Kabelo Mabalane changed the texture of kwaito music when he released his debut album, Everybody Watching, in 2000. “Pantsula 4 Life”, the house-inflected single that preceded the release, became a high-energy dance anthem for an entire generation. Mabalane, born in 1976 in Diepkloof, Soweto, grew up surrounded by music. He was a dedicated student of gangsta rap who absorbed greats such as N.W.A. and Ice-T, as well as an ardent music digger who dipped freely between Nina Simone and Nirvana. The artist sometimes known as Bouga Luv first changed culture with TKZee, the kwaito group he formed with his school mates Zwai Bala and Tokollo Tshabalala in 1996. After three records painted with pop influences, Mabalane went solo. His early albums Everybody Watching, and the beat goes on (2003) and The Bouga Luv Album (2004) are kwaito classics, after which the now-pastor started venturing further into Christian music, such as the 2011 gospel jam “Jeso Fela”. The marathon runner is planning for the long run.