Cassper Nyovest

Cassper Nyovest
Cassper Nyovest at the 2014 Back to the City festival
Background information
Birth name	Refiloe Maele Phoolo
Born	(1990-12-16) December 16, 1990 (age 26) Montshiwa, Mahikeng, North West, South Africa
Genres	Hip hop, Motswako
Occupation(s)	Rapper record producer
Instruments	Vocals keyboard sampler drum machine
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Family Tree
Associated acts	HHP Okmalumkoolkat Riky Rick Anatii Nasty C Gemini Major Talib Kweli Casey Veggies DJ Drama The Game D'banj Wizkid Kwesta Black Thought The Roots
Website	casspernyovest.com

Refiloe Maele Phoolo (born 16 December 1990, in Mafikeng), professionally known as Cassper Nyovest, is a South African recording artist and record producer. His debut album Tsholofelo was released on 18 July 2014. He is currently signed to his own independent label and media company, Family Tree.

Nyovest grew up in Montshiwa in Mafikeng, the capital city of the North West province. He attended high school at Sol Plaatje Secondary School. In school, he was athletic as he partook in various sports activities including football, cricket and basketball. He started rapping when he was in grade 6, at the age of 12.

In grade 10, Nyovest failed his exams, and moved to his grandmother's house in Potchefstroom. Then the following year, at age 16, he decided to drop out of high school: "I told my parents that I'd rather chase my dream, which I believe is going to work out, rather than keeping it safe and regret it my whole life." Nyovest relocated to Johannesburg the following year to pursue a career in music as a rapper and producer.

In 2004 he was a member of a group called Childhood Gangsters (CHG), which disbanded. He then joined an eight-member group, Slow Motion, which included the production team, Ganja Beatz.

Nyovest dropped out of high school in 2006, left home and moved to Johannesburg. The following year, still at the age of 16, he was signed by the Motswako label "Impact Sounds". After two years without a release, he left to start a label of his own to no avail — he moved back home.

Months later, Motswako rapper HHP spotted Nyovest at a performance. HHP was impressed and featured him on "Wamo Tseba Mtho" on his album Dumela. Nyovest embarked on international tours with HHP where he gained exposure as an artist. He has also shared stages with international acts such as Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Talib Kweli and Wiz Khalifa. In the year 2014, Nyovest was involved in a highly publicised "beef" with fellow South African artist AKA (rapper), this led to both artists recording diss tracks about each other.