10 Feb 2021

BLAQ DIAMOND

• The duo’s names are Ndumiso Mdleteshe and Sphelele Dunywa. They were both born in 1994. 
• They grew up in Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal.
• When Ndu and Danya were in grade 9, they used to rap battle on the school bus.
• The first day they released their first album, it was number one across all genres.
• Ndu and Danya also play musical instruments like the piano, marimba, and drums.

DRAKE

• Drake’s father, Dennis Graham was a drummer who worked with Jerry Lee Lewis while his uncle, Larry Graham, played bass for Prince.
• Drake is also a song-writer, and has written songs for other superstars too. He wrote Un-Thinkable for Alicia Keys and co-wrote Fall For Your Type for Jamie Foxx.
• Drake began his rap career through a series of self-released mixtapes when he was 20 years-old. He began releasing them in 2006
• Drake has the most top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and the most charted songs (209) of any artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100.
• Drake’s endless publicizing of Toronto ended up increasing the city’s tourism. In 2018, the Views artist was reportedly responsible for 5% ($440 million) of Toronto’s $8.8 billion total annual tourism income.

SIMMY

• Simmy’s Umhlalela reached 1 million views in under 90 days.
• Simmy’s Umhlalela spent 11 straight weeks on the charts, climbing from #74 in its first week to as high as #16
• She came into the limelight after collaborating with Sun-EL in the song Ntaba Ezikude.
• Simmy attended KwaZulu-Natal University for a Social Studies degree. 
• Simmy tried her luck earlier in the industry by entering music competitions like Idols South Africa as well as South Africa’s got talent but was not successful. She eventually got signed to Sun-EL’s record label.

SUN-EL MUSICIAN

• Sun El Musician and his four siblings were raised by a domestic worker in Rosetta’s farms, located around Mooi River. 
• He recorded the hit Akanamali with Samthing Soweto in 2016, a year after Sun-El moved to Johannesburg.
• Akanamali opened doors for Sun-EL, including a chance to work with Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats, after they heard the song while visiting SA
• He studied at the University of KwaZulu-Natal for a short period of time, then dropped out to pursue other things.

DA CAPO

• DJ Da Capo’s real nameio is Nicodimas Sekheta Mogashoa
• The self-taught DJ cemented his place at the international dance music scene following a win at the 2019 DJ Awards 22nd edition held at Ibiza, Spain. 
• Da Capo Indigo Child album recorded a massive success after it was released in 2017. The 12 track-album featured other South African artists like Berita, Tshepo King, and Wanda Baloyi.
• He caught the attention of the famous Canadian DJ/producer Nick Holder, who is the owner of DNH Records, a Toronto based music label, and they eventually signed a deal in 2010. 
• He released Genesys the follow-up album to the 2017 Indigo Child, on Friday, 29 May 2020.

TOPIC

• Tobias Topic (born 23 March 1992 in Solingen), also known mononymously as Topic (pronounced: Topik), is a German DJ, producer and musician.
• At the age of 16, he started using Logic, a digital audio workstation, to produce music with the guidance of a teacher
• He started his musical career on social media with the assistance of YouTube musicians who contacted him.
• In September 2016, he signed a record deal with Sony Music/ATV.
• With “Breaking Me”, he dominated the US Dance charts for 3 weeks. In October 2020, the single reached 500 million streams on Spotify and over 1 billion streams overall.

A7S

• Alexander Tidebrink, (born 3 May 1994) known by his stage name A7S, is a Swedish producer, songwriter, and singer.
• His collaboration “Breaking Me” with German artist Topic was released on 19 December 2019, and garnered great success.
• With “Breaking Me”, A7S also reached the British single charts for the first time and garnered his first number-one in the Portuguese charts.
• His song “Only thing we know” went #1 on the German airplay charts which was the second number one on German airplay for Tidebrink.
• His first 2020 single “Why Do You Lie to Me”,  together with Topic, features American rapper Lil Baby, and was released on 28 August 2020

LIL BABY

• Dominique Armani Jones, (born December 3, 1994), known professionally as Lil Baby, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. 
• He was two years old when his father left the family, leaving his single mother to raise him and his two sisters.
• He rose to mainstream fame in 2017 following the release of his mixtape “Perfect Timing”, becoming one of the most prominent figures in the trap music scene to date. His debut studio album “Harder Than Ever” (2018) was certified RIAA Platinum.
• Lil Baby’s second studio album, ”My Turn” (2020), peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and is certified two times platinum by the RIAA. 
•  In June 2020, he released the single “The Bigger Picture”, which peaked at number three on the Hot 100 and became the highest charting song of his career.

MIKE WILL-MADE IT

• Michael Len Williams II (born March 23, 1989), known professionally as Mike Will Made It or simply Mike Will, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper, and songwriter.
• Williams was born in Marietta Georgia, the youngest of three children; he has two older sisters.
• His mother, Shirley Williams, a former bank loan officer, was once in a gospel group, singing for Dottie Peoples.
• In 2011, Mike Will released his first single, “Tupac Back”, performed by Meek Mill and Rick Ross, from the compilation album “Self Made Vol.1”. The single was released on April 5, 2011 and peaked at No. 31 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on Billboard.
• In 2012, Mike WiLL Made-It produced “Bandz a Make Her Dance” for Juicy J featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz. The song was listed as one of the 25 Best Songs of Summer 2012 by Complex Magazine, and it peaked No. 14 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

NICKI MINAJ

• Nicki Minaj, original name Onika Tanya Maraj, was born December 8, 1982, in St. James, Trinidad, and Tobago
• She wrote her first rap song when she was 12 years old and started pursuing acting at New York City’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and Performing Arts.
• Her first mixtape “Playtime Is Over”, appeared in 2007. As other mixtapes were released, Minaj’s exposure grew, and the next year she was named Female Artist of the Year at the Underground Music Awards. 
• In 2009 she signed with Young Money Entertainment, the label founded by Wayne. Her first album for Young Money, Pink Friday (2010), made it to the top of the Billboard 200 chart
• Cited as one of the most influential female rap artists of all time, Minaj has sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the world’s best selling artists.

YOUNGBOY

• Kentrell DeSean Gaulden (born October 20, 1999), known professionally as YoungBoy Never Broke Again (also known as NBA YoungBoy or simply YoungBoy), is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter.
• He first began producing music with a microphone he bought from Walmart, when he was fourteen years old. He released his first mixtape, Life Before Fame in 2015.
• Gaulden’s first chart-topping project was “AI YoungBoy 2” (2019), which debuted and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200. It included the singles “Self Control”, “Slime Mentality” and “Make No Sense”.
• He also collaborated with the late rapper Juice Wrld on “Bandit”, as the final new song by Juice Wrld. The song reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Youngboy’s first top-ten single.
• Gaulden is the father of seven children; five boys and two daughters.

RAE SREMMURD

• Rae Sremmurd is an American hip hop duo originating from Tupelo, Mississippi formed by two brothers, Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee
• In 2013, they signed a record deal with Mike WiLL Made It’s Ear Drummers imprint.
• Rae Sremmurd was discovered by the Hip Hop audience in December 2013, due to their appearance on Mike Will’s mixtape “#MikeWiLLBeenTriLL” on the track “We”.
• The duo is best known for their single “Black Beatles” from SremmLife 2, which topped the US Billboard Hot 100, while also charting internationally in the top ten in many countries.
• They released their debut album, SremmLife (an EP) on January 6, 2015, and re-released “Throw Sum Mo” as their third single, featuring Young Thug and Nicki Minaj to promote the project.

GUCCI MANE

• Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. 
• He helped pioneer the hip hop sub-genre of Trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy, particularly in the 2000s and 2010s.
• In 2005, Gucci Mane debuted with Trap House, followed by his second album, Hard to Kill in 2006. His third and fourth albums, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House, were released in 2007.
• Following a string of critically and commercially successful mixtape releases in 2009, Gucci Mane released his sixth studio album, The State vs. Radric Davis, his first gold-certified album.
• Gucci Mane has released 13 studio albums and over 71 mixtapes throughout his career. In 2007, he founded his own label, 1017 Records.

MALOME VECTOR

• The Maseru-born songwriter, whose real name is Bokang Moleli, has had a passion for music since he was young. He carried around a songbook filled with his own lyrics while he was a teenager.
• Booking started making his own music at the age of 15 and would perform in front of crowds every chance he’d get
• The Maseru-born songwriter’s real name is Bokang Moleli. His stage name Malome Vector comes from an old nickname his friend used to call him in primary school.
• He is signed to Ambitiouz Entertainment, and his first single with the stable is Dumelang, a greeting in Sesotho and his way of introducing himself to local music lovers.
• Malome Vector gets a lot of inspiration from the people he grew up listening to, like the late HHP and other Sesotho musicians like Ntate Stunna.

SAWEETIE

• Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper (born July 2, 1993), known professionally as Saweetie, is an American rapper and songwriter.
• She was born in Hayward California to Trinidad Valentin, her Filipino-Chinese mother and Johnny Harper, her African-American father.
• She attended San Diego State University, where she studied communications and business before transferring to the University of Southern California, where she completed her degree and received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communications. After graduating, she focused on her rap career
• After the release of her debut single “Icy Grl”, she has signed to Warner Record and her manager Max Gousse’s record label Artistry Worldwide.
• Her second EP, Icy was released in March 2019, and spawned the top 40 single “My Type”.

DOJA CAT

• Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini (born October 21, 1995), known professionally as Doja Cat, is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
• Born and raised in Los Angeles, she began making and releasing music on SoundCloud as a teenager. Her song “So High” caught the attention of Kemosabe and RCA Records where she signed a joint record deal at the age of 17
• Doja Cat released her debut studio album, Amala (2018), to commercial failure, but later earned vital success as an internet meme with the single “Mooo!”, which appeared on the deluxe version of her debut album along with singles “Juicy” and “Tia Tamera” in 2019.
• Doja Cat’s second studio album, “Hot Pink” (2019), reached the top 10 of the US Billboard 200 and spawned the single “Say So”, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of two remixes with Nicki Minaj
• Doja Cat has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and has won two American Music Awards in addition to the MTV Video Music Award for “Push Best New Artist”, and for the EMAs.

BLACK EYED PEAS

• Black Eyed Peas is an American musical group, consisting of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, and J. Rey Soul.
• Although the group was founded in Los Angeles in 1995, it was not until the release of their third album, Elephunk, in 2003, that they achieved high record sales.
• Black Eyed Peas’ first major hit was the 2003 single “Where Is the Love?”, from Elephunk, topped the charts in 13 countries, including the United Kingdom, where it spent seven weeks at number one and went on to become Britain’s biggest-selling single of 2003.
• The album “The E.N.D” produced a third Hot 100 number-one placement with “Imma Be”, making the group one of few to ever place three number-one singles on the chart from the same album.
• Black Eyed Peas have sold an estimated 80 million records, making them one of the best-selling groups of all time.  

SHAKIRA

• Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, born 2 February 1977, is a Colombian singer and songwriter.
• Born and raised in Barranquilla, Shakira has been referred to as the Queen of Latin Music and is noted for her versatility in music.
• She made her recording debut under Sony Music Colombia at the age of 13.
• Following the commercial failure of her first two Colombian albums, “Magia” (1991) and “Peligro”(1993), she rose to prominence in Hispanic countries with her next albums.
• Shakira entered the English-language market with her fifth album, “Laundry Service” (2001), which sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Buoyed by the international number-one singles “Whenever Wherever”, and “Underneath Your Clothes”, the album propelled her reputation as a leading crossover artist.

DR MAVIBES

• Siphephelo  “Dr  MaVibes” Hlatshwayo  is a 23-year-old DJ and producer who hails from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
• He grew up in Soweto and only moved back to Ladysmith at the inception of his high school at the age of 14 and that is when he fell in love with music
• He met Ndu Brown of Blaq Diamond back in 2012 when he was in the ninth grade. They became the best of friends and realized they both had a love for the creation of sounds and music.
• Dr MaVibes was derived from the making of beats and creating new sounds. His friends eventually coined the name Dr MaVibes as everything that sounded intriguing to him was a “vibe”.
• His love for music was inspired by listening to genres like Maskandi, RNB, Hip Hop, Gospel, and Afro-Pop which is what encouraged him to be the versatile DJ that he is today. 

SNYMAAN

• Coming  from the depth of Umtata in the  Eastern Cape province, born Snethemba Bibi (36) ‘Snymaan’ is an award-winning Xhosa trap artist
• Snymaan was part of his school choir as well as a local Sqathamiya group in the village. He was fully involved in soccer and music at school
• The trapper and his friends formed a music group called ‘Snymaan Mavusana and Syda’ (SMS) which performed at school events.
• Snymaan   finally released a track titled ‘Sus’bambezela’ as an independent artist in 2016 which was playlisted by radio stations. The song was such a success that it bagged him two nominations at the Kumkani FM Hip Hop awards
• In 2019 Snymaan received a call to sign a contract with Ambitiouz Entertainment. Released on the 20th of March 2020 ‘Umvulo’ is Snymaan’s first song release since he officially signed with the record label.

MANNY YACK

• Manny Yack is an artist from South Africa signed under Ambitiouz Entertainment.
• Manny Yack was brought up by a single mother, leaving him with many questions about growing up without a father, and led him to write an open letter to his father, which is now his debut single “Khumbula”.
• R&B and Hip-Hop artist Zakrim Phiri better known by his stage name “Manny Yack” turns his pain into an art piece titled ‘Khumbula’.
• He released his debut single on January 15, after being featured on songs by Miss Pru, Kid Tini, and Dr. MaVibes
• He was born and raised in Ladysmith, listening to Reggae, RNB, and Pop music which inspired him to be the artist he is today

FAT JOE

• Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper and actor from the Bronx, New York.
• He began his music career as a member of hip hop group  Diggin’ in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), then forged a solo career and set up his own label, Terror Squad, to which he signed Big Pun, Remy Ma, DJ Khaled, and many more.
• Fat Joe’s debut solo album, “Represent”, was released in 1993 and spawned the single “Flow Joe”, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs.
• He is best known for the songs “Lean Back” with  Terror Squad (2004), “What’s Luv?” featuring Ashanti and Ja Rule (2002), “Make It Rain” (2006) featuring Lil Wayne, and “All The Way Up” with  Remy Ma featuring French Montana and Dre (2016).
• Fat Joe has also appeared in several films, including “Scary Movie”, and “Happy Feet”, as well as Spike Lee’s Netflix series “She’s Gotta Have It”.

DJ KHALED

• Khaled Mohamed Khaled (born November 26, 1975), better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is an American DJ, record executive, songwriter, record producer, and media personality.
• Khaled first gained prominence as a radio host in the 1990s on the radio station 99 Jamz, and translated his popularity by working with Terror Squad as a DJ for their live performances. 
• Khaled released his debut studio album “Listennn… the Album” in 2006, which earned gold certification. He followed it with the album “We The Best” (2007), which contained the top 20 single “I’m So Hood”.
• His subsequent two releases were released after he founded the record label “We The Best Music Group”. Both albums charted in the top ten on the US Billboard 200,  with the latter containing the single “All I Do Is Win”, which was eventually certified triple platinum.
• His eleventh album,  “Father of Asahd”, was released in 2019; it peaked at number two, and the song “Higher” won Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards,  Khaled’s first Grammy award win.

AMORPHOUS

• His name is Jimir Reece Davis,  but goes by Amorphous in the creative world.
• Amorphous is popular for his mashups of big radio hits, like his mashup of Rihanna’s 2016 “Kiss It Better” with Luther Vandross’ 1981 classic “Never Too Much”, which has accumulated over 80,000 likes on Twitter in its first week
• He was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he developed a passion for music and filmmaking at a young age. 
• He started playing with music and film since he was a toddler, and at 23 started taking it more seriously over the last six or seven years
• Beyond his mashups, Davis is also a budding filmmaker and producer. His portfolio includes documentaries on stars like Aaliyah and Rihanna.

YOUNGSTACPT

• Riyadh Roberts was born Riyadh Emandien; on 23 December 1991. Known professionally as YoungstaCPT, he is a South African rapper and songwriter.
• He is known for incorporating details about his Cape Malay culture and his Cape Town roots in his music.
• YoungstaCPT has been described as “one of the most outspoken South African emcees of this generation.
• He released his debut solo album 3T (Things Take Time), in April 2018, which won Album of The Year at the 2019 South African Hip Hop Awards.
• Prior to the release of 3T, YoungstaCPT had released 30 mixtapes, 6 extended plays, and two collaborative albums since his debut in 2010

MAJOR LEAGUE DJZ

• Major League DJz is a South African hip-hop/kwaito music band consisting of the twin brothers Bandile and Banele Mbere.
• The duo has completely revolutionised kwaito music into the modern urban culture of music. 
• The twin brothers were born in Boston, USA, on 3 January 1991. They relocated to South Africa after the apartheid era. 
• In primary school, the duo used to play the piano, and after completing high school, they started DJ and music production. Currently, they are famous for being the leaders of what is known as the “New Age Kwaito” music.
• In 2016, the Major League joined the Mabala Noise recording label. It was introduced by their friend and co-worker Riky Rick. Mabala Noise Entertainment offered the DJ duo to collaborate with Anatii and Cassper Nyovest.

MPHO SEBINA

• Mpho Sebina is a Botswana born singer-songwriter who incorporates hip-hop, soul, jazz, traditional Setswana music and folklore into her sound
• The self-taught musician has built a loyal audience through her signature a cappella mash-ups including Brenda Fassie with The Fugees and Boom Shaka with Erykah Badu.
• She’s performed in venues across Botswana and South Africa, as well as hosting a monthly live music co-operative ‘NakedSoul Sessions’, curating a performance line-up of yet to be discovered local music and merchandisers.
• Sebina released her debut EP titled Neo in October 2017 with the first single ‘Black Butterfly’ a soulful hip-hop track with sonic facets of the new generation of melancholic trap-soul. 
• Her first recordings were done whilst an international business student in Malaysia 

YANGA CHIEF

• The 33-year old’s name is Yanga Ntshakaza, but uses the name Yanga Chief
• He used to enter talent shows, was part of a drama club, played the trumpet in the brass band, and started rapping in primary school (grade 4)
• Since he was first introduced to the world on AKA‘s mega-hit Run Jozi he’s continued to create and feature on hits
• Yanga has lent his voice to DJ Vigilante’s Sorry Makhe and the iconic Run Jozi chorus.
• He directed the video for the AKA & K.O collaboration including AKA’s popular follow-up single All Eyes On Me featuring Burna Boy, JR, and Da L.E.S through his Young Legend Films upstart.