The Johannesburg-based rising hip-hop sensation, Yanga Ntsakaza is ready to stamp his authority as one of the stars to look out for in the music industry this year – despite not being a stranger to the industry and having worked on behind-the-scenes productions with various artists.
Ntshakaza first rose to stardom in 2014 when he was featured in AKA’s hit single, Run Jozi, and ever since then he has never looked back. He is popularly known for his hit single, Mantshingilane (meaning security guard) which has been making waves on the music scene.
WATCH: Yanga’s hit single Mantshingilane:
Even though he has not released a lot of music over the past year, Ntshakaza says he happy that he has been able to stay relevant through the features and work he has done with other artists.
Born and bred in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, growing up was a bit of a roller coaster for the rising star. “I grew up in a double-storey house and my father had a Honda. But by Grade 4 my dad lost his job and we were staying together in a one-bedroom flat with my mother and my three siblings.”
Although his father later started a new business and bought a new house, he passed on before they could move in. “I went through high school with a single mom struggling to pay for a house she couldn’t afford to buy to begin with.”
After finishing his matric, Ntshakaza moved to the City of Gold and studied film at the University of Johannesburg before he left after two years to pursue his career in music. “I came to Joburg because of school to study film, but then I dropped out to do music. I lost all the support I had back home. When I started working in music it helped me to pay bills here and there,” he said.
Growing up, Ntshakaza was hugely influenced by kwaito and was never sold on the American hip-hop music. “I grew up looking up to the likes of Zola 7 and TKZee, but then [I discovered] Skwatta Kamp – that’s the kind of sound that inspired me.”
Ntshakaza is all but set to light up the music scene this year when he drops his highly-anticipated EP (extended play) titled Touch is a
Move.
Having gone through his own hardship as an upcoming musician, Ntshakaza encouraged young artists to have confidence in their abilities and believe in their craft.
The 28-year-old said that even though there has been great talent breaking into the industry, his favourite local musicians are still AKA, Kwesta and KidX.
Yanga Chief, as he is popularly known, recently featured on AKA’s new smash record, Dreamwork. This is produced by noteworthy producer, KJ Conteh of California who has produced music for the likes of 50cent, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, TI and Drake, to name a few.
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