BTS
RM from our favourite k-pop band initials stand for “Rap Monster” If you already knew this one, don’t @ us. However, his real name is Kim Nam-Joon.
If Suga weren’t in BTS, he’d still be making music. He said that if he wasn’t a rapper, he would probably be a composer because he loves music that much.
Jungkook is low-key afraid of microwaves. He thinks they could explode at any given moment, which is fair. The microwaves are bound to rise against us at some point.
J-hope is the only member of BTS who doesn’t have pierced ears. This is because he wants to “keep the purity of them.” We must protect J-hope’s earlobes at all costs.
Suga used to go by the name “Gloss” in the underground rap scene before changing over to Suga.
MALUMZ ON DECKS
The name “Malumz” means “Uncles” when translated to Zulu, which is a slang word used to refer to your friends in the area the duo grew up in.
The duo was nominated at the 2021 South African Music Awards for Best Produced Video.
Malumz On Decks are also signed as resident DJs on Metro FM’s Urban Beat.
Their third album Afro Is Africa featured collaborations from local musicians such as SoulStar, Eltonnick, Lizwi, Bontle Smith Tabia, Lizwi, Khanyisa and DOT.
The duo often spent time together before they eventually became friends and supported each other during their respective gigs.
GINO BROWN
Gino Brown was born at Masakhane hospital in Alexandra, Gauteng.
Gino was on the verge of quitting his music career back in 2019 after the passing of his brother but it was also the very reason he continued, as well as the birth of his son.
His father was a DJ in the ’90s at his grandfather’s popular club in Alexandra township in Gauteng.
Gino headlined the Gidi Culture Festival in Nigeria alongside acts such as Burna Boy – the first for a South African artist.
Gino used to be a bartender before his rise to stardom.
MR VINCE
Mr Vince was born Vincent Ngubane on the 8th of February 1985.
He has performed with bands like Afro Twist Quintet, Planet Lindela, Vince nabangani, Quintessential.
In 2006, he enrolled at Central Johannesburg College, where he started piano lessons.
He qualified with a diploma in Popular Music. In 2008, he started performing, while teaching the very same year.
Mr Vince started singing and composing songs at a very young age.
ROD WAVE
Rod Wave’s real name is Rodarius Marcell Green. He was born on August 27, 1998.
Rod rose to fame with the 2019 single “Heart on Ice”, which went viral on YouTube and TikTok and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100
His second album, Pray 4 Love 2020, peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200,
He was in elementary school when his parents got divorced. He graduated with a degree in 2017 from Lakewood High School.
Rod Wave has named Kanye West as a huge influence that has continued to inspire his work.
CJ
Christopher Daniel Soriano, Jr who goes by the moniker CJ was born January 4, 1997, he is an American rapper and songwriter.
CJ grew up in Staten Island, the home of the Wutang Clan. He would jam out too early 2000 icons like 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Nas and Nelly.
CJ began rapping for fun from the age of 16.
CJ’s Family Is From Puerto Rico.
CJ revealed that he was a huge fan of rapper 50 Cent. 50 Cent has had a major influence on the rapper’s style in music and clothing.
MI CASA
Mi Casa has opened for The Layabouts, Reel People, Tortured Soul, and even Drake.
Mo-T’s father, Kgasoane Banza, was part of Mango Groove.
J’Something is originally from Portugal His real name is João da Fonseca.
Dr Duda is responsible for the music production for the band. He was part of a gospel band at his childhood church from the age of 8 where he played keyboards.
Their second single from the album “Heavenly Sent” earned them SAMA nominations for “Best Dance Album”, “Album Of The Year”, “Group Of The Year”, “Newcomer Of The Year”, and “Record Of The Year”.
YouNotUs
YouNotUs, is a German DJ and producer duo from Berlin, Tobias Bogdon and Gregor Sahm.
In 2015, they featured alongside Alle Farben on the Anna Naklab pan-European hit “Supergirl”, a cover of Reamonn that reached number 1 in Austria and number 2 in Germany.
In 2016, they were featured on “Please Tell Rosie” by German DJ/producer Alle Farben, which peaked at number 2 in Austria and number 3 in Germany.
In 2019, they were nominated for the German radio award 1LIVE Krone in the category “Best Dance Act”.
The duo played in front of a huge international crowd at the official New Year’s Eve party at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gatein 2019.
DJ KENT
DJ Kent was born and raised in Pimville Soweto.
He created his own mixing identity called mega mixing and has since become the most imitated mixing style in 12 countries, including South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and others.
Dj Kent was signed to 88 productions in 2005 and started out with the name Kentphonik.
In 2007 he released his solo debut album, called Mixing business with pleasure reloaded under the record label he co-owns.
He produced music for the 2010 FIFIA World Cup.
DOMINIC NEILL
Dominic Neill is known best for his 2016 collaboration with DJ Kent on Love You Still and his 2017 collaboration with Joe Louis on Better Day, both sending the South African music scene into a frenzy over who this new kid on the block was.
Dominic Neill, moved to Berlin after living in Welties and Honeydew for 26 years.
Dominic’s home language is German, he was born in Brixton on 28 April 1992.
Dominic discovered his interest in music early on in his life, having started piano lessons at the tender age of four.
He learnt to play various instruments throughout his life, and only discovered his talent for writing music when he was 15.
CHLÖE
Chlöe Bailey is American. She was born in Georgia, Atlanta and grew up in Mableton. She later moved to Los Angeles, California with her family in 2012 to pursue acting and singing.
Chlöe Bailey played a young version of Beyoncé in The Fighting Temptations.
Chlöe Bailey plays Jazlyn “Jazz” Foster in Grown-ish. Jazz is a track athlete with big dreams who becomes close friends with Zoey (Yara Shahidi).
Chlöe Bailey has a starring role in the upcoming horror thriller The Georgetown Project. Chloe will play Blake Holloway opposite Russell Crowe.
Chlöe Bailey was born on the 1st of July 1998.
THE KID LAROI
The Kid Laroi is 17 years old but has wanted to make music ever since he was a child.
The Kid Laroi’s idols are XXXTentacion, Lil Peep and Juice Wrld.
The Kid Laroi’s real name is Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard.
Laroi reportedly got his stage name from the Kamilaroi, the aboriginal community his mother comes from.
Quick to expand his already fast-growing fortune, Kid Laroi has a clothing brand to his name called Laroi Family.
The Kid Laroi recorded his debut EP 14 With A Dream when he was just 14 years old.
JUSTIN BIEBER
In March 2015, Justin Bieber became the youngest ever person to be roasted at a Comedy Central Roast.
Justin’s My World album went platinum only 3 months after it was released.
While filming the song “Eenie Meenie” with Sean Kingston a Bentley was damaged, and it cost $50,000 to fix.
Justin Bieber’s mother wanted to be an actress when she was younger.
Once Justin got an ‘F’ in school, but he changed it to a ‘B’, so he wouldn’t get in trouble.
THE WEEKND
As of 2021, The Weeknd reportedly has a net worth of around $100 million.
After being snubbed by the Recording Academy in 2020, The Weeknd called the organisation ‘corrupt’ and will not submit any more music to the Grammys.’
Drake’s ‘Crew Love’, ‘Shot for Me’ and ‘The Ride’ were all supposed to be on his ‘House of Balloons’ album.
The Weeknd came up with the title for ‘Kiss Land’ after overhearing it in a conversation.
The Weeknd is a big fan of Michael Jackson. He covered MJ’s ‘Dirty Diana’ on his third mixtape ‘Echoes of Silence ‘.
MOOZLIE
Moozlie was born Nomuzi Mabena on the 22nd of September 1992. Happy Birthday, Moozlie!
She’s passionate about protecting the rights of women and children in SA.
Brenda Fassie is her ultimate role model. She has always loved her since she was a little girl.
Her motto for life is tattooed on her collarbone in Latin. ‘Where there’s life, there’s hope’ printed in Latin under her clavicle – a reminder to remain optimistic, even through adversity.
She grew up in Rynfield, Benoni, a small suburb in the East Rand. She was raised by her mom and dad and she also has an older sister.
J COLE
When J. Cole was a teenager, he had a job working at a skating rink. For the gig, he had to wear a kangaroo costume.
2014 Forest Hills Drive is J. Cole’s best-selling album. It’s been certified three times platinum.
Years before he became a rap superstar, J. Cole tried to pay his own bills by working as a bill collector.
His current rap moniker is pretty straightforward as it’s just a shortening of his birth name, Jermaine Cole. His old one was Therapist.
Cole was a big-time Canibus fan. Cole said that Canibus changed the way he looked at rapping. After hearing Canibus’ first album, Can-I-Bus, in 1998, Cole began looking to make his lyrics more clever
WIZKID
Wiz Kid broke into the spotlight in 2009 when he featured on rapper M.I Abaga’s song, “Fast Cars”.
His breakout single is “Holla At Your Boy” which was released in 2010.
In 2011, the musician welcomed his first son, Boluwatife. He currently has three.
He acquired his first car in 2011. A black Honda Accord i-VTEC.
In the same 2011, he dropped out of Lead City University in his third year. He was studying “International Relations”.
His first solo album was released in 2011 with E.M.E titled, ‘Superstar’. The album had 17 tracks.
TEMS
Tems has two degrees and worked as a marketer before she started her music career.
Tems not only writes and sings her songs, but she also produces her own music, which is unusual in the music industry.
She first caught the eye of the mainstream music industry with her single “Mr Rebel,” which she performed and composed in 2018.
Tems is of British descent thanks to her Father’s side. And, in true British fashion, Tems is a huge tea fan.
She was featured by Khalid on the remix of his 2020 song, “Know Your Worth” alongside Davido.
DONALD
Donald Moatshe was born on the 7th of February 1985.
He was born in the town of Rustenburg, in the North-West province.
His career began at an early age, and he signed a record deal with the Will of Steel Imprint in 2008.
He came to notice with his single “I Deserve” released in 2011.
He began singing at a young age in the church choir, where his musical talent was discovered.
DJ TIRA
Dj Tira and his wife Gugu Khathi have dated for 18 years and have been married for nine years.
DJ Tira is generous and often does random acts of kindness for strangers which has allowed him to remain humble.
While he’s made hundreds of gqom music hits, DJ Tira loves hip-hop music and listens to a lot of RnB.
His favourite RnB artists are Keyshia Cole and Teddy Pendergrass.
DJ Tira is very positive and constantly wants to think and feel good and avoids anything that will throw him off.
DJ Tira loves working out.
ZANDA ZAKUZA
Zanda Zakuza achieved widespread popularity after featuring on the singles “Skeleton Move” by Master KG and “Club Controller” (2019) by Prince Kaybee.
Zakuza was born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal but her family are from Bizana in the Eastern Cape.
She attended Pinetown Girls’ High School and later enrolled at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where she studied music, specialising in jazz.
At an early age, she preferred dancing and sports. She started taking an interest in music in high school.
She joined the industry in 2015 and signed a record deal with Open Mic Productions.
PRINCE BULO
Prince Bulo teams up with Q Twins on the fast-paced love track ‘Uthando’. The song tells the story of a relationship, which is characterised by challenges but ends on a good note with people dancing.
Prince Bulo and Andiswa Live’s powerful combination is what house sensations need. The song’s lyrics protest against gender violence in South Africa.
The “Zaka Prince” has collaborated with DJ Tira on an Afro-house track titled “Stay With Me”.The song is being produced by Afrotainment’s Prince Bulo and has a teaser posted on social media.
Vanessa Mdee featured Prince Bulo, DJ Tira, and Distruction Boyz on her song ‘That’s For Me’.
Prince Bulo, has pledged to donate R10,000 from his SAMRO Royalty income every four years to SAMRO Foundation to be used as a composer’s award. The award is specifically intended to assist young South African jazz composers.
ALESSIA CARA
Alessia Cara was born July 11 1996, and grew up in Brampton, Ontario. Her father is a Canadian whose parents were Italian, and her mother is an Italian immigrant.
Her parents gave her a guitar for her 10th birthday which sparked her love for music.
At 13, Cara began posting cover songs to her own YouTube channel. One of them, a cover of The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather,” got noticed by the daughter of a record executive who showed it to her father, EP Entertainment founder Tony Perez. Soon after, he offered her studio time to write and record.
In April 2016, Coldplay announced that Alessia Cara would be one of their opening acts on the European and North American legs of their Head Full of Dreams Tour.
When it comes to musical influences, Cara names some of the biggest women in pop, among them Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Pink and former Black Eyed Peas frontwoman Fergie.
MOOSKI
His song “Track Star” went viral on almost every social media platform, especially on TikTok. The 2020 song became the music of hundreds of thousands of TikTok videos.
Mooski recruited Chris Brown, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Yung Bleu to jump on the song’s remix, which he released on May 18, 2021. Each of the artists contributes a verse.
Mooski wrote the song with its producer, Woodpecker. The Dutch beatmaker has also worked with Lil Tjay (“20/20”) and Young Thug (“U Ain’t Slime Enough”).
Darien Hinton is a singer and rapper from Opp, Alabama, who records under the name Mooski.
The song finds Mooski addressing his girlfriend, who is unwilling to talk through the problems in their relationship. He calls her a “track star” because she habitually runs away when things get hard. Mooski explained to Audacy the track is about an “experience of being with somebody who’s always running away from everything… and you’re the complete opposite.”