Marvin Ramalepe was a key figure in his home country's Bacardi house scene.
It has been confirmed to Resident Advisor that the South African producer passed away due to complications arising from a long-term illness. He was 35. Known for a style of music called "Bacardi house," an offshoot of kwaito, Ramalepe also contributed production to one of the most iconic dance tracks to emerge from South Africa, DJ Mujava's "Township Funk."
His most recent release was Dirty Dancing, a split EP with Matias Aguayo for Cómeme. Before that was his EP for Lit City Trax, War God.
Friends and frequent collaborators at record labels like Cómeme and True Panther Sound paid their respects on social media.
Gathering thoughts now....but devastated to say goodbye to Marvin Ramalepe aka DJ Spoko. We became good friends despite what might've seemed like a huge chasm of cultural class and racial differences because of a real shared love of music. pic.twitter.com/OWfAeOHYrf
— TRUE PANTHER SOUNDS (@truepanther) March 14, 2018
DJ Spoko was connecting tissue of this country’s unique genres..without Spoko there would be no Gqom, he invented Bacardi House and he was behind so much Shangaani music it ain’t funny..he was, is and forever will be very very important x
— JUMPINGBACKSLASH (@thisisjbs) March 14, 2018
So sad to hear #DJSpoko died, one of the true innovators in the current South African scene.. Worked with us on @africaexpress album in Joburg only last month. #RIPdjspoko pic.twitter.com/xRg7V53HtL
— Stephen Budd #FBPE (@stephenbudd) March 14, 2018
RIP #DJSpoko 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/4mu3H11Muk
— Makonwabe (@AudioJ3rk) March 14, 2018
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