Okmalumkoolkat

Smiso Zwane (born Smiso Brian Mkhasibe; 27 July 1983), commonly known by his stage name Okmalumkoolkat (sometimes stylized as OkMalumKoolKat) is a South African rapper and half of the rap/electronic duo Dirty Paraffin from Umlazi Township in Durban. Smiso Zwane is known for singles such as "Mswenkofontein" featuring $tilo Magolide & uSanele.[2]

Okmalumkoolkat
Birth nameSmiso Brian Mkhasibe
Also known as
  • Future Mfana
  • Smart Mampara
  • Mlazi Milano
  • Don Spovington
[1]
Born (1983-07-27) July 27, 1983
Umlazi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
OriginDurban
Genres
Occupations
Years active2007–present
LabelsSjambok Studios

Life and career

Okmalumkoolkat was born in Umlazi, Durban. After graduating from college, Okmalumkoolkat moved to Johannesburg where he met Doctor SpiZee, with whom he formed Dirty Paraffin.[3]

The pair lived together and both shared a mutual passion for art which eventually led to them collaborating several times. After the house in which they lived was robbed, they had to go job hunting. Using the skills he had garnered during his college years, he designed layouts and brands for companies; most notably, Nike.

In 2012 Okmalumkoolkat worked the London production trio LV on their album, Sebenza released under Hyperdub.

2013–2018: "Gusheshe" & Holy Oxygen EP

Okmalumkoolkat was featured on Zintle Mbekeli's "Amakamera ang'shoote" which was met with positive reviews. Zintle Mbekeli was Msizo's co-worker she met her on Instagram, Zintle is only 15 currently schooling at Petit High and has a great history with Okmalumkoolkat .[4] He is currently signed to Austrian label Affine Records under which he has released his debut EP, Holy Oxygen. On 30 December 2016 he released his debut album Mlazi Milano which was supported by two singles before release was "Ntwana Yam'" and "Gqi". "Ntwana Yam'" was released mid-August 2016 and "Gqi" was released a month before the album. The single "Gqi" features Durban-formed duo "Amadando" and was accompanied by its music video mid-March 2017. The album was released both in iTunes and officially in music stores.[5]

2019-present: Bhlomington (Ep), uShukela eTiyeni

On March 8, 2019, his "Amakamera Angshoote" single was released along with its music video.[6] In September 2019, "Drip Siphi Iskorobho" was released as a second single.[7]

His studio Ep Bhlomington was released on May 29, 2020.[8]

In early February 2022, he announced his second studio album uShukela eTiyeni and release date via his Instagram account.[9] Its lead single "Uthando To The T" featuring South African singer Debra Nist was released on February 2, 2022.[10]

uShukela eTiyeni was released on April 29, 2022.[11] It features DJ Tira, Crush, Windows 2000, 45 Degreez, Sanie Boi, Teedow Bangs, Killer Kau, Beast, Thelawayeka and Sego The Great.

Indecent assault conviction

Zwane received a six-month jail (five months suspended) sentence in Hobart, Tasmania in January 2016 for indecently touching a female colleague in a Hobart hotel room while attending the 2016 MONA FOMA festival. He returned drunk to the Old Woolstore Hotel in Hobart and was unable to find his room, following which he entered a female artist's hotel room and indecently assaulted her. Zwane's lawyers requested a fine instead of a jail sentence but were knocked back as Zwane was scheduled to leave Australia the next day and the fine could not be enforced once he was overseas.[12]

Discography

Commercial mixtapes
  • Holy Oxygen (EP) (2014)
  • 100k MaCassette(Mixtape) (2015)
  • Holy Oxygen II (EP) (2017)
  • Bhlomington (EP) (2020)
  • Shukela Etiyeni (album) (2022)

Studio album
List of studio albums, with selected information
Title Year certification
Mlazi Milano 2016 RISA: gold
uShukela eTiyeni [13] 2022
List of singles as featured artist, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Year Title Other artist(s) Album
2013 "Gusheshe" Cassper Nyovest Tsholofelo
2014 "Amantombazane" Riky Rick Family Values
"Amantombazane (Remix)" Riky Rick, Kwesta, Kid X, Nadia Nakai, Ginger Trill Family Values
"Bump the Cheese Up (Remix)" Reason, AKA, Tol A$$ Mo Non-album single
"Nice Shandees" Sibot Arc Eyes (EP)
"Bob Mabena" JR, Spoek Mathambo TBA
2016 "Don dada" K.O None album

References
  1. "Interview: Okmalumkoolkat". The Fader. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  2. "Sunglass Hut Presents Smiso Zwane".
  3. "Popping Up With Okmalumkoolkat".
  4. "Gusheshe ft. Okmalumkoolkat Okayafrica". Okayafrica. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  5. "OKmalumkoolkat Signs to Austrian Label Affin | BLACKNATION MAGAZINE". blacknationmag.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  6. "Okmalumkoolkat Drops New 'Amakamera Angshoote' Music Video [Watch] | Hype Magazine". Hype Magazine. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  7. "Okmalumkoolkat holds off promoting his new single, Drip Siphi Iskorobho, in support of #EnoughIsEnough – JustNje". JustNje. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  8. "Okmalumkoolkat releases new EP 'Bhlomington' | YoMzansi". YoMzansi. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  9. "Okmalumkoolkat Announces New 'uShukela eTiyeni' Album On The Way | Hype Magazine". Hype Magazine. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  10. Ntsinde, Mandisa. "Okmalumkoolkat Drops "Uthando To The T" From Upcoming Album".
  11. Manjo, Theo (29 April 2022). "Okmalumkoolkat Releases His Genre-Blending Album, "uShukela eTiyeni" | Slikouronlife". Slikouronlife. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  12. "Mofo rapper jailed for assault on sleeping fellow artist". themercury.com.au. The Mercury. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  13. "Okmalumkoolkat uShukela eTiyeni Album". ZuluHipHop ZA. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
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