Get to know Amapiano sensation, Kooldrink

At just 25, Munashe Kugarakuripi, aka Kooldrink is more than a producer—he’s a movement. The Zimbabwean-born, Johannesburg-raised, and now Los Angeles-based artist is reshaping global music with his signature blend of amapiano and pop.

As the mastermind behind Tyla’s breakout hit 'Getting Late,' he didn’t just produce a track—he engineered a cultural shift. Now, with his latest single Show Me, featuring Nina Nevra, Kooldrink is making it clear: Pop Piano is here to stay.

Kooldrink doesn’t make music by accident. He sees it 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. I don’t just experiment—I set a goal, identify an audience, and build a track with intention.”

That strategic approach led to the creation of Getting Late, a track designed to bridge South Africa’s amapiano movement with the global pop market.“When we were making it, we knew exactly what we were doing. We didn’t stumble onto a hit—we built one, piece by piece.”

Pop Piano: A Genre in the Making

With Show Me, 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.“Amapiano was blowing up, but the industry wasn’t sure how to digest it,” he says. “Pop Piano is that bridge—it takes the essence of amapiano but structures it in a way that makes it accessible to global audiences.”

Some purists resist the idea, but Kooldrink is unfazed. “Music evolves. My job isn’t to keep it in a box; it’s to push it forward. The world is looking to Africa for new sounds—Pop Piano is my way of making sure they understand and respect where it’s coming from.”

While many producers stay in the shadows, Kooldrink is stepping into the spotlight. The transition hasn’t been easy.

“Producing for others was simple—I could shape their sound from the background. But building my brand, putting my face to the music? That’s a different challenge,” he admits.Now signed to EMPIRE, he’s balancing creative freedom with industry expectations, carving a lane for himself while staying true to his sound.

Setting the record straight

Kooldrink has seen firsthand how the West oversimplifies African music.“People assume all African music sounds the same. I tell them I make amapiano, and they bring up Burna Boy. But amapiano isn’t Afrobeats. And South African amapiano is different from what’s played in Nigeria—it’s all about tempo, rhythm, and culture.

”He’s on a mission to educate the industry while pushing his own music forward.With a Grammy-winning artist in his portfolio, a genre under his belt, and a global audience watching, Kooldrink isn’t slowing down.

His five-year plan is simply global domination.“I’ve always known I wanted more. The music is just the start. Mogul status isn’t a dream—it’s the plan,”adding that if he were to go back a couple of years ago, he’d advice his younger self to “read every contract. Take care of yourself first. And never stop building.”