By Motshabi Hoaeane
From the exuberant spirit of a church talent contest to the studio booth, Daveyton-born singer Mduduzi Mahlangu—also known as MJay Ranks—has officially unveiled his highly awaited track “DEEP.” featuring Lboss_SA.The lyrical R&B/hip-hop track, produced by Elson Manhique, delves into a profound, unspoken form of love—one that words cannot explain, but music can.
MJay Ranks is a multi-talented individual – currently working in the ECD space, is both a recording artist and a television presenter. His musical path began in high school, fueled by a strong enthusiasm for the arts and formal training at Liverpool Secondary School in Actonville. There, he initially began to write music and compose, inspired by the desire to emulate giants such as Jay-Z and 50 Cent.
“My love for music was sparked by my cousin,” says MJay. “He was a big fan of Eminem and 50 Cent. I’ll never forget when he bought Get Rich or Die Tryin’. We’d listen endlessly to songs like Upgrade U by Jay-Z and Beyoncé. That’s when I knew—this is what I want to do.”
“DEEP” is more than just a song; it provides a glimpse inside MJay Ranks’ emotional world. “I don’t really talk much about how I feel,” he says. “Music helps me express myself more freely. That’s what this song is about—love so deep that it can’t be expressed in words.
“I thought let me show the other side of my story and introduce my listeners to the other side of my life, open it to the public and show that love still exists” he adds.
With an increasing influence in the local music industry, MJay Ranks says his stage name reflects his goals: to continue climbing, evolving, and providing compelling musical experiences. He says that DEEP is the precursor to his EP that he is currently working on called The Rookie. He mentions that in The Rookie, the next exciting element is the production of the video Grootman- which he is also at the moment working on with his production team.
MJ’s trajectory has also been influenced by his involvement in the larger media landscape. His exposure extends from mentorship and experiences at community radio stations like Hillbrow Radio to networking with industry figures on venues like ETV’s CRAZE, where he met musicians like Emtee and Bozza from Skwatta Kamp. These exchanges, he claims, continue to teach him while keeping his “head up and ear to the ground.”
“I try to be versatile and cover all aspects of music, while gently tapping into an older audience too,” he explains. “If you don’t have the words to express your love, and want to share how you feel with your partner—this is the song.”
“DEEP is available on all major music streaming services, such as Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, and Boomplay.” You may also listen at ditto.fm/deep-mjay-ranks.
