Refiloe Maele Phoolo (born 16 December 1990, in Mafikeng), professionally known as Cassper Nyovest, is a South African recording artist, songwriter and record producer. Cassper grew up in Montshiwa in Mafikeng, the capital city of the North West province.
Cassper grew up involved in sports and studies, but developed a love of rapping by age 12. By age 16 he dropped out of school to pursue a career in music, spending a few years flailing before he was noticed by Motswako rapper HHP. The two struck up a professional relationship and Nyovest made a cameo on HHP’s album, and eventually joined him on tour.
Later on Nyovest toured internationally, opening for some of the biggest names in hip-hop while working on material that would eventually be featured on his debut solo album. His debut album Tsholofelo was released on 18 July 2014. He is currently signed to his own independent label and media company, Family Tree.
Tsholofelo was a massive hit in South Africa to the point that an expanded Platinum Edition with bonus tracks would be released just a year later to quell Nyovest’s hungry fan base.
Following the success of Tsholofelo, Cassper Nyovest skyrocketed to star status, performing sold-out shows for increasingly larger audiences and being showered with industry awards. In May of 2017 he returned with his second proper album, Thuto.