Essential I

Itumeleng Riba aka "Essential I" is a house music DJ, producer, composer and label owner from South Africa.

Despite becoming a household name in his early twenties, Essential I has always maintained a humble and down-to-earth approach throughout his career. One of the first youngsters to break through to international acclaim on the strength of his production alone, Essential I has since gone on to establish his own imprint, Deeptone Recordings, and take the label right to the forefront of dance music.

As a producer and part of Nativeroots, Essential I has amassed an impressive collection of releases on the prestigious label GOGO Music and many other international imprints. Essential I has worked with artists as diverse as Black Coffee, Theo Kgosinkwe, Samantha Faison, Pap Spencer, and more. He is also a part of Mino Music Library where he composes and produces music for TV, film and gaming. But it is his genuine and unreserved love for the scene and bringing through new talent that has seen Essential I remain at his best for so long.