and now. It embodies the township sound of the late 1990s, a true anthem as it celebrates a mother’s joy as her son gets married. Brenda Fassie knew how to narrate the African story, and her music catalogue speaks for her long after she has left us, a true force.”

Since the release of their acclaimed album Outside in 2021, Major League DJz have gone on to break the world record for the longest DJ set performed by a duo, performing for 75 hours for a special edition of the Balcony Mix Experience. Counting Tems, Burna Boy, Honey Dijon, Jorja Smith, Rema, Asake, Stefflon Don and Mr Eazi among their steadily growing list of supporters, they made their Coachella debut alongside Black Coffee in 2022, and recently sold out London’s O2 Academy Brixton.