Popular DJ Shimza (31) was interviewed on McG’s YouTube Chanel today and spoke about his vast business interests.
Below are the key points from their discussion :
1. On his new restaurant in Thembisa, Shimza said since Caprivi closed, there was a gap in the market.
2. Shimza says he has a business partner who has experience in the restaurant sector.
3. Shimza says he always thinks beyond himself, it’s about what he can do for people around him.
4. Shimza says he hopes young guys in Thembisa can start restaurants like what’s happening in Soweto.
5. Shimza says he gets a lot of backlash when he starts things. However, he believes he has worked through it and people now understand why his beer cost more than at a bottle store.
6. He says now he has people coming to the hood to his restaurant to see taxis going up and down while dining and kids playing on the street.
7. The name 1632 is the area code for Thembisa.
8. Shimza says people can have food, meetings and in the evenings he can perform and people can come and watch him.
9. He says having a restaurant also gives him access. When people see you doing things at that level, they take you seriously.
10. Shimza has a restaurant, trucking, property, music… He does not have shares at Thembisa mall.
11. Shimza says he always thinks there is a possibility for him to make more.
12. He said by 40, he needs to be retired.
13. Shimza says no one can stop a good hustle. Don’t go to people looking for handouts. He does not believe that there are gatekeepers.
14. Shimza says a lot of people respect him for his work.
15. He says his vision is to conquer the international market.
16. Shimza says things are different overseas….
17. Shimza says if you play an international game back in SA, the pie gets bigger.
18. On the Lockdown House party, he said he started off doing it for his own followers, then thought ‘what if I puts everyone together?’
19. Shimza said he went on a PR run, did an interview on ENCA.
20. After getting 6 popular DJs together, he kicked of the first show and by 9pm the show was trending.
21. MTV called and said they wanted to stream it on their platforms.
22. Before the show ended, Channel O wanted in.
23. The numbers were amazing.
24. The next day they set up the meeting with Channel O.
25. There was no sponsor. Shimza had to pay the first production costs from his pocket. None of the DJs were being paid.
26. On the first week the show was amazing.
27. Then hunters came in and became a sponsor, more than R400k.
28. Shimza says he feels TNS has problems that he needs to talk about. He was supposed to be on the Lockdown House party. TNS drove from Durban on a Monday. Shimza called him as he was supposed to shoot on Wednesday. On Wednesday, when Shimza called him, TNS stopped answering the phone.
29. Shimza said he tried to get TNS on the show but he was no longer interested. He has no grudge with TNS.
30. Shimza says he does not play Amapiano, it’s not in his plans. The only time he would play Amapiano is when there is an aCappella version that he can throw in his set.
31. Shimza says he thinks before he tweets, but he is human first.
32. Shimza say eGagasi FM took advantage of what was happening at the time.
33. Shimza says he is working on a song with Cuba. He was in Soul Candy Institute with him. Shimza said he attended and completed the course at Soul Candy Institute.
34. He said if you want to be booked you must show value.
35. Shimza said to get international gigs, he had to do a lot of free gigs, 500 Euro gigs and paying his own accommodation.
36. He said he got to a point where realised that he had to get a team around himself that understands the market.
37. Shimza said he never dated a girl called Palesa. He broke up with his baby mama. He likes the relationship they have now. He has been in a relationship for a long time.
38. Shimza said he never dated Ntando Duma. It’s always been work.
39. Shimza said he is Kool with AKA.
40. The mixer – One of the resident DJs, Mlindo, took Shimza ‘s mixer home. After a year, Shimza says Mlindo had still not returned his mixer. At one point, Theo brought his mixer to Shimza . Shimza says he kept the mixer, to release the other mixer that Mlindo had taken. Then Theo went on Twitter and Facebook and said Shimza took his mixer.
41. Shimza says Julius Malema likes young people who do well. If he has any problems he calls him. Mzwandile Madiba is the mayor of Ekurhuleni, hence the relationship.
42. Shimza says after 34 he might go into politics. He feels politics is a dirty game.
43. Shimza says he lost money at the restaurant during lockdown. But he made money at Hangout.
44. Shimza says he has an endorsement partnership with Ballentine. He says Ballentine is one of the biggest brands in the world that has partnered with Boiler Room.
45. He says Ballentine is supporting underground DJs in SA and he has set up a label called Khunye that takes underground DJs and link them up with international DJs.
46. Shimza says he wants to be remembered as a human being who did what he had to do and worked hard to make money.
47. He says at one point he had Covid, but it was mild.
Please watch the video above this post for more details.
