Mnqobi Yazo’s strand of Afropop is steeped in traditional South African music genres such as maskandi and isicathamiya. He owes these influences to his upbringing: he was born in the village of KwaMaphumulo and grew up in the Durban township of Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, where both genres—and a wave of like-minded Afropop torchbearers (Sjava, Blaq Diamond, Aubrey Qwana)—originated. Starting out as a rapper in primary school, Yazo spent some time building his name as an MC in the underground circuit before switching to singing during college in the late 2000s, which coincided with the launch of his recording career. His independently released debut, 2018’s Iscephu, went viral and led to a deal with indie label Mabala Noise, which issued Impi in 2020. Through his growing catalogue and countless collaborations (with a diverse array of musicians including Big Zulu, amapiano producer Sayfar and maskandi duo Shwi no Mtekhala), Yazo’s isicathamiya-styled drawl and maskandi falsetto position him as a unique contemporary voice that appeals to listeners of all ages.