Born and raised in the south of Johannesburg, ZULO is known for his distinctive and innovative take on what we’ve come to know as South African hip-hop, melding elements of hip-hop, pop and kwaito. His lyrics, generously sprinkled with coloured slang, echo his commitment to honour his cultural heritage and his intention to create true “South African music”.
As a youngster, ZULO wrote stories and poems, developed video games, and shot his own home-made movies, which naturally led him to rap. By age 16, ZULO made a name for himself as Lil Trix after topping YFM and 5FM charts in only 2 weeks, and racked up a total of 8 mixtapes during his high school years, even earning a finalist spot in ShizNiz’s ‘King of the Mixtape’.
After a brief mentorship from Slikour, ZULO transitioned from Lil Trix, adopting a stage name in tribute to his birth name, and released his breakout single, “Portals”, shaping his rebrand ahead of his 2022 debut EP, Talk to Me Naace.
Committed to cultural representation, ZULO aims to globalize his musical palette, striving to make his mark as a proudly coloured global rap pop sensation, continuously pushing creative boundaries and redefining the spectrum of contemporary South African hip-hop.
