Focalistic - Biography, Career and Discography

Focalistic, also known as Lethabo Sebetso, has garnered widespread admiration as a rapper in South Africa since 2017. Renowned for his distinctive style termed "Pina Tsa Ko Kasi," this stylish rapper has consistently showcased his rap skills both on stage and in the studio, earning recognition as one of the best South African rappers in 2020.

Although his birth name is Lethabo Sebetso, Focalistic has become a household name with his unique approach to music. Initially inclined towards a different profession, he discovered his passion for music later in life and has since produced numerous remarkable songs and collaborated with various artists.

Focalistic's breakthrough came with his single "Ke Star," which soared to number 16 on the Billboard Top Thriller Global charts, catapulting him to prominence. Hailing from Pretoria, Sebetso, who was once a footballer, transitioned from sports to pursue a successful music career as a rapper. His debut studio album, "Sgubhu Ses Excellent," released in 2020, further solidified his position in the South African music scene.

The rapper named his distinctive rap style as "Pina Tsa Ko Kasi". 

Early Life

Lethabo Sebetso, born on May 26, 1996, in Zone 6, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, is the son of Kgomotso Sebetso, a former political journalist at SABC. Although the star rapper originates from Pretoria, South Africa, he later moved to Midrand. Focalistic affectionately refers to himself as Pitori Maradona.

Lethabo pursued higher education and graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Pretoria in 2017. Despite earning his degree, he revealed in an interview with Speedsta that his academic pursuit was primarily to fulfill his mother's aspirations, as his true passion had always been making music.

Originally aspiring to become a footballer, Focalistic acquired the moniker "Maradona" during his soccer-playing days. His foray into the music scene gained momentum in 2019, marked by the release of several hit tracks, including "Overload."

Career

Apart from his collaboration with Dj Maphorisa and Kabza De Small in "Sandton," Focalistic also teamed up with Cassper Nyovest for the track "Never Knows." The talented rapper is affiliated with the record label Major League Music.

Focalistic's rise to prominence includes winning the Artist on Rise competition in 2016. His single "Fak'mali" achieved the remarkable feat of debuting at number 1 on the YFM Hip Hop music charts. In early 2020, he took a step further by establishing his own record label, 18 Area Holdings, in partnership with The Vth Seasons.

On April 10, 2020, Focalistic released his Extended Play (EP) titled "Quarantined Tarantino." Following that, in April 2020, his single "Ke Star" featuring Vigro Deep hit the airwaves and earned a gold certification with sales of 25,000 copies.

In November 2020, Focalistic became part of the RADAR African program by Spotify, further solidifying his presence in the music industry. He unveiled the track listing and announced the release date for his album, "Sghubu Ses Excellent," which was eventually released on December 4, 2020.

In February 2021, Focalistic's global remix of "Ke Star," featuring Davido and Vigro Deep, was released. The remix gained significant international success, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Top Triller Global chart in the U.S. At the 2021 All Africa Music Awards, Focalistic received seven nominations across various categories, including Best Male Artiste, Artiste of the Year, and Song of the Year.

In early September 2021, he headlined the AmaFest Tour in the UK, aiming to further promote the Amapiano genre. On September 27, his studio Extended Play (EP) titled "President Ya Straata" was released, featuring the lead single "16 Days No Sleep" with Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, and Mellow & Sleazy. Focalistic's international recognition continued as he received a nomination for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2021.

In early March 2022, Focalistic performed at the O2 Arena in London alongside Nigerian singer Davido. On May 1, he embarked on a North American Tour, visiting 12 cities, including Washington D.C, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Minnesota, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York.

On October 15, Focalistic announced his studio album "Ghetto Gospel," set to be released on November 18, 2022. The album's lead single, "Tabela Hape," featuring Kabza de Small, Mellow and Sleazy, and Myztro, was released on October 28, 2022. "Ghetto Gospel" was eventually released on November 18, 2022.

Personal life

Focalistic's father, Kgomotso Sebetso, tragically passed away in a car accident in his hometown of Ga-Rankuwa in 2011. During his father's illness, Focalistic took on the responsibility of feeding pigs on the family's pig farm. Despite the challenges, he continued to support his family during this difficult time.

Focalistic is romantically involved with South African DJ DBN Gogo.

Discography

Sgubu ses Excellent (2020)

President Ya Straata (2021)

Ghetto Gospel (2022)

Awards

All Africa Music Awards:

Best Male Artist in Southern Africa, 2022 (Nominated)

African Muzik Magazine Awards:

Best Collaboration, 2021

Best Male Southern Africa, 2021

Song of the Year, 2021 (Nominated)

Headies:

Best Southern African Artiste Of The Year, 2022

Best Southern African Artiste Of The Year, 2023

Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards:

Favorite African Star, 2022 (Nominated)

Vodafone Ghana Music Awards:

Best African Artist, 2022 (Nominated)

South African Music Awards:

Best Amapiano Album, 2022 (Nominated)