The scrappy producer TNS achieved early success in the often-rough-and-tumble South African house scene. Born Nkazimulo Ngema in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal in 2000, he sometimes lived on the streets following the early deaths of his parents. House veteran Prince Kaybee mentored the teenaged Ngema, but the pair fell out over money and production credits, particularly concerning the hit "Club Controller". Ngema landed on his feet and launched his TNS label in 2019 with the release of "My Dali". The producer’s second single, "Umona", went platinum and introduced his signature upbeat rhythms and melodic Zulu vocals to the mainstream. His audaciously titled debut album, Madlokovu King of African House, soon followed, and he began collaborating with the likes of Tipcee and Busiswa. TNS’ 2021 sophomore release, Phupholethu, came with a promise that it would be the only album featuring his vocals on every track.