Teargas, a South African group made of three members, Ntokozo “K.O.” Mdlui and brothers Ezee “Ma-E” Hanabe and Bantu “Ntukza” Hanabe.They all met at Vaal Tri-angle Technikon in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, where their friendship emerged from shared musical interests, although they had each been making their strides within the underground hip hop circuit. The group formed in 2004 and adopted the name Teargas, due to their countries political past where police used to throw tear gas in order to make the protesting crowds disperse.Because of this, the trio group sees their music as a way to disperse messages against socio-economic harms such as crime, HIV/Aids, poverty, etc.
After spending time working day jobs while simultaneously promoting themselves, Teargas got signed up with Electromode Music in 2005 as the labels first hip hop artists. Their first debut album came out in 2006, K’shubile K’bovu, with 14 songs that incorporated ideas of hope and social awareness, as well as several party songs which made for a creative and entertaining album. Their second album, Wafa Wafa (Do or die), has a track that features Bongo Riot of Gang Of Instrumentals fame called “Champions”, that commemorates all those who apart from their financial status still are ambitious about reaching their goals. This album established them as a keystone within the local hip hop community. Dark or Blue published in 2009 as their third album, featured several veterans of the music industry like HHP, Pro Kid, Dj Tira, etc. They were nominated 3 times as the first hip hop group for Best album of the year at the South African Music Awards, the biggest awards institution in their country. In 2011, they traveled to Los Angeles for the BET awards after being nominated for Best International Act. After three great and prosperous albums, TearGas is working on their 4th album called “Num8er Num8er” township slang for mission, which is what they are on, in order to keep spreading messages of hope and perseverance throughout their country.