Kwesta

Senzo Brikka Vilakazi (born 11 August 1988) known professionally as Kwesta, is a South African rapper and songwriter.[1]

Kwesta
Kwesta in 2016
Born
Senzo Brikka Vilakazi

(1988-08-11) 11 August 1988
Katlehong, Gauteng
Other namesDaKAR
Occupation
Musical career
OriginEkurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2002–present
Labels
  • Buttabing (former)
  • Urbantainment
  • RapLyF
Associated acts

He was born in Katlehong, Gauteng, a township also known as "K1". He is currently signed to his own Independent and media company known as Rap Lyf with co-founder Kid X. His third studio album DaKAR II was released on 26 February 2016. [2]

Early life

Kwesta attended Phumulani Secondary School in Katlehong for three years, and later Alafang High School.

He developed an interest in poetry during his high school years and received positive feedback and encouragement from fellow students and teachers.[3]

In 2003, Kwesta, then known as Quest, and some friends, formed a group called "Ghetto Fellaz", which became known as "The Juvenylz" with an additional member. Kwesta dropped out of high school at age 16 to pursue his music career full-time. He recorded his first demo in his home studio. This demo caught the attention of Africa's Most Southern Record Company (AMS), which eventually allowed him to use their recording facilities.

Kwesta, still a teenager, convinced his mother to give him taxi fare necessary to get to Buttabing Entertainment's offices. This meeting resulted in him being added to Buttabing Entertainment's roster, co-owned by founding members Shugasmakx and Slikour.[4]

Special Rekwest

Kwesta's debut studio album Special Rekwest was released in September 2010. The first single was "Stomp". Other singles included "Flash It," "Babhemi," "Flava" and "Pump It". Kwesta was then 22 years old.

DaKAR

Kwesta's second studio album DaKAR (Da King of Afrikan Rap) was released digitally on 25 November 2013. It debuted at number 3 on the South African iTunes Hip-hop / Rap Chart. [5] The album was well received by fans and music industry insiders.

DaKAR II

Kwesta's third studio album DaKAR II, a double-disc album, was released on 26 February 2016 and was preceded by three major singles, "Nomayini"[6] and "Ngud'". The latter features guest vocals from fellow South African rapper Cassper Nyovest. Ngud was released as a radio-edit on 23 November 2015, and the music video dropped in early 2016.[7] In 2017, he released "Ngiyaz'fela Ngawe"[8] with Thabsie . The video currently has 6 million views on YouTube.

Discography

Songs
  • Ngud'
  • Spirit
  • Vur Vai
  • Nomayini
  • The Fire
  • Spirit (feat. Wale)
  • Afro Trap
  • Mayibabo
  • Tjovitjo
  • GGG
  • K1 GOD
  • Day One
  • Let a Nigg* Hit
  • Shooting Star
  • Tshek
  • Mind Fcuk
  • Kokotela
  • Mmino
  • Lights
  • Preacher
  • Karma
  • Act Like
  • Khethile Khethile
  • Lala Khai
  • Boom Shaka Laka (feat. Kid-X)
  • One Day
  • Thank You
  • Suster
  • Mayibabo (feat. DJ Maphorisa, DJ Buckz & Okma)
  • Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe (feat. Thabsie)
  • Ready For More
  • All About
  • U Got It
  • Hood Rich
  • Make You Go
  • Afro Trap (feat. Busiswa)
  • Day One (feat. AKA)
  • Flava
  • Family Matters
  • Preacher (feat. Nota)
  • Find a Way
  • One Day (feat. Psyfo)
  • Radio
  • Pray Hard
  • Kokotela (feat. Yanga & Kid X)
  • Run it up(feat.Rich Homie Quan)
  • Thandolwethu(feat.bucie)

Notable singles


This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certification Album
South Africa (EMA)
"Ngud'" (featuring Cassper Nyovest) 2016 1 RISA:

7x Platinum

 DaKAR II
"Spirit" (featuring Wale) 2017 1 RISA: Platinum[9][10][11][12] Non-album single
"Vur Vai" 2018 – TBA Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Run It Up (Rich Homie Quan ft. Kwesta)

Studio albums
Title Album details
Special ReKwest
DaKAR (Da King of Afrikan Rap)
  • Released: 25 November 2013 (SA)
  • Label: Urbantainment
  • Formats: Digital download & CD (5 May 2015)
DaKAR II
  • Released: 26 February 2016
  • Label: Urbantainment, Sony Music Entertainment Africa
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Certification: 7x Platinum
2 Skeif

Mixtapes
  • Unkwestionable, 2009
  • Rally 4 DaKAR, 2012

References
  1. Nandipha Pantsi. "Kwesta, Ifani hip hop's game changers". The Citizen.
  2. "Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi, the South African hip hop artist and lyricist is born | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  3. "Kwesta - Butan". Butan. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  4. "Kwesta's Rise To Fame". ZAlebs. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  5. 11, tumelo on August; Said, 2015 at 5:19 Am. "Kwesta:biography". HipHopAfrican. Retrieved 23 March 2016.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. "DOWNLOAD:Kwesta - Nomayini –notjustOk". notjustOk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  7. "Channel O TV Online | Kwesta's Second Coming". channelo.dstv.com. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  8. https://okaybaze.com/kwesta-ngiyazfela-ngawe-ft-thabsie/
  9. "Kwesta and Wale go platinum in SA". channel24. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  10. "@KwestaDaKAR #Spirit Has Gone Platinum!". SlikourOnLife. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  11. "Kwesta's #Spirit goes platinum". SA Breaking News. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  12. "Kwesta's 'Spirit' Single Hits 'Platinum'". Hype Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  13. "Kwesta - 2 Skeif EP". Mzansimp3. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

[1]

  1. Aremu, Tosin. "2 Skeif EP". Mzansimp3. Mzansi media. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
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