RG Royal claiming his crown
RG Royal has worked all his life to turn the music industry on its head and it is only the beginning of his growing empire
From an early age RG Royal knew that he was destined for artistic greatness. This is the reason he stays as busy as he does, to constantly reinvent himself and keep his fans wanting more.
RG Royal, born Reginald Nkosi (24), started his career as a dancer for the hip hop group, Skwatta Kamp, when in grade nine at Lowveld High School.
“I would dance for them whenever they performed locally and anywhere close to Mbombela,” he explained. While in grade 11, he temporarily hung up his dancing shoes to focus on his studies. This, however, did not deter him from performing, as he went on to portray Othello at school.
The thespian that he is, Nkosi went on to co-direct a school play in which he played the lead, a first for any learner at the school. After he matriculated in 2012, he went on to study a degree in graphic and web design at Computer Training Unlimited in Cape Town. After his studies, Nkosi went back to his first love, music.
He collaborated with his cousin, a music producer, and friend Costa Tshubalaglou, with whom he dropped their first single, “Are you ready”? After the trio went their separate way years later, Nkosi continued under new management and went on to release his first solo single, Beamers and Dibas.
After multiple management changes, he met Sizwe Shabangu, a music-video producer with whom he shot the video for the single. This catapulted his career.
Nkosi has since performed with rappers Jack Parow and Reason.
Nkosi is the second of three children. He was born to a Malawian mother who lives in Nelsville and South African father who lives in Matsulu.
His older sister is Busisiwe Bonita, a Miss Mpumalanga finalist and his younger brother is Morgan Manana who is studying for his masters degree at the University of Johannesburg.
When he is not performing, Nkosi gets his creative juices flowing by working on building his various brands that include a T-shirt line and cologne. “I don’t relax. When I do I feel like I am not doing anything. I work better when I am under pressure.”
