Focalistic folds hip-hop phrasing into amapiano, delivered in the street slang of Pretoria. Born Lethabo Sebetso in Ga-Rankuwa on 26 May 1996, he played football and completed a political science degree at the University of Pretoria before committing to music, turning professional in 2016 after winning the Artist on Rise competition; his early single 'Fak'mali' topped YFM's hip-hop chart before his sound shifted decisively toward amapiano. 'Ke Star', with Vigro Deep, went gold in South Africa in 2020 and reached number 16 on Billboard's Top Triller Global chart; its 2021 remix featuring Davido became an international success. He won Best Southern African Artiste at the Headies in both 2022 and 2023, released Ghetto Gospel in 2022, and features on 'Biri Marung' (2024), a number-one single certified platinum in South Africa. He runs his own company, 18 Area Holdings, and released B.O.A.T.S, a joint album with Ch'cco, in 2025.
Focalistic sits in the artist layer of Viranova's knowledge graph — the timeline below tracks every story, interview, and event connected to it.
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SAMA32’s shortlist shows a South African music industry no longer defined by one centre. From Durban Gqom to Maskandi, Amapiano, Jazz, Gospel and regional scenes, the country’s sound is spreading power across many hubs.
Past
DJ Zinhle hosts and headlines her own day-to-night Women's Month festival at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, with a 30-plus artist bill. Doors 12:30, music from 14:30 until late; tickets are on sale.
