The winner of Idols SA season 19 can expect to have a record deal waiting to catapult them to instant fame. What’s more, the winner will be signing with JR’s record label, Feel Good Music.
Further to the guarantee of being signed to a mainstream record label, this year’s winner can also look forward to being mentored by a music boss who has paid close attention to their growth on the show.
Real name Tabure Thabo Bogopa Junior, is one of South Africa’s most recognisable faces in the music business. Having sold and picked up some of the land’s most sought-after awards in his illustrious career, JR knows a thing or two about building a successful career from scratch.
JR broke out in 2008, following the release of The Main Event. The album’s lead single, ‘Gita Le Nan’ marked a triumphant entrance into the scene for the Motswakolista. The single claimed the top position on multiple charts, including YFM and Metro FM, where it reigned at the top for six consecutive weeks.
The song achieved remarkable commercial success, which helped it win the ‘Song of the Year' gong at the Hype Awards.
The critically lauded project also scored JR the ‘Best Hip Hop Album’ at the 2008 Metro FM Music Awards, as a nod for ‘Best Hip Hop Album’ at the South African Awards.
The success of JR’s debut album only grow with subsequent releases. His sophomore album, ‘Colourfull’, came out the following year. That is where ‘Show Dem’, the blockbuster banger that he released with the late HHP, was serviced to radio stations nationwide. The song would become one of JR’s biggest hits and scored him another ‘Song of The Year’ nomination at the 2009 Metro FM Music Awards.
Since then, JR has released one more studio album, ‘Kool Forever’ which came out in 2012. And while fans continue to demand a new studio project, JR has been spending a lot of time expanding his footprint in the business, distribution, and creative sides of the music industry.
Amongst the slew of chart-topping artists he has worked with as a producer, JR famously wrote AKA’s smash hit ‘Congratulate Me’, and proceeded to produce ‘Way Up’ by DJ Dimplez and Cassper Nyovest. JR has also produced for the likes of Anatii and Shane Eagle - making him one of the most prominent producers in the SA Hip Hop scene.
In 2019, JR and Feel Good Music signed duo Jobe London and Mphow69 and went on to release arguably the biggest record of 2019 ‘Sukendleleni’ on which JR is credited as co-producer and writer.
The winner of Idols SA will be walking into this hall of fame, giving them an incredible head start in the game.
The search for South Africa’s next big star continues on Idols SA. Tune in on Mzansi Magic every Saturday at 18:00, and thereafter on Mzansi Wethu at 19:30.
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