Thousands pay tribute to township rapper, ProKid
ProKid’s master records would be handed over to the family
THOUSANDS of people, including family and friends, paid their final respects to award-winning musician Linda “ProKid” Mkhize in Soweto yesterday.
Mkhize was celebrated for singing in his own language.
He died due to hemosuccus pancreaticus, a rare cause of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
The death of the Dankie San rapper came as a blow for a number of Mzansi musicians with the likes of Cassper Nyovest, Kwesta, HHP and Reason paying their last respects to a “genius”.
“He connected with his audience because he was a township boy.
“He never compromised to change his language.
“He rapped in traditional, kasi taal.
“He was keeping it real,” said DJ Sbu.
ProKid worked with DJ Sbu at TS Records and released albums Dankie San and Snakes & Ladders under the label.
At the funeral, it was later announced by Siya “Slikour” Metane that ProKid’s master records would be handed over to the family by TS Records.
TS Records executive Thembinkosi TK Nciza confirmed that Mkhize’s music would be owned by the family and no longer the label.
He emphasised that it was important to preserve the 37-year-old’s legacy.
“When we hand over the masters it means the family will own ProKid’s music 100%.
“It means they can exploit or sell it however they please,” said Nciza.
“I know Pro owned his own publishing, but it means if they wanted to sell the money to MTN or any music platform they would get 100% of the proceeds.”
Music executive Dr Sipho Sithole remembered ProKid’s favourite saying: “Let us allow hip-hop music to be the sirens that alert us of what is happening in our communities before everything around us collapses.”