Joe Nina

Joe Nina is a South African musician and producer. Born Henry Makhosini Xaba on 12 June 1974 to musician parents, Joe cut his teeth in music as a teenager and could be found in the family’s garage studio practicing piano, guitar, drums and other instruments.

From his first albums in the early 1990s under the aliases T McCool and King Rap, Joe experimented with local and international popular genres of the day. As part of the duo LA Beat (alongside Mdu Masilela), the song ‘Boss of the Road’ established him as an innovative composer and producer. The song's slow-paced township groove helped change the face of South African music forever. Still in his early 20s, his creativity found expression in a new genre: kwaito. Joe was celebrated as one of the originators of the genre.

To date, Joe Nina has released more than 10 albums, including 'Unchained' (2009) and 'Back Together 4 Life' (2014). He has also produced and written songs for more than 50 artists, including Ringo Madlingozi and The African Jazz Pioneers, also working alongside Victor Ntoni, Ray Phiri, Sibongile Khumalo, Tsepo Tshola, Babsy Mlangeni, Patricia Majalisa, Sharon D and countless others. He also runs his own label, Killa Joe Records.