South African rapper ProKid passes on

His death was confirmed by a statement issued by the family of the deceased artist.

“The legendary SA hip-hop artist affectionately known as ProKid ... passed away on Wednesday,” says the statement. “He suffered a severe seizure attack while visiting friends and paramedics were called in to assist. They did their best to revive him to no avail and called his time of death at 8.38pm.”

Born Linda Mkhize in 1981, ProKid was one of South Africa’s hip hop heroes. He was from Soweto and one of his first songs was a tribute to the area. The song was a hit and carried two features that would recur in his other songs, becoming a kind of signature for the rapper: it presented life as it was in South Africa’s township areas and it was in vernacular. He later explained his approach to writing songs.

“For me rhyming goes beyond choosing a language I feel comfortable with,” he said. “There are things you can lose when using vernacular yet there are things that sound right when using African languages.”

Deemed a pioneer of South African rap, ProKid was a member of the group Saudi Westerns. He opened for such US acts as 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes. His first album Heads & Tales was released by Gallo Record Company in 2005. A second, DNA, and a third, Dankie San, followed in each of the next two years.

Since news of his death reached the notable figures in the South African music industry have expressed their sadness at the loss.

“Praying the news is not true, but if it is then my brother I wish you safe passage into heaven,” tweeted rapper South African rapper Proverb, who once battled ProKid. “You were indeed a pioneer, a legend and one incredible [MC]. For the record, I never considered you a ProKid but rather a ProKing.”

“A lot of artists learned from him and they continue with those models,” said DJ Sbu.

The death, said rapper Blaklez during a TV interview, is “very sad for the hip hop fraternity [and] for his family. Hip hop lost one of its day-ones….Before hip hop became more commercialised he was one of the guys that broke through in vernacular…His signature was his voice and language.”

ProKid’s last concert was at the Basha Uhuru music festival in June. The rapper’s last post on Instagram showed a scene from the festival during his performance of his hit single ‘Sekela’. To close he asked for the crowd to “make some noise”. Screaming, they cheered right back at him.

“What a beautiful crowd,” he responded.