Johannesburg, 23 September 2025 – Spotify once again sits at the heart of music and culture with the release of RADAR Presents Thakzin, a documentary-style film spotlighting producer and DJ Thabang Mathebula, better known as Thakzin and celebrated as the originator of 3 Step, a sound that fuses Afro House, Amapiano, anchored in its defining three-kick-drum rhythm.
This isn’t Thakzin’s first moment in the spotlight. He was also named Spotify’s RADAR Africa artist in June, joining a global roster of rising stars breaking into the international scene through Spotify’s artist development programme.
What others might have tuned out, Thakzin turned into inspiration. Born in the early 90s in Johannesburg’s Ivory Park, the birth of the genre traces back to Thakzin’s environment at the time, which was filled with different sounds, from passing-by taxis to the loud drum beats from his neighbour, a sangoma (traditional healer), that deeply fueled his musical inspiration. For Thakzin, “music is not just sound – it’s spiritual.” The story of 3 Step is deeply personal to him.
The film traces Thakzin’s rise as the architect of 3 Step and offers a rare glimpse into his upbringing and creative process. It features candid reflections from those closest to him: his sister and road manager, Nhlanhla “Smith” Mathebula; his artist manager, Smanga Memela; creative director and artist manager Phil Darimont, and his father, December Mathebula. Together, they paint an intimate portrait of an artist who has turned his lived experience into a global sound.
“Thakzin‘s journey with 3 Step is a reflection of the power of African innovation and storytelling,” says Phiona Okumu, Head of Music at Spotify Sub-Saharan Africa. “We are incredibly proud to champion artists like Thakzin, empowering them to share their unique sounds and narratives with a global audience through our platform.”
The film also sets the stage for Thakzin’s next chapter; the release of his highly anticipated debut album, Gods Window Pt. 1, dropping on 26 September 2025.
Watch the full film here.
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