Teargas Champs
By Quibell Ramantswana , 16 Apr 2009 | (19) CommentsIn 2006 Teargas released their first album `K shubile K´bovu´ featuring the single `Chance´ which went onto scoop numerous awards. Three years on they are still on top of their game with a third album on the way.
Born in Mpumalanga K.O born Ntokozo Mdluli met Ezee “Ma-E” Hadebe and Bantu “Ntukza” Hanabe (brothers from Soweto) whilst he was studying at Vaal University in Gauteng.
“We´re running the city right now and we are not gonna stop”
With their love of Hip Hop music it wasn’t long before they decided to form the band;Teargas. The trio were very much influenced by South Africa’s political past (where they used to disperse crowds during the apartheid days) and began to incorporate this in their songs.
” We are the first group that actually connect with the market. That´s one thing that actually helped sell Teargas better. We´re running the city right now and we are not gonna stop”.
After taking almost a year off Teargas came back with their SAMA nominated album `Wafa Wafa´( Due or Die). With the success of two consecutive albums does Ntokozo sees Teargas as the champions of Hip Hop in South Africa as the song of the same name suggests?
“Kwaito is a cornerstone for what we´re doing today in the first place.”
“Yes… not in a cocky way. It doesn´t talk (sic) from a Hip Hop prospective. It addresses issues like if you´re a School Teacher, Bus Driver, construction worker; whatever skills or profession you might be in you need to see yourself as a Champion because you are going out there trying to make a living and you´re contributing to the country in a positive way”.
The constant speculation fueled by many big names in Hip Hop believe that Hip Hop artists are taking over the South African music industry to such an extent that Kwaito music will become non-existent. Well, from the words of Kwaito Legend,Thebe ” Kwaito music is a South African soul; as long as I´m still alive Kwaito is not going anywhere
Ntokozo adds ” Kwaito is a cornerstone for what we´re doing today in the first place. We always have to bow down and respect those fellas. As far as Kwaito is concerned is Durban sound. Those guys are still doing big things to a certain degree even bigger than Hip Hop”.
Teargas latest album will be released in August.
Listen to The Mzansi Show featuring Teargas on future radio 96.9 FM or on line at www.futureradio.co.uk. If you missed the show then catchup at www.kwaito.co.uk/themzansishow
i love teargas!!!
Hey guys… I’m loving ur’lls album #DarkorBlue! It’s thee must have album this year !! I heard ur’ll are gonna have a music vid for #goodfellaz if ur’ll do… Please release it before December coz I want it to be my summer jamm!!!
i wud lyk 2 b ur friend
Woza nunu you wanna have a good time cause i do to.i just love k.o’s part in goodfellaz well i just love teargas.
YOOH** TEARGAS, I LOVE UR MUSIC,THE DARK OR BLUE ALBUM IS STILL #1 ON MY PLAYLIST. AND I LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT AM UR BIGGEST FAN WHILE I KNOW AM NOT.LOL! YEAH.. U GUYS GOT SWAGGGG, KEEP IT TIGHT***
i love the group n hope that they will not stop makin good music that keeps me motivated on a daily basis
K.O…i luv u soooo much nd i’ve got a huuuuuuuuge crrrrrrrush on u.
Yhu..! I lyk teargas bt most specially K.O. I love you k.o.
YO MAJENTS NIA BABa especialy when coming to ur dark or blue album.i can sing all of da tracks.ithought u where coming here at uj during freshers i bought da ticket just to c u but i was disapointed coz u were not there.but i hope i wil c u soon.
i lv K O WTH ALL MY HYPOTHALAMAS 0836934263 REPLY PLS
Dark or blue…de album rocks,guys teagas e tshela thupa.*they dont knw*
i luv u all guy’s aspecially Ntokozo Mdluli keep on rock guys Sne here yo fan pls come 2 Nquthu and rock
Hey guyz i truely luv u nd plz keep bonded 2gether,nd ur trackz are realy hot nd i love da party 101 4rm dark or blue,nd i lyk da fact dat my cuzin sibusiso is on da video nd i would 2 be ur friend i live dwn MP in Nkomazi…0765726648…guyz in ma heart u hve a home,big up ur slves,i wuld lyk 2 advice u “fear no living person on this planet as we’re all trying to make sense of this lyf..,
The threesome go getters…good music u making boys..support will alwys be there 4 u…but da swag is alwys on ur backs!
I ws introduced to hip hop by my brother nd i jst fel in lv esp wt teargas wow u guys r nt fakes u really inspire me 2 b better evry song in DARK OR BLUE has a msg so God bless u abundadly kalerata oh nd pls if u r in bloemfntein cal me 0731638308 am ur friend 4 lyf
eish i lv u K.O, yesterday i have fun a moses mabida stadium n i enjoyed ur perfomence, keep up the gud work guys. xo xo xo xo 2 u Ntokozo mdluli
k.o no one can touch u if thy try that ng’bambe nge cable ng’zokhahlela inja spca will cum ooh
eish jo k.o u rock bru undibulala kula track leli featrd bongo riot mpumalanga made me my mum raise me and umzansi pays me.jo ur style siyangi shaya big time u rock and e style o ntliba ngaso its dope i wish 2 see u one day performing bt one day is one day.
U guys rock ma world,i luv u so much,i wsh u al da best,may god gve u al da strength 2 succeed in evrythn dat u do,may he continue 2 guide a protect u.luv u al,ur da BEST.