Meet Nkosana “Danger VybZ Nkomo | DJ, Sometimes Audio Engineer, Aspiring Software Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nkosana “Danger VybZ Nkomo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nkosana “Danger VybZ, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’ve tried to lessen my late late night activity as of recent so that I can wake up at a decent time and enjoy the day lol. Working as an assistant engineer at a recording studio previously and DJing after parties you almost don’t get to see the sun and it’s depressing, atleast for me. When I was younger I could handle it but now, nah.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
How much time you got? Lol.

DJing is my pleasure. I use it to create fun & joy for myself and others, whether they be patrons, friends, or family. I at this point would say I have a Afrocentric style with the ability to step outside of those genres within that and still deliver a quality performance!

Technique is one of the biggest things that sets me apart from others in my space. My blends are always on point, fully using EQ, filters, echoes and much more to deliver smooth transitions to your eardrums. My scratches are still nice although I admittedly need to get back nice with the advanced ones *sighs*. Along with my depth of musical knowledge in AmaPiano, Afrobeats, Reggae/Dancehall, Hip Hop ofcourse, House and all it’s subgenres such as South African House and Afrohouse, Afroswing, Pop, etc etc, I’m a versatile DJ that can play in multiple styles, moods, and settings. Clubs/Lounges, hotels, corporate gigs, private events with older and younger generations alike, special events, I can (and do) do them all! My upbringing has a profound effect on what I play and how I play it.

So surprise, I always loved music since I was a kid lol. I had a boombox in my room like many kids that grew up in the 90’s, so I would listen while I would lay in my bed at night. Fun fact, my mom, an African woman, tried to ban me from listening to hip hop at first but quickly understood that was futile in The suburbs of Atlanta and gave up rather quickly lol.

She and my sister were big reggae fans so you would hear all type of riddims shaking the house on a Saturday afternoon. Big up Rockers International on 89.3 for that lol. We are Zimbabwean, Ndebele to be specific, so ofcourse much African music would play before and after the Reggae so it was always a nice mix with the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s American hits, Jazz, and bluesthat would also play in the casa. Late at night I would listen to house music on 91.9 late on a Saturday I think and that was such a relaxing audio nightcap to end the day!

I played saxophone in middle school through about 10th grade then left that and started making beats. By college I had a creative block and began to experiment with DJing. From there it’s a long, almost 15 year journey of different events, parties, and clubs.

It wasn’t easy to get to this point, but it’s been fun and luckily I’m talented so that helped me get through alooooooot of the hard parts. Practice also helped me get through the difficulties but the help & guidance from people who were ahead of me and legends like my bro Stackanova was CRUCIAL to my success as a DJ.

He brought me into club DJing officially and to a large degree showed me the ropes and how to deal with promoters/management. He also is one hell of a DJ himself. His reggae warmup is something to witness! DJ Presyce taught me hella cuts, and is the reason my scratches are as clean as they are! DJ Jaycee gave me the vision of what my sets could be with his constant revisioning of songs on the fly! DJ Peter Parker (Canterbury Tales), DJ Rocco, and DJ Inturn are my scratch buddies lol long hours with them trying new techniques and vybing with them helped forge my scratch technique to the well balanced and sharp katana to what it was and will be again soon! My bros DJ Shine D’Beast and VQUE taught me about ENERGY!!! DJ Kash and DJ Alpo taught me by example and gave me tips about how to talk on the mic and have fun with it. A large part of why I’m here today in my current position professionally, is due to my interactions with these classy, talented people.

I feel that I blab too much but I enjoy talking about things I’m passionate about. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, my joy and focus is AmaPiano and Afrobeats but AmaPiano is what truly runs my heart!!! If I wanted you to know anything about my brand it’s simply “AMAPIANO TO THE WORLD!!!!!” and I’ve been yelling it for YEARS now. Everything about it just fits me so well. From some of my musical influences being some of its influences, to my mother’s language of Ndebele/Zulu being it’s main language. It truly feels God given and I feel so blessed that it is around!

The biggest lesson that DJing and AmaPiano taught me about was about “Perseverance” and I couldn’t be more thankful to receive have received it. I started leaning more towards it years ago DJ wise, and it was frustrating to play this wonderful music in full on African clubs and people not understand or care for it. Slowly, but SURELY, it caught on though as it grew back on the continent and it’s biggest push here in America was 1st, Davido jumping on “Ke Star” with Focalistic and Vigro Deep. 2nd was when many Africans went home for the holidays and found out I hadn’t been BSing them the whole time lmao.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I honestly am boring during the week lol so I’ll skip to the weekend plus one day. Fair warning it’s about to be mostly African and Caribbean but:

*Prepares shameless plug* BAMBA TUESDAYS at Rock Steady is a must!!!! DJ Kash, select guest DJs, and I pick and blend the hottest and greatest AmaPiano and Afrobeats from now and yesteryear, pair them with masterfully crafted drinks and cuisine, and add in a heap of people who like to move to create the best vybz you can get on a Tuesday anywhere! Period!

Friday we going to the Thompson hotel for drinks before hitting the lounges. Either Ace, Venetian, Like Glue Fridays, or Living Room. After Party is Nollywood!

Saturdays is hit up a pool! Either downtown or further out, long as it’s nice and we can drink lol. Afterwards we going to the newly renovated Evangadi for my set and to enjoy the night, then Nollywood again!

Sunday Funday – To end the weekend we going to a brunch or day party. You gotta hit Rum Punch Brunch atleast one time in your life! After that it’s either Eden lounge or Sheba Lounge!

Im tired just reading all that lol

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Y’all know I gotta do this, right? lol:

My parents ofcourse, giving me life, hope, and accomodations for a good part of my life, and having patience with me lol. Literally would not be here without y’all!

My Zimbabwean, Swazi, and American family in general which is so big and spread out across the world. But a BIG shout out to my sister Thandi (@ThandiPoursCocktails) for putting me into a great situation this year. Love you big time for that!!!

My friends: Mbongeni & Lisa, Eugene, Stackanova, Will, George & Tychell, Mix Master Zulu, Prosper, Batsi, Silas, Lionel, DJ Kash, Tapiwa, Carol, Farai, Ezzy, Nick, Zen, Vikela, Taona, Brian, and many, many more that y’all won’t have the space for lol. Y’all keep me happy, motivated, and grounded and I love and appreciate y’all for that! Special shout out to Raven Willis, who you’ve featured before for this plug in!!!! She’s always been down to support from my regular lounges to new ventures and I appreciate you!!!

Ofcourse all my supporters that have been with me since the first time they’ve heard me spin!!! So many opportunities and shout outs from them have kept me afloat financially and socially!!! Ngiyabonga (thank you)!!!

Website: www.SoundCloud.com/danger-vybz

Instagram: @dangervybz

Twitter: @dangervybz

Facebook: Nkosana “Danger VybZ” Nkomo

Other: Snapchat and Tik Tok are also @DangerVybz but I’m not on there like that lol