South African rapper-turned-entrepreneur Gigi Lamayne is stepping into a bold new era, trading the mic for the decks as she launches her career as a DJ. At 31, the multi-award-winning artist — born Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney — is proving once again that her creativity has no boundaries.
From her early days as a Joburg poet to dominating hip-hop stages, Gigi has consistently reinvented herself. With four SA Hip-Hop Awards to her name, including Best Female, and her recent win as Hip Hop Artist of the Year at the 2025 Basadi in Music Awards, she now adds “DJ” to her growing list of titles.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Gigi explained her decision:
“Honestly, I’ve always been obsessed with sound and rhythm. Rapping gave me a mic and a message, but deejaying gave me a whole new canvas to paint on… It has empowered me because now I can merge Afro-Tech, hip-hop, and house into one big crazy dance floor sermon.”
Her latest move is already propelling her beyond South Africa. With her first European gigs lined up, Gigi says every performance feels like she’s flying the South African flag:
“It feels surreal… Every show will feel like I’m waving the South African flag and saying, ‘Hey world, this is what we sound like, this is what we dance to.’”
Even as a DJ, her rap roots remain central to her artistry. “As a rapper, I’ve always been about storytelling, cadence, and timing — and that sneaks into my deejaying. I hear music differently. I’m always looking for the narrative in a beat,” she revealed.
The star is also gearing up to drop her new EP I’m Not a DJ, a bold declaration of her genre-bending vision. Promising more collaborations, global shows, and dance-driven projects, Gigi insists the journey is just beginning: “The best is yet to come.”
