AKA Net Worth and Biography

Kiernan Jarryd Forbes professionally known as AKA is a South African rapper, with an estimated net worth of  $10 million.  He is one of the country’s most successful rappers with 4 studio albums and 1 extended play. According to reports, he is one of South Africa’s most expensive artists to book for performance.

Bio Data

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Biography

AKA was born on 28 January 1988, as Kiernan Jarryd Forbes in Cape Town, South Africa. He Kiernan spent his childhood years with his grandmother in Mitchell’s Plain. He went to stay with his mother, Lynn Forbes, in Johannesburg in 1995.

While at his grandmother’s place, Kiernan went to Holy Cross Convent in Cape Town. He enrolled at Greenside Primary school when he relocated to Johannesburg and joined St John’s College later.

In 2002, Forbes alongside his two friends Vice Versa and Greyhound formed a hip-hop group called Entity. The group received a nomination by the KORA Awards for the Best African Hip Hop category. They disbanded in 2006, leading Forbes to go study sound engineering.

In 2006, Forbes co-founded the production collective The I.V League alongside two other members. The I.V League made production credits for artists including Khuli Chana, ProKid, and JR.

Career

AKA began his rapping Career in 2009, releasing three songs, which include “In My Walk”, “I Do” and “Mistakes”. In 2010, he released “I Want It All”, the lead single from his debut studio album, Altar Ego. The album also contained pre-released two singles which were “All I Know” and “Victory Lap”. “Victory Lap” was a success as it topped South African local radio charts.

Alter Ego was then released on 23 August 2011. The album was certified gold by RiSA for its commercial success. The album won several accolades-notably being for the 2011 Metro FM Awards winning for Best Hip Hop Album, and the 2012 South African Music Awards for Best Male Artist of the Year.

His second album, Levels was released on 30 June 2014. The album was supported by four singles and was certified platinum in 2014, and double platinum in 2018 by Risa. He collaborated with associated act Anatii to release a collaborative album, Be Careful What You Wish For in July 2017.

Touch My Blood was then released on 15 June 2018 and was certified platinum then later certified double platinum by RiSA as for 2019. The album’s sixth single “Fela in Versace” featuring Kiddominant received higher commercial success compared to the other singles.

AKA continued his success by releasing his first extended play  Bhovamania in November 2021. The EP was supported by four singles: “Energy”, “Python”, “Monuments” and “Cross My Heart”. At the 10 ceremonies of the South African Hip Hop Awards, he received a nomination for Artist of the Decade.

AKA Net Worth

AKA is one of the richest musicians in South Africa and one of the richest rappers on the continent, with an estimated net worth of $10 million. He is the highest-selling Hip Hop artist in South Africa, and some of his albums and singles have gained platinum status.

HE makes his money from music through the sales of his albums, live performances, and concerts, as well as through licenses and royalties. All these revenue streams have helped to grow AKA’s net worth.

Besides being a rapper, AKA is also a businessman. He founded  Beam Group in 2017, a multimedia company that dealt with music production, media coverage, and brand promotion. Unfortunately, the group’s operations were closed down in 2018.

Other than Beam Group, AKA also owns a club known as Cuba Lounge BLK and a clothing brand called Bhovamania which is named after his 2021 EP Bhovamania. In April 2020 AKA alongside the vodka brand, Cruz launched the watermelon-flavored drink with his initials on the bottles.

AKA is no doubt one of the most famous rappers in Africa, therefore among the most in-demand brand promoters in South Africa. Some of the top brands that AKA has worked with include the international footwear brand Reebok.