Okmalumkoolkat - Biography, Career and Discography

Fortune Samuel | September 4, 2024 | Profiles | No Comments

Okmalumkoolkat (sometimes stylized as OkMalumKoolKat), is a South African rapper and forms half of the rap/electronic duo Dirty Paraffin. Hailing from Umlazi Township in Durban, he is recognized for singles like "Mswenkofontein," featuring $tilo Magolide & uSanele.

Early Life

Born on July 27, 1983, in the Umlazi region of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Okmalumkoolkat's real name is Smiso Brian Mkhasibe. Following his college graduation, he moved to Johannesburg, where he crossed paths with Doctor SpiZee. Together, they formed the dynamic duo Dirty Paraffin.

Sharing not just a living space but also a deep passion for art, Okmalumkoolkat and Doctor SpiZee collaborated on multiple projects. Unfortunately, their shared house fell victim to a robbery, prompting them to start going job hunting. Leveraging his skills acquired during his college years, Okmalumkoolkat delved into designing layouts and brands for various companies, with Nike being one of the notable ones.

Career

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

Okmalumkoolkat's Breakthrough came in 2013 with the release of "Gusheshe," a collaboration with Cassper Nyovest, featured on Cassper's platinum-selling album "Tsholofelo."

The following year, in 2014, Okmalumkoolkat released his first project, the "Holy Oxygen EP" mixtape. This was followed by the "100k MaCassette" mixtape in 2015 and "Holy Oxygen II" in 2017. His debut official album, "Mlazi Milano," dropped in 2016 and achieved gold certification from the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA).

Okmalumkoolkat also made waves with his feature on Zintle Mbekeli's "Amakamera ang'shoote," receiving positive reviews. Zintle Mbekeli, Okmalumkoolkat's former co-worker whom he met on Instagram, collaborated with him on the track. Notably, Zintle, currently a 15-year-old student at Petit High School, shares a significant history with Okmalumkoolkat.

Currently signed to the Austrian label Affine Records, Okmalumkoolkat released his debut EP, "Holy Oxygen," under this label. His debut album, "Mlazi Milano," dropped on December 30, 2016, supported by singles like "Ntwana Yam'" and "Gqi," the latter featuring the Durban-formed duo "Amadando."

Continuing his musical career, Okmalumkoolkat released the single "Amakamera Angshoote" along with its music video on March 8, 2019. In September 2019, "Drip Siphi Iskorobho" followed as his second single.

On May 29, 2020, Okmalumkoolkat released his studio EP titled "Bhlomington."

In early February 2022, he took to Instagram to announce his second studio album, "uShukela eTiyeni," along with its release date. The lead single from the album, "Uthando To The T," featuring South African singer Debra Nist, dropped on February 2, 2022.

"uShukela eTiyeni" hit the shelves on April 29, 2022, featuring a lineup of notable artists including DJ Tira, Crush, Windows 2000, 45 Degreez, Sanie Boi, Teedow Bangs, Killer Kau, Beast, Thelawayeka, and Sego The Great.

Among Okmalumkoolkat's notable tracks are "Gqi" and "Amalobolo" (Slow Jam sase Mlazi). He has also been featured on both the original and remix versions of "Amantombazane" by Riky Rick, with the latter version including DJ Dimplez, Kid X, Kwesta, Maggz, Ginger Trill, and Nadia Nakai.

Known for his dance moves, Okmalumkoolkat often incorporates dancing into his music videos and has even referred to himself as the Zulu Michael Jackson.

Legal Issues

In 2016, Okmalumkoolkat faced legal troubles when he was arrested for an alleged sexual assault on another artist in Hobart, Australia, following a performance at the Mona Foma Annual Music Festival (MOFO). Reports indicated that he was intoxicated and, unable to locate his own room, mistakenly entered the victim's hotel room while she was sleeping. His lawyer, Steven Chopping, stated that Okmalumkoolkat expressed remorse, shame, and embarrassment over the incident, attributing it to jet lag, intoxication, and confusion. Advised by his legal team, he admitted to the charges.

During the legal proceedings, Okmalumkoolkat's defense sought a fine instead of a jail sentence. However, this request was denied as Okmalumkoolkat was set to depart Australia the following day, rendering the fine unenforceable once he left the country. Consequently, he was sentenced to six months in jail, with five months suspended.