Sandile Nkululeko Mkhize (December 8, 1989 – February 14, 2022), also known as DJ Citi Lyts, was a South African hip hop DJ, rapper and record producer from Soweto.
Basic Information
| Real Name: | Sandile Nkululeko Mkhize |
| Date of Birth: | Friday 8 December 1989 |
| Place of Birth: | Soweto, South Africa |
| Died: | Monday 14 February 2022 (aged 32), Dube, Soweto |
| Hometown: | Soweto |
| Occupation: | Hip hop DJ, rapper, record producer |
| Siblings: | Linda Mkhize (ProKid) |
| Children: | 1 (a son) |
| Genres: | Hip Hop |
| Label(s): | Ambitiouz Entertainment |
DJ Citi Lyts was born and raised in Soweto, South Africa. He rose to fame in 2016 after releasing a the song “Washa” featuring Emtee, Fifi Cooper and B3nchMarQ.
Career
DJ Citi Lyts first discovered his love for rap music while at Yeoville primary school where he took part in school activities such as hip hop and pantsula dance groups and also participating in the school choir.
During his time in high school, Sandile formed a hip hop group called Flipside, this immediately launched his music career with performances at club events such as Club Keys and BlackOrchard.
Sandile first opportunity to DJ was when met hip hop artist F-Eezy, he would go on to work with him by being his official DJ and hype man.
DJ Citi Lyts later went on to work with his elder brother, rapper ProKid. This significantly helped in further building and improving Sandile’s skills as a DJ.
Through his music circle of friends, DJ Citi Lyts would then go on to meet and work with rapper Emtee and record producer Ruff, this was when his career shot up, putting a spot light on him as one of South Africa hottest DJs. He soon signed to South African record label, Ambitiouz Entertainment where he linked up with more talented artists like Sjava and Fifi Cooper.
He would then go on to release a couple of hit songs that included “Vura” and “Washa”.
“Washa” became one of the biggest hip hop songs in South Africa in December 2015 and ranked within the Top 5 on the South African Top 100 charts “new-years-eve” countdown.
Personal Life and Family
He is the younger brother of South African hip hop legend, Linda Mkhize, most commonly known as ProKid or PRO.
DJ Citi Lyts was not married but he has a son with his former girlfriend.
Songs
- Vura (featuring Sjava and Saudí)
- Shishiliza (featuring Sjava and Kraizie)
- Washa (featuring Emtee, Fifi Cooper and B3nchMarQ)
- Malambane (featuring S’Villa, Blaq Diamond, Kid Tini, Emtee and LaSauce)
- Low Key (featuring B3nchMarQ and Christer)
- KasLam (featuring PRO, Bless and Blayze)
- Flex (featuring Jimmy Wiz, Touchline and Dubb Mandela)
- Jae Mino & DJ Citi Lyts – Freeze (featuring Luna Florentino)
Business Ventures
DJ Citi Lyts is a co-owner of a restaurant, Ezio Cafe, which is located on Vilakazi Street, Soweto, Johannesburg.
He is also the founder and owner of the entertainment company, Nu Paradise. The company triples as an artists and repertoire, record label and Artist Management entity.
Death
At approximately 00:30 (South Africa Standard Time) on the morning of Monday 14 February 2022, DJ Citi Lyts was in Dube, Soweto on the street with his friends when four men driving in a silver VW Polo ambushed them, two of the men opened fire and shot DJ Citi Lyts 8 times, fatally wounding him. The men also shot at a nearby car to prevent it giving chase.
Gauteng police were later called to the murder scene in Dube at about 2 a.m. and on arrival, they found DJ Citi Lyts’ lying on the ground with gunshot wounds to the upper body, he was immediately certified dead by paramedics.
The motive for the attack is still unknown but police is searching for the culprits.
Burial and Tombstone
Sandile Nkululeko Mkhize was buried on Saturday 19 February 2022 in Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg. His tombstone is in the same row with that of his late elder brother ProKid.
Check out DJ Citi Lyts’ tombstone in the photos below;
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