Emamkay

EMAMKAY is a South African record producer, emcee, and multi-instrumentalist (keyboardist) recognised for a distinctive sound that blends conscious hip-hop, neo-soul, lo-fi, and jazz. Based between Johannesburg and Pretoria, he describes his own genre simply as "personal". 

Musical Style & Influences

• Sound Profile: His music often features "space age" hip-hop vibes, soulful jazz overtones, and experimental electronic elements.
• Influences: He cites legendary artists such as J Dilla, Flying Lotus, D’Angelo, John Coltrane, and Smokey Robinson as primary inspirations.
• Live Performance: He performs with his band, the Sounds Like U Quintet, which includes instruments like the trumpet, bass, and drums. 

Discography

His catalog includes several studio albums and singles, many released through the Stay True Sounds (STY TRU BTS) label: 

• Albums:
  • Love Is Energy (2023)
  • DELTA (2020)
  • You Make You Smile (2019)
  • ALPHA (2016)
• Key Singles:
  • "Rain" (2025) – A notable collaboration with house legend Charles Webster and vocalist Bokang Ramatlapeng.
  • "Sense" (2023)
  • "When The Sun Rises" (2023)
  • "Ode" – Featured on multiple official Apple Music playlists. 

Professional Background

• Education: He holds a Fundamental Sound Technology certificate from the Academy of Sound Engineering (ASE) and studied music theory at UNISA.
• Collaborations: Beyond his solo work, he has collaborated with artists such as KaeB, IIndman, ECHLN, and Loui Lvndn.
• Commercial Work: He has produced, written, and voiced nationwide radio advertisements in South Africa for brands like PEP and Score Energy Drink. 

You can follow his work on Instagram or listen to his catalog on Bandcamp and Apple Music.