Meet Kooldrink, the 25-Year-Old Producer Revolutionizing Amapiano

At just 25, Munashe Kugarakuripi, aka Kooldrink, is making waves in the music industry with his unique blend of amapiano and pop. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Johannesburg, Kooldrink is now based in Los Angeles, where he's reshaping global music.

As the mastermind behind Tyla's breakout hit "Getting Late," Kooldrink engineered a cultural shift in the music industry. He sees music as an equation, a calculated process where rhythm, melody, and emotion fit into a structured formula. "Music is like math," he tells GQ South Africa. "It's all about patterns."

Kooldrink's strategic approach to music led to the creation of "Getting Late," a track designed to bridge South Africa's amapiano movement with the global pop market. With his latest single "Show Me," featuring Nina Nevra, Kooldrink is cementing his role as a pioneer of Pop Piano, an evolution of amapiano that merges its deep grooves with the structure and appeal of global pop.

While some purists resist the idea of Pop Piano, Kooldrink is unfazed. "Music evolves. My job isn't to keep it in a box; it's to push it forward." He's on a mission to educate the industry while pushing his own music forward, and he's not slowing down.

Now signed to EMPIRE, Kooldrink is balancing creative freedom with industry expectations. He's seen firsthand how the West oversimplifies African music, and he's determined to change that narrative. With a Grammy-winning artist in his portfolio and a global audience watching, Kooldrink is aiming for global domination.

Kooldrink's five-year plan is ambitious, but he's confident in his abilities. "I've always known I wanted more. The music is just the start. Mogul status isn't a dream—it's the plan." With his talent, drive, and determination, Kooldrink is sure to make a lasting impact on the music industry.