Did you know that Kwaito music dominated in South Africa for decades before the Yanos and even hip-hop were taken seriously by our parents and the industry as a whole? It’s exciting to see younger musicians embrace our sound and fuse it with American hip-hop. I recently met with the management of ELITE LIFE, a captivating hip-hop duo, and was impressed by their vision and passion. A year later, I’m writing about them because they’ve proven themselves to me. Their concert style shows provide choreography, sing-alongs, and contagious “Kasi” dance grooves that are perfect for outdoor festivals, club dates, and corporate events. They’ve even caught the attention of Kwaito legend Zola 7.
In January, ELITE LIFE released a groovy 6-track EP featuring Saint, WMBS, ceeboo, and Skraaly Boi. The EP will take you back to the TKZee family days with its refreshing sound that’s perfect for pulling off those old kwaito moves. “Aiyebo,” the second track on the EP featuring Saint, is magical and will make you wish Dr. Mageu was there to join in, but the homies held it down with their bars. “Priddy Girl Dance” is my least favorite song on the EP, but overall, I highly recommend this music to everyone.
ELITE LIFE consists of two talented performers. Junior Mashao, also known as BOI STATZ, is a choreographer, songwriter, and performer, while Manqoba Maseko, known as MR Riddlez the Godking, is a verbal engineer, songwriter, and performer. They’re carrying the new-age kwaito sound within their raps and have already shared the stage with the late Riky Rick, Nasty C, Kabza da Small, and MFR Soul. They also work on events and initiatives within their respective communities. I predict a bright future for this duo, and I can’t wait to see what they achieve in 2024 and beyond.
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