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D.Y.K – DID YOU KNOW?

ELTON JOHN

 

Elton John’s real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight.

 

Elton John ditched his given middle name Kenneth in favour of the name Hercules.

 

Elton John taught himself to play the piano at the young age of three. 

 

Elton John names his pianos after famous female musicians, including Aretha Franklin and Diana Krall.

 

Elton John donates millions to his Elton John AIDS Foundation, which he created to honour his long-time friend, Freddie Mercury after his death.

 

DUA LIPA 

 

Dua Lipa’s first name means ‘love’ in Albanian.

 

When Dua Lipa was 11, her choir teacher told her she couldn’t sing as her voice was too low.

 

Dua Lipa’s famous break-up anthem New Rules has racked up 1.9 billion YouTube views since the video’s release in July 2017. 

 

In 2018, Dua Lipa was  the first female artist to receive five Brit Award nominations.

 

Dua Lipa returned to the city of Prishtina, Kosovo in 2018 to be awarded the first key to the city by the mayor. 

 

RITA ORA 

 

Rita Ora is originally from Pristina, Kosovo, but she grew up in London after her parents fled the country.

 

Translated from the Albanian language, the surname Rita Ora inherited from her family, Sahatçiu, means watchmaker. 

 

Rita Ora’s grandfather Besim Sahatçiu was a film director who idolized movie actress Rita Hayworth.

 

Rita Ora enjoyed a romance with fellow singer Bruno Mars before the two became famous.

 

She worked in a sneaker store when she was 15-years-old.

 

DAVIDO 

 

Davido was born in Atlanta, Georgia on November 21, 1992.

 

Davido’s father is a Nigerian billionaire businessman, Adedeji Adeleke while his mom, Vero was a university lecturer.

 

Davido’s uncle, Isiaka Adeleke is a former Governor of Osun State and currently a Senator of the Federal Republic.

 

Davido’s HKN mates, B Red and Sina Rambo as well as Adenike Adeleke, who recently launched her vlog, ‘Keeping up with Nikkos’, are his cousins being children of his uncle, Senator Isiaka Adeleke

 

For his secondary education, Davido attended the British International School in Lagos.

 

FOCALISTIC 

 

Focalistic draws a lot of inspiration from Lil Wayne.

 

Bonang has taken a liking to Focalistic’s new track too and let him know that she believes he is going to do great things.

 

Focalistic called Drake out for copying his album artwork. However, it was a joke because of the laughing emoji at the end of his proclamation. 

 

Focalistic is also a brilliant soccer player. He had to choose between soccer boots or a microphone, upon an ultimatum from his dad.

 

POP SMOKE 

 

Pop Smoke’s birth name is Bashar Barakah Jackson.

 

Pop Smoke is a combination of Papa (a nickname given to him by his Panamanian grandmother) and Smoke Oh Guap (a nickname given to him by childhood friends).

 

Pop Smoke originally dreamed of a career in sports, excelling in football, baseball and basketball.

 

Pop Smoke was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on a charge of transporting a stolen vehicle, a Rolls-Royce Wraith, across state lines. 

 

Pop Smoke began his musical career in late 2018 after releasing his debut single titled “Mpr (Panic Part 3 Remix)”

 

DEE KOALA 

Dee Koala was born Odwa Situma on 11th March 1998 in the town of Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.

 

Dee Koala began her rapping career in 2016 after recording one of her first songs.

 

In high school, Dee Koala took part in everything, especially poetry and that was how she started writing rap verses.

 

Ricky Rick was instrumental to Dee Koala’s emergence in the scene. He offered her the opportunity and the platform to blossom.

Dee Koala Has Her Own Record Label called ‘Dee Koala (Pty)’ Ltd.

 

MI CASA 

Mi Casa’s Mo-T launched a cancer awareness project in 2020.

 

J Something moved to Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape, South Africa when he was seven years old.

 

Dr. Duda was born in 1981 on July the 18th at Mathyssen Loop kwaNdebele in Mpumalanga Province.

 

Dr.Duda’s real names are Sipho Philemon Mphahlaza.

 

Mo-T’sreal name is Moshe Kgasoane.

 

YOUNOTUS 

 

YOUNOTUS played in front of a huge international crowd at the official New Year’s Eve party at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate in 2019.

 

In 2016, the duo featured on “Please Tell Rosie” by German DJ/producer Alle Farben, which peaked at number 2 in Austria and number 3 in Germany.

 

The song “Please Tell Rosie” earned the duo a nomination for “Best Single” for the 1LIVE Krone radio award.

 

In 2019, they were nominated for the German radio award 1LIVE Krone in the category “Best Dance Act”.

 

YOUNOTUS released a cover of Liquido’s 90s top hit “Narcotic” together with Janieck and Senex who was former frontman of Liquido.

 

RAE SREMMURD 

 

Mike Will Made-It signed them to his label in 2013. 

 

Swae Lee was born Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown, on June 7, 1993.

 

Rae Sremmurd spent some time homeless after high school. They worked long hours at McDonald’s and squatted in abandoned homes.

 

Rae Sremmurd have been paving their way to the top of popular Hip-hop and R&B singers with their hit songs, like, No Flex Zone, and, No Type. 

 

GUCCI MANE 

 

Gucci Mane published The Autobiography of Gucci Mane in fall 2017. 

 

Gucci Mane is famous for his fruitful collaboration with many colleagues: Waka Flocka Flame, V-Nasty, Migos, Lil Yachty, and others.

 

Everybody Looking is the artist’s most acclaimed album; it was number one at Billboard 200 in 2016.

 

Gucci Mane appeared in the 2012 crime movie Spring Breakers; he played Big Arch.

 

NOMFUNDO MOH 

 

Her love and passion for music started when she joined and sang in the church choir.

 

She got the nickname “Moh” after her family described her as energetic like a mosquito.

 

She is in the final year of her bachelor degree in Social Work and is finding it challenging balancing both school and her music career.

 

She wants people to know they are not alone and this is transpired in her music. She tackles depreciation and issues in young people’s lives through her music.

 

WIZ KID 

Wizkid began his singing career at the tender age of 11 years old. He went by the stage name Lil Prinz.

 

On his 23rd birthday, he spent N300 million popping champagne.

 

WizKid’s very first collab was with none other than superstar Akon on his song ‘Don’t Dull’ remix.

 

He is the youngest African African to get a Grammy nomination and even bagged seven Billboard nominations.

 

WizKid is the first afro-pop artist to appear in the Guinness Book of World Records.

 

 

TEMS 

Wizkid’s Essence ft. Tems peaks at #8 on US Apple Music. No other African song has entered the Top 100 of the US Apple Music Top Songs.

 

Tems was arrested in Uganda while there for a live performance in December 2020 for violating COVID 19 safety laws. Luckily she was released and charges were dropped.

 

The rising star is well known by her stage name Tems however, her real name is Temilade Openiyi.

 

Tems single ‘Try Me’ was released in August of 2019 and has racked up an impressive 4 million views on YouTube.

 

 

Before ever rising to stardom, Tems would perform mini-concerts in her brother’s room with her guitar at hand. 

 

PRINCE KAYBEE 

 

Prince Kaybee was born on the 15th of June 1989 in Senekal, South Africa.

 

He has 35 Siblings. His father had 36 children and he was the youthful child and also his mother’s only child.

 

Prince Kaybee’s real name is Kabelo Motsamai.

 

Prince Kaybee has over 130 000 followers on Instagram.

 

Prince Kaybee was nominated for 5 awards at the 15th Metro FM Awards.

 

BUSISWA 

Busiswa Gqulu, commonly known as Busi or Busiswa, was born in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. 

 

Busiswa’s birthday is on the 8th of November 1988 making her star sign a Scorpio.

 

When she was only 15 years old, she developed a keen interest in poetry and began writing poems. 

 

In 2005, she decided to advance her poetry skills by joining the Young Basadzi Women of Poetry. 

 

In late 2011, Oskido asked Busi to record My Name Is which DJ Zinhle produced. She was the co-writer in the song.

 

BIG ZULU 

Big Zulu’s real name is Siyabonga Nene.

 

Big Zulu was born and raised in Bergville, Big Zulu always loved music from a young age.

 

Some of his musical influences are  Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Phuzekhemisi, and Imithente.

 

Big Zulu did not jump straight into music as soon as he could do so. He was first a taxi driver until 2008 when he decided to dive into the music scene.

 

Big Zulu is in partnership with the shoe company Spitz and is the brand ambassador for the Carvela shoe.

 

MDUDUZI NCUBE 

 

Mduduzi Ncube had created various cover songs of rappers like NipseyHussle, Bryson Tiller, Lil Wayne and more before his rise to fame.

 

While in leisure Mduduzi Ncube loves to hang around his best friends. 

 

Mduduzi Ncube’s favourite things to do is travel to new places and cook different dishes for his friends and family.

 

Mduduzi Ncube would sing to make money by the Durban beachfront before he was discovered by DJ Tira.

 


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