Kwesta

Kwesta
Kwesta performing at City-View in Durban 2016
Born
Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi

(1988-08-11) 11 August 1988 (age 36)
Katlehong, Gauteng
Other namesDaKAR
Occupations
Spouse
Yolanda Mvelase
​
(m. 2017)​
[1]
Awards
Musical career
OriginEkurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa
GenresHip hop
InstrumentVocals
Years active2002–present
Labels
  • Buttabing (former)
  • Urbantainment (former)
  • RapLyF (former)

Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi (born 11 August 1988) known professionally as Kwesta, is a South African rapper and songwriter.[3] Born in Katlehong, Gauteng, a township also known as "K1".[4] In 2003, at the age of 15, he and his friends formed a rap group Ghetto Fellaz which then changed to The Juvenylz, same year. He is currently signed to his own independent media company known as RapLyf Records with co-founder Kid X.[5]

In 2010, he released his debut studio album Special ReKwest. His second album DaKAR (2013), peaked at number 3 on the iTunes South African Hip-hop/Rap chart.[6] Kwesta's third studio album, DaKAR II (2016),[7] spawned with singles includes; "Ngud", "Nomayini", "Day One", "Ngiyazifela Ngawe," "Mayibabo" and "Mmino". The album was certified 7× Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA).[8][9] Having sold 210,000 copies in South Africa, DaKAR II became South African hip hop's best-selling album.[10][11] His fifth studio album g.o.d Guluva (2021), which debuted at number 3 in South Africa.

His most reputable accolades include 6 South African Music Awards, 4 South African Hip Hop Awards, 1 MTV Africa Music Awards, and 1 Metro FM Awards.

  1. ^ "Stylish wedding for Kwesta". SowetanLIVE.
  2. ^ "Under 30 Creatives – Forbes Africa". 4 June 2018.
  3. ^ "VIDEO: South African rapper, Kwesta unveils new project". ABTC. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  4. ^ Kwach, Julie (15 November 2018). "Kwesta's biography: origin, career, album, family". Briefly. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Kwesta on his team: If I ran Raplyf, I'd run it to the ground". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Kwesta's Rise To Fame". ZAlebs.
  7. ^ "WATCH | Kwesta's in studio cooking up Dakar III & it sounds like fire". TimesLIVE.
  8. ^ Pillay, Deshni (29 November 2019). "Kwesta celebrates new milestone: Dakar II is SA's best-selling album". briefly.co.za.
  9. ^ "Kwesta's 'DaKAR II' Album Has Gone 7x Platinum". okayafricasite. 16 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Kwesta Becomes SA Hip Hop's Best Selling Album Reaching New Milestone". 29 November 2019.
  11. ^ "Kwesta's Da KAR II is now the best selling SA hip hop album of all time | MTV Africa". www.mtvbase.com.