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Nadia Nakai
Nadia Nakai on preview of MTV DSouth 2019.png
Photo on a preview of MTV Shuga Down South in 2019
Background information
Birth name Nadia Nakai Dlamini
Born (1990-05-18) 18 May 1990 (age 34)
South Africa
Origin Johannesburg
Citizenship
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s)
  • TV personality
  • rapper
Years active 2011–present
Partner(s)
AKA
(died 2023)
Labels
  • Def Jam Africa (current)
  • Bragga Records (current)
  • Family Tree Records (former)
  • Sid Records (former)
Associated acts

Nadia Nakai Kandava (née Dlamini; born 18 May 1990), is a Zimbabwean-South African rapper and television personality.

Early life and education

Nakai was born in South Africa. Her father is South African and her mother is Zimbabwean. When she was 16 years old, her surname was changed from her father's to her mother's.

Nakai attended Fourways High School in Johannesburg for a year then finished her schooling in Kenya. She later studied a degree in marketing, communication, and media studies at Monash University, Johannesburg.

Career

2013–2017: Beginnings

Nakai made her first television appearance on the e.tv hip hop show Shiz Niz where she won the Mixtape 101 competition, making her the first female to win the competition. She then rose to prominence in September 2013, when she released her debut single "Like Me". The following year, she was featured on the remix of Riky Rick song, Amantombazane amongst various South African acts. As for June 2015, Nakai released her third single "Saka Wena" featuring rapper Ice Prince, following her second single, "Whatever" featuring DotCom and Psyfo.

In August 2016, Nakai pre-released her single "The Man" featuring Cassper Nyovest from her EP, Bragga. Bragga was then released on 15 September 2016. In November 2017, Nakai released her critically acclaimed single "Naaa Meaan" featuring Cassper Nyovest. The song topped charts in several radio stations in South Africa. On 4 November 2016, she hosted the red carpet special for MTV Africa at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards.

2021–present: TV shows

In 2021, Nakai hosted the first season of Channel O's Gen-Z South Africa television show. In June 2021, she left Family Tree Records to pursue her own label. At the 2021 South African Hip Hop Awards, Nakai received a nomination for Artist of the Decade.

In 2022, Nakai appeared on the Netflix original reality show Young, Famous & African.

Influences

Nakai was inspired by a female Kenyan rapper, Nazizi, who she met while she was staying in Kenya. She said that Nazizi influenced her in starting her rapping career.

Personal life

She was in a relationship with the late South African rapper AKA.

Awards and nominations

Award Year Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
Zimbabwe Achievers Awards 2016 Herself Music Artist of the Year Won
Metro FM Music Awards 2016 Baddest (Remix) (with AKA, Fifi Cooper, Rouge & Gigi LaMayne) Best Remix Nominated
Do I Like I Do (Remix) (with DJ Sliqe, Riky Rick, Reason, L-Tido, Kwesta & Flabba) Nominated
South African Music Awards 2018 Naa Meaan (feat. Cassper Nyovest) (Directed by Family Tree) Music Video of the Year Nominated
2021 Nadia ... Best Hip Hop Album Nominated
South African Hip Hop Awards 2019 Album of the Year Nominated
Herself Best Female Won
MVP/Hustler of the Year Nominated
2020 Nominated
40 Bars (featuring Emtee & DJ Capital) Directed by Kaykayribane Best Video Nominated
More ... (featuring Tshego) Directed Allesio Bettocchi & Jilten Ramlal Won
2021 Herself Artist of the Decade Nominated
All Africa Music Awards 2019 Nadia ... Album of the Year in Southern Africa Nominated
Herself Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa Won
Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop Won
SA Style Awards 2021 Most Stylish Performing Artist Won
Basadi in Music Awards 2023 Hip Hop Artist of the Year Won

Discography

Studio album

Studio album
Title Extended play details
Nadia ...
  • Released: 28 June 2019
  • Label: Family Tree Records
  • Format: Digital download

Extended Play

Extended play
Title Extended play details
Bragga
  • Released: 15 September 2016
  • Label: Family Tree Records
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
Certification
"Like Me" 2013
"Whatever"
(featuring DotCom and Psyfo)
2014
"Saka Wena"
(featuring Ice Prince)
2015
"Money Back" 2016
"The Man"
(featuring Cassper Nyovest)
Bragga
"Don't Cut It"
"Sqwaa"
(featuring Gemini Major and Tshego)
"Naaa Meaan"
(featuring Cassper Nyovest)
2017 Nadia ...
"Money Calling"
(with Frank Casino)
2018
"Yass ..." Nadia ...
"Imma Boss" 2019
"Kreatures"
(featuring Kwesta & Sio)
"40 Bars"
(featuring Emtee & DJ Capital)
2020 Nadia ... (Deluxe)

As featured artist

List of featured singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
Certification
"Amantombazane Remix"
(Riky Rick featuring Okmalumkoolkat, Maggz, Kwesta, Ginger Breadman, Kid X, Nadia Nakai and DJ Dimplez)
2014 RiSA: Gold
"Do Like I Do Remix"
(DJ Sliqe featuring Riky Rick, L-Tido, Kwesta, Reason, Flabba and Nadia Nakai)
2015 Injayam, Vol. 1
"Sugar Free"
(Tumi featuring Nadia Nakai)
"Ragga Ragga"
(Gemini Major featuring Cassper Nyovest, Nadia Nakai, Riky Rick and Major League)
2016
"Savage"
(DJ Milkshake featuring Da L.E.S,Maggz and Nadia Nakai)
"Crazy"
(Spectacular and DJ Naves featuring Floda, Nadia Nakai and DJ Tira)
2017
Isaga Lam
(Miss Pru DJ featuring LaSauce, Gigi LaMayne, Nadia Nakai and Londie London)
Uh Huh
(Priddy Ugly featuring Nadia Nakai)
2017
Zonke

(Phantom Steeze featuring Sjava, AKA, Nadia Nakai,Robot Boii, Buzzi Lee and Mustbedubz)

2022
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