Levelz
| Levelz | |
|---|---|
 Levelz | |
| Born | Rodger Tafadzwa Kadzimwe September 9, 1989 Darwendale |
| Residence | Southlea Park, Zimbabwe |
| Education | Sodbury Secondary School |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2011 - present |
| Organization | Chill Spot Records |
| Known for | Being a Zimdancehall Music Producer |
| Spouse(s) | Dev Sando |
| Children |
|
| Awards | 2013 Best Zimdancehall Riddim ( Zimbo Flavour Riddim). |
Levelz is a Zimbabwean entrepreneur, music producer and one of the cofounders of the Chill Spot Records music label and stable. He is well known in the Zimdancehall genre for his music productions.
In January 2020, Levelz, along with fellow Chillspot and co-founder DJ Fantan was sentenced to an effective 6 months in prison for violating COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Levelz and his colleagues hosted a Zimdancehall New Year's event in Mbare where several artists performed. The event was attended by hundreds of fans. They pleaded guilty to the charge.
Background
Levelz was born on 9 September 1989 in Harare.[1] His real name is Rodger Tafadzwa Kadzimwe.[2] He has 3 sisters and one brother.
Personal life
Levelz is married to Dev Sando and the couple were blessed with a child named Jaysen in 2014.[1] The couple live at their Southlea Park home.[1]
Education
Levelz did his primary education at Avonlea Primary School. He attended Ellis Robbins High School and the third term of his form one at George Stark High School. From form 2 to 4 he attended Sodbury Secondary School in Darwendale.
He attended Music Academy of the West in Califonia where he studied sound engineering.[3] It was at Sodbury where he formed a musical group called "The Chainsmokers" which however did not manage to record any songs.[1]
Early life
Levelz started his music career at Evangelical Fellowship of Believers Church where he used to sing a play the key board.[1] He began his career as a member of S.E.P.P Records and later found fame when he made his own Record Label, which popularized the Zimdancehall genre.[3]
Music career
Levelz's music production career rose to fame with Chill Spot Records which is located in the iconic township of Mbare in Harare. He is one of the three leaders of Chill Spot and he works together with DJ Fantan and DJ Rhibhe.[2]
The three music icons formed the group Chill Spot Records in 2011 although they claim they know each other from childhood.
They also believe they have been influenced their entire lives by producers from Jamaica. He is the figure behind the "lelelevelz production" musical chant at the beginning of most Zimdancehall tracks.
In 2013, he shot to fame with his Zimbo Flavour riddim which initially featured some 15 prominent artists. After the riddim went viral, the number increased to 150 local artists including some debutants.[1]
Music Productions
Levelz has produced albums for many Zimdancehall Artists, including Winky D, Sniper Storm, Soul Jah Love, Seh Calaz, Freeman, and Tocky Vibes.[2] He is credited as a key figure in the popularisation of the Zimdancehall genre in Zimbabwe. He has produced more than five riddims such as Silent Killer Riddim which featured the Jamaican Artist Kalado. His 2013 Riddim The Zimbo Flavour , released under Chill Spot Records, led him to become one of the best Zimbabwean producers of 2013 and to win a Zimdancehall Award for the best Riddim "Zimbo Flavour".[2]
Riddims
- Werras Riddim
- One Clan Riddim
- Zimbabwe Definition
- Boss Ndiani
- My Boo
- Pure Niceness
Some Songs and Riddims By Levelz
Awards
- 2013 Zimdancehall Best Riddim (The Zimbo Flavour Riddim).[2]
Arrest And Trial
On 5 January 2021, Levels pleaded guilty and admitted to “partaking and contravening a public gathering during a national lockdown period” when he appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Vongai Guwuriro together with his co-accused Dhama and DJ Fantan. He was remanded in custody pending bail ruling on 6 January 2021.[4]
Jail Sentence
Levels and his co-accused were found guilty and jailed for six effective months for violating the Covid-19 regulations.
Harare provincial magistrate Vongai Guwuriro had initially jailed the trio for 12 months before setting aside six months of the sentence.
The six months were set aside for three years on condition that they will not commit a similar offence during that period.[5]
Leaked Nudes
In November 2022, Levels had to apologise to his fans after his sex tape and nude pictures with hip-hop star Shashl were leaked on social media.[6]
He used his Instagram account to apologise to his followers claiming that his phone, a Samsung s21, had been stolen the previous day at Pablos "after a small fight" and they leaked the videos.
The video and pictures went viral on social media and trended on Twitter.
Arrest on Rape Allegations
Levels was arrested by the police on 5 December 2022 for allegedly raping his ex-girlfriend and musician, Ashley “Shashl” Moyo.[7]
The arrest came after their sex tape was leaked and Shashl reportedly felt that Levels had leaked their bedroom tape to punish her for ending their relationship.
After the sex tape emerged on social media platforms, Shashl opened a rape case against Levels at Borrowdale Police Station.
On 6 December 2022, Levels appeared before Harare magistrate Kudzai Zihove facing charges of violating the Data Protection Act.[8]
That was after Shashl indicated that she intended to withdraw rape and physical abuse charges against him.
Levels was granted $20 000 bail and was ordered to return to court on 20 December when he was charged with violating some sections of the Data Protection Act.
On 20 December 2022, Levels appeared before Harare magistrate Kudzai Zihove for routine remand. Zihove remanded the matter to 10 March 2023.
On 28 September 2023, Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo removed DJ Levels from remand and ruled that the State could proceed by way of summons if it decides to pursue the matter.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 J. Mbiriyamveka, Levelz Taking Artists To Stardom,Thee Herald, published:28 May 2015,retrieved:2 June 2015"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 , About,Chill Spot Records Facebook Page, retrieved:1 Jun 2015"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 , About,Levelz Facebook Page ,retrieved:1 Jun 2015"
- ↑ Nyore Madzianike, JUST IN: DJ Fantan, Levels, Dhama appear in court, The Herald, Published: January 5, 2021, Retrieved: January 5, 2021
- ↑ DJ Fantan, Levels, Dhama jailed six months, The Chronicle, Published: January 6, 2020, Retrieved: January 6, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 , Evans Mathanda, DJ Levels 'missing' after sex tape leaks, Published 27 November 2022, Retrieved 28 November 2022 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "NewsDay" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ , Arron Nyamayaro, AFTER A WEEK ON THE RUN, LEVELS ARRESTED IN H-TOWN, H-Metro, Published: 06 December 2022, Retrieved: 06 December 2022
- ↑ , Staff Reporter,Levels, Shashl Hold Hour-long Meeting Under A Mango Tree, Published: 07 December 2022, Retrieved: 22 December 2022
