Bee Deejay’s versatile taste enables him to navigate different production styles effortlessly. Starting out as a DJ in 2006, Bee (born Bereng Phokeng in the Western Cape township Mbekweni) earned his stripes one set at a time, before performing multiple times at reputable festivals such as Rocking The Daisies and Cape Town Electronic Music Festival. In the early 2010s, Bee introduced himself with an array of Afro-house singles. He tapped into gqom in the mid-2010s, as the Durban-spawned genre gained popularity with Cape Town producers such as Mshayi & Mr Thela (whose label, Shaya Records, employed Bee as an A&R rep). Cape Town’s take on gqom incorporates synths, keys, and melodies lifted from vintage South African gospel, as illustrated on Bee Deejay’s 2021 single “Ndincede.” By wearing several hats (including as a resident DJ at one of South Africa’s biggest radio stations, Metro FM), Bee Deejay is always in tune with new sounds and trends that he showcases in his mixes—so It came as no surprise when amapiano started turning up in his music at the dawn of the 2020s.