Sihle Sithole, professionally known as Blxckie, is a South African artist hailing from Sydenham Heights, Durban. This rapper, singer, and songwriter achieved significant success with his debut studio album, B4Now, released in 2021, which earned a gold certification in South Africa.
Blxckie holds platinum certification in South Africa and is recognized for his role in Clout Internet Boyz. This hip-hop collective, comprising Durban-based artists, collaborates on tracks, showcasing a distinctive melodic trap sound. Blxckie's notable ascent to stardom began during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, and his momentum has continued to grow.
Early Life
Born on November 24, 1999, in Sydenham Heights, Durban, South Africa, Sihle Sithole, professionally known as Blxckie, discovered his interest in music at the age of 8, recording music with friends. Despite enrolling in the University of KwaZulu-Natal for a degree in Psychology, Sithole faced challenges completing his studies due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Career
Blxckie's musical journey began in 2017, but it wasn't until 2020 that he gained mainstream recognition. In March 2020, Sihle Sithole left his hometown of Durban to meet a producer in Johannesburg, intending to kickstart his rap career. However, the COVID-19 lockdown stranded him and his friends in the city. Turning adversity into opportunity, they decided to record visuals and singles, posting them on SoundCloud. In the same month, he earned the title of Up Next Artist by Apple Music, later being named New Africa Rising Artist. His prominence further solidified when he topped MTV Base: SA's Hottest MCs in December 2021.
Blxckie noticed a gap between South African artists and their fans, emphasizing the importance of staying connected with one's audience. He expressed that fame should not overshadow the significance of fans in an interview with Akho Mabandla.
The breakthrough for Blxckie came with the viral success of his freestyle track "Big Time Sh'lappa" with Lucasrap. Collaborating on Dr Peppa's "Mntase" with Chang Cello, Lord Script, and Aux Cable further established Blxckie's rising stardom. His collaboration with Flme on the track "Stripes" added to his growing success.
On April 30, 2021, Blxckie released the single "David," which achieved gold certification in South Africa. Following this, on May 10, 2021, he announced the single "Ye ×4" featuring Nasty C, released on May 14, 2021. The song earned double platinum status with sales exceeding 40,000 units, marking another milestone in Blxckie's flourishing career.
Blxckie's debut studio album, "B4Now," hit the music scene on May 21, 2021. Featuring collaborations with artists like Nasty C, LucasRaps, FLVME, Rowlene, and LeoDaleo, the album earned a gold certification in South Africa, surpassing 10,000 units in sales.
To celebrate the album's success, Blxckie embarked on the B4Now Tour starting from November 26, 2021, in Durban. The tour, spanning 10 dates through December 2021, featured prominent artists like A-Reece, Nasty C, Zakes Bantwini, Nadia Nakai, Sjava, Focalistic, Okmalumkoolkat, Big Zulu, as well as emerging talents such as Shizze, LeoDaLeo, 031Choppa, Clout Internet Boyz, and itsbambino.
His achievements didn't stop there, as he won Freshman of the Year and received nominations for Album of the Year ("B4Now"), Song of the Year ("Ye×4"), and Best Collaboration at the South African Hip Hop Awards 2021. Additionally, he secured the top spot on MTV Base: SA's Hottest MCs in December 2021.
In 2022, Blxckie continued to make waves by releasing the EP "4LUV" on February 18. Collaborating with A-Reece on the track "Sneaky," he maintained his momentum. Later in October 2022, he dropped the EP "The4Mula." Blxckie's collaboration extended to rapper AKA's posthumous album, "Mass Country."
Recognizing his global impact, Blxckie received a nomination for Best International Flow at the BET Hip Hop Awards in 2022. His influence also transcended music, as he was announced as the ambassador for the clothing brand Redbat x Sportscene in May 2022.
Personal Life
Blxckie is romantically involved with Hermosa, a South African digital creator, model, and dancer. Their relationship became public knowledge in October 2021 when professional dancer Tione Martinez exposed the couple. Tione accused Blxckie of distancing himself since attaining fame. Hermosa later confirmed her relationship with the artist amidst the public revelation.
Discography
Studio Album
2021 - B4Now
EPs
2019 - Eqnx II
2020 - It Feels Like a Dream
2020 - Blxck Panda (with Khumz)
2022 - 4LUV
2022 - The 4Mula