Very few South African hip-hop artists have consistently reinvented themselves while remaining at the top of their game the way that K.O has been able to do. Born Ntokozo Mdluli in Soweto in 1980, the skilled lyricist emerged in 2006 as part of the iconic trio Teargas. Upon pursuing a solo career in 2014, K.O pioneered a kwaito/hip-hop hybrid style that he dubbed skhanda rap with the release of his debut solo album, Skhanda Republic, featuring the hit “Caracara”. As he rose to superstardom, K.O helped usher in new generations of rappers via his CashTime Life and Skhanda World imprints in the 2010s and 2020s, respectively. Throughout his impressive discography, K.O displays his prowess as a wordsmith with an affectionate bravado and a riveting cadence that adapts to new musical trends and styles within his chosen genre.