Focalistic

Lethabo Sebetso, the Pretoria rapper who records as Focalistic, arrived at music after a spell as a footballer, and his work is rooted in amapiano. Born in 1996 in Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, he studied political science at the University of Pretoria before winning the Artist on Rise competition in 2016. Early in 2020 he set up his own label, 18 Area Holdings, in partnership with The Vth Seasons, giving him a base from which to release his own music.

His breakthrough came with 'Ke Star', featuring Vigro Deep, released in April 2020 and certified gold with sales of 25,000 copies. A remix with Davido and Vigro Deep followed in February 2021 and reached number 16 on the Billboard Top Triller Global chart. His debut album, Sgubhu Ses Excellent, arrived in December 2020, and the President Ya Straata EP, led by '16 Days No Sleep' with Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa and Mellow & Sleazy, followed in September 2021. In March 2022 he played the O2 Arena in London alongside Davido, and he has since announced a joint album with Ch'cco, Based On A True Story (B.O.A.T.S), scheduled for 5 September 2025.