“He Was Like A Father And A Friend” – Teary Cassper Remembers DJ Sumbody. Refiloe Maele Phoolo, professionally known as Cassper Nyovest, is a South African rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, record producer and amateur boxer. Born and raised in Mahikeng, North West, he is regarded as one of the most successful artists in South Africa.
There was scarcely a dry eye in the Lewende Woord church in Centurion, Pretoria, where the late amapiano icon’s memorial service was held on Wednesday, 23 November 2022, just three days after the news of his passing left fans reeling.
He was shot to death while travelling with his driver and a third person who was driving a BMW X5 whose identity hasn’t been revealed yet, but the person survived and is at the hospital, DJ Sumbody and his driver died on the scene at Woodmead.
Close friend and colleague Cassper Nyovest was among the celebrities, friends and family members who came to share their fond memories of the DJ and producer. “We did Monate Mpolaye, and we released the song, I didn’t feel the song I just did it because he wouldn’t take no for an answer, he kept on calling. When the song was released, it changed everyone’s career not only his but even mine. It became one of my biggest songs to perform on stage, and when I performed it at Global Citizen, he gave me a call to give me props and told me that the only thing that was missing was him so that Beyoncé can see him perform,” Cassper recalled.
When they met, Sumbody was still on the radio and would call him every week while on-air when one of Cassper’s songs played on his show. “I’d answer the call thinking that it is an interview, and that is how our relationship started. How I became close friends with him is a funny story, one he pulled at a party and told me that I am his boy, and he understands me.”
