Goldmax

Bio

Goldmax is Zipho Mthembu, a gqom producer and DJ from KwaMashu, Durban — the township scene that incubated the genre's raw, off-kilter strain of dance music. He forms Distruction Boyz with Thobani 'Que' Mgobhozi in 2015 after the two keep crossing paths at local venues, and the duo's debut Gqom Is the Future (2017) becomes the first gqom album certified gold by RiSA, with the single 'Omunye' going gold as well.

'Omunye' wins Record of the Year at the 2018 SAMAs, and a BET Best International Act nomination follows the album abroad. When the duo announces a temporary split in February 2023, he moves quickly: a debut solo album, Amaketanga, and his own label, Golden Empire, arrive that April. Play At Your Own Risk, a 20-track joint album with Blacks Jnr released through EMPIRE in November 2024, keeps him at the centre of gqom's current wave.

Verified facts

• Zipho 'Goldmax' Mthembu formed Distruction Boyz with Thobani 'Que' Mgobhozi in 2015 after meeting at venues in KwaMashu, Durban.Wikipedia
• Distruction Boyz's debut Gqom Is the Future (2017) was the first gqom album certified gold by RiSA, and its single 'Omunye' also went gold.Wikipedia
• 'Omunye' won Record of the Year at the 2018 SAMAs, and the duo was nominated for Best International Act at the 2018 BET Awards.Wikipedia
• In February 2023 Distruction Boyz announced a temporary split to pursue solo projects.Wikipedia
• His joint album with Blacks Jnr, Play At Your Own Risk, was released 15 November 2024 via EMPIRE: 20 tracks running 1h39m.Apple Music
• After Distruction Boyz's February 2023 split, he released his debut solo album Amaketanga on 4 April 2023 and launched his own label, Golden Empire.SA Music Magazine

Notable work

• Gqom Is the Future (Distruction Boyz)
• Omunye (Distruction Boyz)
• Play At Your Own Risk (with Blacks Jnr)
• Gqom to the World
• It Was All A Dream (Distruction Boyz)

Categories

Music & Links