Linda Mkhize (born 22 June 1981), better known as Pro Kid, was a South African rapper and producer. He dropped the hit single Soweto, which gained him popularity. He mixed the Soweto vernacular tsotsi taal and English in his Raps.
Legends who contributed to Kasi’s rap are incomplete without Dankie San hit-maker Pro Kid. Many give him credit as a pioneer of South African hip-hop. Many other rappers sprang out through the opportunities he created in the industry.
| Pro Kid | |
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| Background Information | |
| Full name: | Linda Mkhize |
| Born: | 22 June 1981 |
| Place of birth: | Soweto |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Died: | 8 August 2018(aged 37 years old) |
| Place of death: | Johannesburg |
| Genre: | Hip hop |
| Occupation: | Rapper |
| Instrument: | Vocals |
| Years active: | 1994-2018 |
| Spouse: | Ayanda |
| Daughter: | Nonkanyezi |
| Labels: | Gallo Records |
| Resting place: | West Park Cemetery |
Early Life
Pro Kid was born Linda Mkhize on 22 June 1981 to his father, Zwelakhe Kheswa, and his mother, Fikile. He grew up in Klipspruit in Soweto and participated in many rap battles and ciphers as a teenager. He was really a talent.
Career
Pro Kid won an emcee battle competition hosted by Tbo Touch in 2004. He judged, alongside Big Zulu, the SABC 1 rap battle competition One Mic. He co-presented the SABC1’s dance show, Jika Ma Jika.
Gallo Record Company signed the talented rapper after his track ‘Soweto’ became popular. He rose to fame mainly for representing South African ‘Kasi’ (Township) life. He rapped in a mixture of vernacular and English.
Mkhize worked with many producers and collaborated with rappers. He traveled to the Netherlands to record with Tripple & Touch in 2007. Pro got the opportunity to perform at clubs around Amsterdam. He even shared the stage with the likes of P. Diddy.
The talented rapper was an opening act for legendary rappers like Busta Rhymes and 50 Cent. His song Wozobona gained widespread popularity in the country. He dropped his debut album, Heads and Tales, in 2005.
Personal Life
Pro Kid was married to Ayanda, and they had a daughter, Nonkanyezi. His little brother Sandile Mkhize, known as DJ Citi Lyts, died in February 2022. He was shot multiple times in the upper body by unidentified gunmen.
Cause of Death
Linda Mkhize died after suffering a severe seizure on the bed of his girlfriend, Mandisa Mbanjwa. He breathed last in her three-bedroom flat in the Johannesburg CBD.
Before his demise, he spent a week at the flat. His family revealed that he suffered a hemosuccus pancreaticus. It is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Cassper Nyovest, Kwesta, L-Tido, Ma-E, and Gigi Lamayne were at his funeral.
The rapper is survived by his mother, father, wife, and daughter. He was laid to rest on 19 August 2018 at West Park Cemetery. The funeral service was at the UJ Soweto Campus at 8:00.
Songs
- Wozobona
- Sekele
- Ungaphel’ Umoya Son
- Uthini Ngo Pro
- Makasana
- Bhampa
- Soweto
- Um’Futho
- Living the Way I Should
- Fede Fokol
- Anivulen’indlela
- They Fell
- I Don’t Give A
- Feels Good to Be Alive
- Pressa, Phusha, Phanda
- It’s Over
- Let’s Wait a While
- The General
- Celebrate
- Ghetto Science
- I Made It
- Thingz Will Change
- Need Your Loving
- Extraordinary
- This Year
- Kids
- Intro
- Budget Speech
- Get It On
- Khesari
- When U Call