Childhood friends Mpumelelo Mcata and Lindani Buthelezi grew up together in Spruitview, East Rand, where they founded the Blk Jks in 2000.
[1][2] After varying lineups, they were joined by Molefi Makananise (bass) and Tshepang Ramoba (drums) from Soweto and the four played their first gig in Grahamstown in 2005.
American DJ Diplo noticed them while on tour in South Africa and offered to sign the band to his Mad Decent label.
[11] Likewise, a review on Pitchfork appreciated After Robots as "a hugely ambitious album, with swooping forays into kwaito, ska, reggae, ambience, jazz, prog, and furor."
Nonetheless, the review's author complained the Blk Jks would not live up to the hype created by comparisons calling them the "African TV on the Radio" and he only gave the album a 6.2 rating.
The Mail & Guardian listed the Blk Jks in their yearly feature of eminent 200 Young South Africans in 2009[14] and 2010.
[15][16] Mcata and Ramoba started a DJ project called Blk Jks Soundsystem together, as well as, the band Motèl Mari with João Orrechia.
In 2014, they cast a singer to open for the Foo Fighters on their tour in South Africa[19][17] and terminated their contract with Secretly Canadian.