TKZee

TKZee is a South Africa kwaito music group formed by three school friends, Tokollo Tshabalala, Kabelo Mabalane, and Zwai Bala. The group shot to prominence in late 1997 and early 1998 with their smash hit singles Palafala and Shibobo. In December 1997 the group released Palafala, sampling Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi. The song became a hit, with the CD single selling over 100 000 units. The group's next big release was in the run-up to the 1998 Soccer World Cup. In collaboration with Bafana Bafana and Ajax Amsterdam striker Benni McCarthy, the group produced Shibobo in June 1998. The song, which contained samples of Europe's The Final Countdown and featured McCarthy rapping on some of the lyrics, was an instant success. Sales topped the 100 000 mark in just over a month, a feat which made Shibobo the fastest and biggest selling CD single by a South African recording artist in history. They quickly became household names not just in South Africa but across the continent. Their third album, Halloween, became a huge hit, going Platinum and earning them SAMA (South African Music Awards) awards for Best Kwaito Album, Best Duo/Group, Best Single and Best Kwaito Single. In 2000 they produced Guz 2001, a compilation album by TKZee Family, consisting of the original TKZee members alongside other names on their record label TKZ Wrekords, including Gwyza, Loyiso, 2 shot and Dr Mageu sharing the musical stage with Kutlwano Masote and jazz genius Moses Taiwa Molelekwa.