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| King Melisizwe |
Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape - King Melisizwe is making waves in the South African hip-hop scene with his unique sound and compelling lyrics. But his journey to success has been far from easy, starting in a small town on the Garden Route and overcoming numerous obstacles along the way.
Born in Plettenberg Bay, King Melisizwe discovered his passion for art and music at a young age. He began dancing at the age of 8, imitating the moves of Michael Jackson. By 13, he was a member of kwaito group Maak n' Plan and later joined rap group Bon Playaz in 2001. It was during this time that King fell in love with rap, drawing inspiration from the likes of Big Daddy Kane and Mase.
King Melisizwe started writing and recording his own music in his mother's house, producing his own beats and songs. In 2003, he joined rap group Ten Triple One, which was signed to MLOK Entertainment and managed by SAMA award winner MXO. The group released an album titled "Against All Odds," gaining airplay on major radio stations and performing on popular TV shows.
In 2008, King decided to hone his skills and studied sound engineering at the Academy of Sound Engineering. He released his first solo mixtape, "Xhosalized," in 2009 and went on to release several more projects, including "Small Town Boy" and "Small Town Boy 2.0." In 2014, King was a finalist in the national rap talent search on eTV called Shizniz.
But King's journey to success hasn't been without its challenges. Despite his talent and hard work, he has faced numerous obstacles along the way. Undeterred, he started his own record label, Small Town Family Entertainment, and began working on his official studio album, "Made in a Small Town," featuring collaborations with other artists such as MXO and Phila Madlingozi.
The first single from the album, "Window," featuring Phila Madlingozi, has received critical acclaim and is on high rotation on Channel O, as well as being submitted to other DSTV channels and radio stations. The current single, "Bantu," featuring MXO, is also making waves in the South African music scene.
In May 2023, King will release an EP titled "Made in a Small Town," featuring MXO, Riot, Phila Madlingozi, and Nyakaza Mafaka. He is also starting a podcast called Small Town TiVi and launching his own clothing brand, Small Town Fam.
