Bhut Malumz Publications

King Vado shares his 14-year-old music journey with us and highlights its ups and downs.

King Vado, whose real name is Esona Ngwendu was born in Butterworth on the 29th of September 1996. Happy belated birthday! He moved to Ezibeleni (Komani) when he was two years. He started doing music in 2009 when he turned 13.

“As a boy growing in a location, I got to see things happening, some good and some terrible. Among the activities that were happening in my kasi, Hip Hop was the most popular and most of our young people loved it. I fell in love with this art and I started practicing it. In 2009 I started rapping with my friends under a group named Double Gang. We released a song that took kasi by surprise because they never expected the fire we delivered through the song and it was titled Benditshilo. After few years, we went our separate ways and some quit. But I didn’t because I knew what I was aiming for.”

King Vado later joined Grey House Productions, a production studio that was owned by one of his friends, T-Man. They continued working together, of which they formed a group called QTN Nation with YungSavage. The group brought them more exposure and they released hit music together.

“Time went on and we had to move out of Queenstown to explore and showcase our talent and left our 3rd partner, T-Man beacause he was taking care of the studio and helping other upcoming artists to record their music.”

King Vado and YungSavage moved to Gqeberha, where Izi-BiliBoco was born. Vado says that they haven’t had such a good year as a duo. He disclosed that he was also involved in a gun shooting where he lost one of his friends, Xolela Masebeni, popularly known as Mabiggy. Izi-BiliBoco has curated an EP, EXILE 9X that’s dedicated to Mabiggy, which will be released later this year.

King Vado says that Gqeberha has more opportunities than Komani and unlike home, he’s paid for gigs there. He costs R1,000 in cash per gig, and accommodation on the host/owner with refreshments.

King Vado’s inspirations are Zakwe and ATM artists, Emtee, Saudi, and Sjava. He had also worked with the likes of Gxarha, Moose, Soska, Muji, Prince Whyte, ADC, Liso Hockosumie, and others. He is set to release a new single, Better Me that’s an element of African Trap on 8 October 2022.

Stream Legendary by King Vado: https://audiomack.com/king-vado-khuboni/album/legendary-4

Stream Spirit by King Vado: https://audiomack.com/king-vado-khuboni/song/spirit-1