The Legendary AKA - Kiernan Jarryd Forbes

South African rapper, record producer and businessman.

AKA in blue suit

The Life of AKA 'Kiernan Forbes'

Kiernan Jarryd Forbes (28 January 1988 – 10 February 2023), known professionally as AKA, was a South African rapper, record producer and businessman. Born in Cape Town and raised in Johannesburg, Forbes gained recognition after releasing his single "Victory Lap" from his debut studio album, Altar Ego (2011). He was one of the most popular South African musicians of his era and the greatest selling South African hip hop artist of all-time. Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was born in Cape Town, South Africa 28 January 1988 into a Christian family. He is the eldest of two boys he is the older brother of Steffan Forbes. He moved to Johannesburg at a young age and attended St John's College. AKA is a father to beautiful baby girl Kairo Olwethu Forbes (born in 2015) by her mother DJ Zintle. It was not a secret that AKA was a loving father to Kairo and partner to DJ Zintle, he loved loudly and was very big on family.
Forbes gained recognition after releasing his single "Victory Lap" from his debut studio album, Altar Ego (2011). He was one of the most popular South African musicians of his era and the greatest selling South African hip hop artist of all-time. Forbes continued his success by releasing studio albums which include Levels (2014), the collaborative album with Anatii, titled Be Careful What You Wish For (2017), Touch My Blood (2018) and his final album Mass Country (2023). In April 2018, Forbes was featured as a special guest on WWE Live events, which were held in Johannesburg and Cape Town. On 10 February 2023, Forbes was shot dead outside a restaurant in Durban.
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The official music video for AKA's hit single CONGRATULATE, off his sophomore album LEVELS.

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AKA and his daugther Kai

Kairo Forbes, the daughter of rapper AKA and DJ Zinhle,
fondly remembers her father.
The seven-year-old spoke in a snippet of a video on her Instagram page.
In the video, she said she loved AKA, adding he was a good father.
She continued to add that she loved him very much.



AKA Accolades

AKA was an award-winning artist who was unapologettically himself, he strived to be the best at everything he did and always demanded the same from others whenever he worked with them. In 2002, Forbes, alongside his two friends Vice Versa and Greyhound, formed a hip hop group called Entity. The group received a nomination for a KORA Award in the Best African Hip Hop category. Entity disbanded in 2006 and Forbes went on to study sound engineering. In 2006, Forbes co-founded the production collective The I.V League alongside two other members. The I.V League made production credits for several artists, including Khuli Chana, ProKid and JR. In 2009, he released three singles: "In My Walk", "I Do", and "Mistakes". On 28 July 2010, Forbes released "I Want It All", which is the lead single from his debut studio album, Altar Ego. The album also pre-released two singles which were "All I Know" and "Victory Lap". "Victory Lap" was successful as it topped South African local radio charts. Alter Ego was then released on 23 August 2011. The album was certified gold by RiSA for its commercial success. The album won several accolades, including the 2011 Metro FM Awards for Best Hip Hop Album. Forbes won Best Male Artist of the Year at the 2012 South African Music Awards.

AKA arms in the air


gif of AKA

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