Nkalakatha — Mandoza -

In the late 1990s, Mduduzi Tshabalala (better known as Mandoza) was already making waves in the township of Zola, Soweto. After moving away from a troubled youth and a stint in prison, he turned his life around through music. Following a successful run with the kwaito group Chiskop and a solid solo debut, Mandoza teamed up with legendary producer Gabi Le Roux to create his second album, Nkalakatha .

: Gabi Le Roux was experimenting with heavy, driving keyboard basslines in a Cape Town studio. Mandoza, sitting outside writing lyrics, heard the massive beat and immediately recognized its power, yelling out in excitement. Mandoza - Nkalakatha

The creation of the title track was a stroke of pure musical synergy: In the late 1990s, Mduduzi Tshabalala (better known

: In kasi (township) lingo, Nkalakatha translates directly to "Big Boss" or "Top Dog". : Gabi Le Roux was experimenting with heavy,

Before Nkalakatha , the South African music scene was largely segregated by radio station formats and demographics. Mandoza’s masterpiece shattered those glass ceilings.

the Life of Mandoza" , is a six-part biopic that delves into ... - Facebook

: It became the first kwaito song to enjoy heavy, simultaneous rotation on both traditionally Black urban stations and predominantly white pop/rock radio stations.