{{Short description|Malawian-South African singer}} {{EngvarB|date=February 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Infobox musical artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Gemini Major | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = 250px | landscape = <!-- no, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = Tshego (left) performing with Gemini Major (right). | birth_name = Benn Gilbert Kamoto<ref name="FTR">{{cite web|title=ARTISTS/GEMINI MAJOR|url=http://familytreeworld.co.za/artists/gemini-major/|website=FamilyTreeWorld|accessdate=4 December 2016|archive-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108225051/http://familytreeworld.co.za/artists/gemini-major/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | alias = Rudebouy Major | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1990|06|14}} | birth_place = Blantyre, Malawi | origin = Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|df=y|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) --> | death_place = | genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|dancehall|Afro pop|reggae}} | occupation = {{hlist|Record producer|Singer-songwriter}}{{infobox person|embed=yes|citizenship={{unbulletedlist|Malawi ({{small|1990{{ndash}}present}})|South Africa}} }} | instrument = {{flatlist| * vocals * sampler * DAW * auto-tune}} | years_active = 2010–present | label = Family Tree (former) | associated_acts = {{hlist|Cassper Nyovest|Nasty C|Nadia Nakai|Tshego|Aewon Wolf|Riky Rick|Da L.E.S|Major League DJz}} | website = {{URL|https://instagram.com/geminimaejor}} }}
'''Benn Gilbert Kamoto''' (born 14 June 1990), better known by his stage name '''Gemini Major''', is a Malawian-born South African record producer and singer-songwriter. He was signed to Family Tree Records, a South African independent record label founded by Cassper Nyovest.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://citizen.co.za/lifestyle/your-life-entertainment-your-life/entertainment-celebrities/1449205/gemini-major-leaves-casspers-family-tree/ | title= Gemini Major leaves Cassper’s Family Tree | date=7 March 2017 | newspaper=The Citizen | accessdate=17 January 2019 }}</ref>
== Early life and career == Gemini Major finished high school in 2007 and graduated in I.T. in 2009. In the same year, he moved to Durban, South Africa to pursue his dream as an artist and record producer.<ref name="nyasatimes">{{cite web|title=Gemini Major – Malawi's fastest rising star in South Africa|url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/gemini-major-malawis-fastest-rising-star-south-africa/|website=Nyasa Times|accessdate=4 December 2016}}</ref>
He has produced for a number of artists in a variety of genres including R&B, hip-hop, house, dancehall, pop and gospel. His portfolio includes production used in TV shows such as ''Gold Diggers'', ''Forever Young'' and ''Mo Love''.<ref name="FTR"/>
In 2013 he moved to Johannesburg. After a chance meeting with Cassper Nyovest and his team at a video shoot for a song that Major had produced, he joined the Family Tree team. In the wake of the release of Nasty C's hit single "Juice Back", Major has become the go-to producer for some of South Africa's leading hip hop artists.<ref>{{cite web|title=Malawi: Cassper Nyovest Signs Malawian Producer Gemini Major|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201509141237.html|website=AllAfrica|accessdate=4 December 2016}}</ref>
In 2015 Major was nominated for Producer of the Year at the South African Hip Hop Awards alongside South Africa's best hip hop producers such as Anatii, Riky Rick, Ganja Beats and Tweezy.<ref name="nyasatimes"/><ref name="SAHHA15">{{cite web|title=Nomination List 2015|url=http://www.sahiphopawards.com/2015/10/nomination-list-2015.html|website=sahiphopawards|accessdate=4 December 2016|archive-date=14 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914172046/http://www.sahiphopawards.com/2015/10/nomination-list-2015.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He released a single named, "Church" on 28 September 2017.
On November 20, 2020, his EP ''Slum Kid'' was released in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ubetoo.com/music/slum|title=Gemini Major Delivers New Project "Slum Kid EP" |first=John|last= Jabulani|date= 26 November 2020|work=Ubetoo }}</ref> It features Nasty C, Riky Rick, Tellaman, AKA, The Big Hash and Emtee.
== Discography == ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable" !Album title !Album details |- |''Gem n Eye'' | * Released: 1 February 2015 * Label: Lalela Music * Formats: Digital download |}
== Singles == === As lead artist === {{BLP unsourced section|date=July 2019}} {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles as lead artist, showing year released ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" | Year |- ! scope="row" | "Badmanting" <small>(featuring Aewon Wolf)</small> | rowspan="2" |2015 |- ! scope="row" | "One Night Stand" |- ! scope="row" | "Bumpy Ride" | rowspan="2" |2016 |- ! scope="row" | "Ragga Ragga" <small>(featuring Cassper Nyovest, Nadia Nakai, Riky Rick and Major League DJz)</small> |- ! scope="row" | "Right Now" <small>(featuring Nasty C and Tellaman)</small> | 2019 |- |}
== Production discography == {{BLP unsourced section|date=July 2019}}
===Singles produced=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Song !Artist !Year |- | "Juice Back" | Nasty C | 2014 |- | "Ufunan" (featuring Kwesta, L-Tido and WTF) | Junior De Rocka | rowspan="4" |2015 |- | "Summer Fever" (featuring Gemini Major) | Aewon Wolf |- | "Badmanting" (featuring Aewon Wolf) | Gemini Major |- | "Juice Back (Remix)" (featuring Cassper Nyovest and Davido) | Nasty C |- | "Bumpy Ride" | Gemini Major | rowspan="12" |2016 |- | "Walking and Dabbing" | Khuli Chana, Aewon Wolf and Gemini Major |- | "Skelm" | Cassper Nyovest |- | "Super Ex" | Cassper Nyovest |- | "Mayo" (featuring Yung Swiss, Tellaman, Shane Eagle and Frank Casino) | DJ Speedsta |- | "Ayeye" (featuring Cassper Nyovest and Carpo) | DJ Vigilante |- | "Switched Up" | Nasty C |- | "Belong" | Nasty C and Buffalo Souljah |- | "Sidlukotini" | Riky Rick |- | "Day Off" (featuring Nasty C) | Stilo Magolide |- | "Ragga Ragga" (featuring Cassper Nyovest, Nadia Nakai, Riky Rick and Major League DJz | Gemini Major |- | "My Heart" | Diamond Platnumz and Cassper Nyovest |- | "Lifestyle" | Da Les |2016 |- | "NDA" | Nasty C |rowspan="2" |2017 |- | "Tito Mboweni" | Cassper Nyovest |- |"Tired Of This Life" |[https://open.spotify.com/artist/5M4KhWAd2Sz1QcQP059o87?si=zOc_oNcYQFCl2UhQGVMsTQ Micl Snr] |2021 |- |"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etGGMcowCl8 2Pac Tears]" |[https://open.spotify.com/artist/5M4KhWAd2Sz1QcQP059o87?si=44Cbw459RC6Zgh991R1mdg Micl Snr], Cnotesche, Gemini Major |2024 |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Award ceremony !Prize !Work/recipient !Result |- |<div align="center">2015</div> |South African Hip Hop Awards 2015 |Producer of the Year<ref name="SAHHA15"/> |Himself |{{nom}} |- | rowspan="2" | <div align="center">2016</div> | rowspan="2" |South African Hip Hop Awards 2016 |Producer of the Year<ref name="SAHHA16">{{cite web|title=Here's the Full List of South African Hip Hop Awards 2016 Nominees|url=http://www.okayafrica.com/in-brief/south-african-hip-hop-awards-2016-nominees/|website=okayafrica|publisher=Alyssa Klein|accessdate=4 December 2016}}</ref> |Himself |{{nom}} |- |Best Collabo<ref name="SAHHA16"/> |"Ragga Ragga" (featuring Cassper Nyovest, Nadia Nakai, Riky Rick and Major League DJz) |{{nom}} |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{Twitter|geminimajor|Gemini Major}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Major, Gemini}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Gauteng Category:Singers from Johannesburg Category:South African record producers Category:South African reggae musicians Category:Malawian record producers Category:21st-century Malawian male singers Category:Malawian emigrants to South Africa Category:English-language South African singers