No one was ready for the moustachioed, oddly hatted and sleeveless leopard print shirt-wearing phenomenon popping out from the wrong side of the boerewors curtain—skollie rapper Jack Parow. Thanks to quirky debut single “Cooler as Ekke” going viral, not only did Zander Tyler’s zef alter-ego become an instant chart-topper, he also helped pave the way for Afrikaans hip-hop to finally go mainstream. Over the years this Bellville prankster has continued to deliver the goods musically—“Die Vraagstuk”, “I Miss” and “Hosh Tokolosh” remain firm party favourites—while also branching out into broader Afrikaans culture through fashion, literature, television appearances and even his own brand of brandewyn. His collaborations with artists from a diverse range of backgrounds—Gazelle, Klipwerf Orkes, David Kramer and Freshlyground come to mind—have also earned him praise as both an artist as well as cultural bridge builder.