Tabure Thabo Bogopa Junior (born 13 March 1987), professionally known as JR, is a South African entrepreneur and musician. He frequently performs

Motswako Motswako is a Southern African subgenre of hip hop popular in South Africa. It consists of a mix of rap lyrics in both the local language ( Setswana) and English layered on a steady beat. Other languages used include Sesotho, Zulu and Afrika ...

rap, in both

Setswana Tswana, also known by its native name , and previously spelled Sechuana in English, is a Bantu language spoken in Southern Africa by about 8.2 million people. It belongs to the Bantu language family within the Sotho-Tswana branch of Zon ...

and English. He has had two number-one hip hop songs as well as two number-one pop hits on South African charts.

Early life

Tabure was born 13 March 1987 in

Bloemfontein Bloemfontein, ( ; , "fountain of flowers") also known as Bloem, is one of South Africa's three capital cities and the capital of the Free State (province), Free State province. It serves as the country's judicial capital, along with legisla ...

, Free State province, South Africa. He was raised in the

township A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Ca ...

of Attridgeville in

Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...

, where he lived with his parents. He now resides in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

Career

''The Main Event'' (2008)

On 28 April 2008, JR released his first studio album under Electromode Music, ''The Main Event''. The single "Gata Le Nna", produced by 37 mph (Mpho Pholo of Reck Shoppe Tunes) and featuring Towdee was number 1 on both

YFM YFM (99.2 FM) is a "Youth" radio station in Johannesburg, South Africa. Established in 1997, the station is formatted to mostly play urban music genres such as Kwaito, Hip Hop, and R&B along with a minority of its airtime being dedicated to ...

and

Metro FM Metro FM is a national radio station in South Africa owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation. The station broadcasts on FM Stereo as well as the DStv Bouquet Channel 801. Telephone : History The station started broadcasting in O ...

for over six weeks. The single was award for "Song of The Year , Hip Hop" at the Hype Awards in 2008. The album was nominated in the "Best Hip Hop Album" in 2008 at the Metro FM Awards, also received a nomination nod at the 2009 South African Music Awards for "Best Hip Hop Album". JR subsequently signed an endorsement deal with

Renault Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...

SA.

''Colourfull'' (2009)

In 2009, JR released his second studio album, ''Colourfull''. His second single from the album, "Show Dem" featured rapper HHP and comedian Joey Rasdien, and was number 1 spot on several national radio stations. The single was nominated at the 2010 Channel O Music Video Awards for "Song of The Year". JR was subsequently featured in two editions of

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

"Base Nights", and signed an endorsement deal with

Vodacom Vodacom Group Limited is a South-Western African mobile communications company, providing voice, messaging, data and converged services to over 55 million customers. From its roots in South Africa, Vodacom has grown its operations to include ...

. JR collaborated with Die Heuwels and hip hop artist, Jack Parow, who raps in English and

Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans gra ...

. The two released their song "Show Goes On" which was originally written by JR himself for rock artist Khan of the band

The Parlotones The Parlotones are a South African indie rock band from Johannesburg. Formed in 1998, the group consists of Kahn Morbee (vocals and rhythm guitar), Paul Hodgson (lead guitar), Glen Hodgson (bass guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals), and Neil ...

, who left for their world tour during the release of their album. JR also co-wrote "No More Hunger" for Khuli Chana,

Tuks Senganga Tumelo Kepadisa (born 2 May 1981), simply known as Tuks Senganga or Tuks, is a South African motswako rapper born in Mafikeng, in the former homeland of the Bophuthatswana. He frequently performs in ethnic languages, though mostly Setswana. Tuk ...

's "Tseo", Lonehill Estate's "Look Good",

Louise Carver Louise Carver (June 9, 1869 - June 19, 1956) was an American actress who performed in grand opera, stage, nickelodeon, and motion pictures. Early years and career Born Mary Louise Steiger in Davenport, Iowa, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mr ...

's "You Think You Got It Easy", "Jealousy" for AKA and co-wrote "Summa Yama Summa" for

Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta ...

. During this period he also discovered and signed rapper sensation

Yanga Chief Yanga Ntshakaza (born October 17, 1987), professionally known as Yanga Chief (or mononymously as Yanga) is a South African rapper and singer-songwriter. Born in Mthatha and raised in Queenstown, Yanga studied film studies at University of ...

to his label Feel Good Music. Writing and producing a couple of records for Yanga Chief including his break out hit single Awuth'Yam featuring Kid X and AKA.

''Kool Forever'' (2012)

''Kool Forever'' was J.R's third studio album. Released under his record label, Feel Good Music, the album received mainly positive reviews, employing a mash up of electric hip hop and

Kwaito Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music that features the use of African sounds and samples. Kwaito songs occur at a slower tempo range than other styles of h ...

. His first single "Phuma" received urban radio airplay. The second single "Muntu" was a mix of pop and

mbaqanga Mbaqanga () is a style of South African music with rural Zulu music, Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s. History Historically, laws such as the Natives' Land Act, Land Act ...

, and was on frequent rotation on radio and TV music channels. The album featured the artists Prokid, Shugasmakx, Reason, Nokwazi, Cabo Snoop, AKA, Maxhoba, Louise Carver, DJ Dimplez and production by 37 mph.

2014

JR worked as a producer and writer on rapper Aka's latest album '' Levels'', writing the first single "Congratulate", which had success in the charts of several African countries. Shortly after that he produced and wrote

DJ Dimplez A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include Radio personality, radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music f ...

' single "Way Up" featuring JR and

Cassper Nyovest Refiloe Maele Phoolo (born 16 December 1990), professionally known as Cassper Nyovest, is a South African rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, record producer and amateur boxer. Born and raised in Mahikeng, North West, he is regarded as one of t ...

. He wrote and produced Shugasmakx's single "Trust It". Later in 2014 he released the single "Soena Papa" from an album planned for 2015. He has also released a single, "Deny", with

Anatii Anathi Bhongo Mnyango (born 8 January 1993), known professionally as Anatii, is a South African rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer & music video director. Career Anatii began his professional musical journey at the age of 14 when h ...

. Towards the end of 2014 he signed rapper Shane Eagle to his label and went on to release the song that would change Eagle's career, "Way UP" featuring BigStar Johnson, along with accapella super group Beyond Vocal.

2019

In 2019 JR and Feel Good Music signed duo

Jobe London Jobe is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname *Ann Wynia, née Jobe (born 1943), former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives *Ben Jobe, American former men's college basketball head coach *Bran ...

and Mphow69 and went on to release arguably the biggest record of 2019 "Sukendleleni" on which JR is credited as co-producer and writer. 2021 JR founded the first music distribution app in Africa called FYVE. Along with his partners, the app launched on 1 June 2021, he took from twitter and said "It gives me great pleasure to announce the beginning of a new tech era! FYVE a new distribution app that will allow musicians to release music on their Cellphones."

Awards

*2009 SAMAS – Best Rap *2008 MTV Hype Awards – Best Hip Hop Record *2008 Metro Awards – Best Hip Hop Album *2010 Nigeria Sound City Awards – Discovery of the Year

Discography

The Main Event (2008)

Singles: ''So Hot'' ft TeePee (Prod. 37 mph), ''Gata Le Nna'' ft Towdee (Prod. 37 mph), ''Mathata'' ft SFS, Mnqobi (Prod. 37 mph), "Ole Time Feeling".

Colourfull (2009)

Singles: ''Aga Shame'', ''Show Dem (Make the Circle Bigger)'', ''Show Goes On ft. Jack Parow & Die Heuwels Fantasties''.

Kool Forever (2012)

Singles: "Muntu" ft Nokwazi, "Ek Smaak Jou", "Toast" with Dj Dimplez and George Avakian, "Imbizo" ft PRO and Shugasmakx

What a life (2017)

Singles:"vibing", "sauce", "Imin'iYeza"

Love Me Now (2018)

"heartless"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:JR South African musicians South African rappers 1987 births Living people