Focalistic
- In 2017, Focalistic started taking music seriously. Before that, he was making music for his fans
- His music influences include HHP, Khuli Chana and Spikiri
- He used to record music live from his V360 just so he could have the music
- His musical journey began when his father gave him an ultimate; to choose between a microphone and soccer boots. He chose the former
- His father passed away when he was in grade 9
Mark Ronson
- He is best known for his collaborations with Adele, Amy Winehouse, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga
- He has received 7 Grammy awards, including Producer of the Year for Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black”
- His stepfather is British musician Mick Jones
- While attending university in New York, Mark became a popular DJ in the Hip Hop scene
- In 2015, he became a patron for the Amy Winehouse Foundation which helps disadvantaged youth through music
Miley Cyrus
- She is the best selling female artist born in the 1990s
- She is the daughter of country music star, Billy Ray Cyrus
- She emerged as a teen idol portraying the title star, Hannah Montana on Disney Channel
- As an actress, she has made appearances in films such as Bolt and So Undercover
- She has also served as a coach on The Voice across two seasons
Major League DJs
- Major League DJs is a kwaito/Hip Hop music band consisting of twin brothers, Bandile and Banele Mbere
- The twins were born in Boston, USA
- Their father was a pianist so naturally, music was in their blood
- In primary school, the duo used to play the piano
- They are famous for being leaders of what is known as ’New Age Kwaito’
Wizkid
- His real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun
- He started recording music at the age of 11 and managed to release a collaborative album with a group he had formed with his church mates
- In 2016, he received international recognition following his collaboration with `drake on ‘One Dance’
- In March 2o17, he signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records
- He is the most decorated artist internationally and one of the most revolutionary artists of Afro-pop in the modern era
Tresor
- His name is French for ’Treasure’
- His first language is music but he is also fluent in English, French, and Swahili
- Orphaned at a young age, he left `coma in the Eastern DRC for Durban after finishing high school in 2007
- In Durban, earned a living by being a car guard by day and security by night
- He is an ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and also a United Refugee Agency ambassador, advocating refugee rights
The Kiffness
- They are an electronic act from Cape Town
- Their comparison of Adolf Hitler to Julius Male received a lot of mixed responses on social media
- The Kiffness makes jazzy, groovy, and uplifting house music and is one of South Africa’s favorite electronic acts
- The group was founded by David Scott in 2011
- They have received SAMA nominations for Best POP Album and Best Producer
Ariana Grande
- When she was 15, she starred in the Broadway musical 13.
- She rose to fame for her role as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon series Victorious and Sam & Cat
- She says she is vegan and is allergic to cats
- According to ABC News, Ariana was sued in 2013 for allegedly copying a lyric for her smash hit, The Way ft Mac Miller.
- She showed off her musical impressions on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she impersonated singers like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera
AKA
- He was the first hip hop artist to headline the popular Old Mutual Music at The Lake
- He loves sandwiches besides being a hitmaker, AKA owns #rd World Designs, a company that specializes in film and video design
- His company did the cover art for media personality, Bonang Matheba’s book From A to B: Invest In Your Sparkle
- In 2016, he was the first South African artist to have his video reach 1 million views on Youtube in 10 days.
- He shares a daughter, Kairo, with DJ Zinhle
Hillzy
- The Cape Town-based Zimbabwean-born R&B/trapsoul artist and producer has released covers of popular songs that have amassed serious numbers
- He is actually a qualified computer scientist
- His song, You Are Enough, encourages women who have been made to feel small
- He grew up listening to Gospel and admit to having only started listening to R&B and hip-hop in 2008
- He taught himself how to make and record beats
Shasha
- Born: Charmaine Shamiso Mpambiro on 13 July 1994
- She gained popularity for her collaborations with South African dance producers such as DJ Maphorisa and Kabza de Small
- She came to South Africa in 2017 after she and Audius were introduced to South African producers
- In 2019, she released her debut album titled Blossom.
- The singer has been recording for over 6 years
Internet Money
- Taz Taylor formed the producer collective, Internet Money, with the goal of helping fellow producers succeed
- He began creating beats as a way to help pay for his mother’s medical bills after she was diagnosed with cancer.
- He sold his first beat for 4250 and decided to pursue production full-time
- Taylor and Internet Money host tours where producers can collaborate and work together
- As a producer collective, Internet Money has been responsible for 34 singles that have ascended the Billboard Hot 100
Gunna
- Best known for his collaborations with Lil Baby and Young Thug
- Aside from being a rapper and songwriter, he is also a fashion influencer
- He is considered to be The Rebel in the hip hop music industry
- He sat front row at the New York Fashion Week and performed at Paris Men’s Week
- Growing up in Atlanta, he experienced hardships that ended up involving him in drugs
Yang Chief
- In 2017, he participated in the Hall of Fame Tour
- He taught himself the production of music videos so that he could help artists represent themselves the way they saw themselves
- He used to enter talent shows, was part of a drama club and he played the trumpet in the brass band
- Yanga lent his voice to DJ Vigilante’s Sorry Makhe and the iconic Run Jozi chorus
- He started rapping in primary school, grade 4
