Revolution is a house band formed in Johannesburg, South Africa consisting of twin brothers George and Joseph Mothiba. They emerged into the spotlight with the release of their third album The Journey in 2002, supported by the hit single Vhavenda, it was recognised as the Best Selling Release at the 2003 South African Music Awards. Since then, they have released a further twelve albums at a rate of close to one per year, achieving some degree of commercial and critical success.
Career
Early life and career
George and Joseph Mothiba were born in Alexandra township in Johannesburg, South Africa. They also have two elder sisters and describe their family, which is said to have Limpopo roots, as "simple".
The brothers first started dabbling in music at the age of 17. Initially they experimented with computers, "playing around" with sounds and pursuing DJing as a hobby. They would take their uncle's radio cassettes whilst washing his car then play them at friends parties. At one such party they met Big Oscar (better known as Oskido), a more established DJ. They went up to him for advice on DJing as he was able to mix with vinyls instead of tapes, they casually frequented him for a year and half afterwards. While searching for vinyls to mix with, they met DJ Christos as he owned one of the few record shops selling vinyls. Impressed by their interest in music and seeing them regularly come by his shop he asked them to open for him when going on gigs. Having been introduced to the world of professional music in 1999, Revolution released their first album in 2000.
2002–2004: Breakthrough success
Their 2002 remix of guitar player Phillip Tabane's song Vhavenda started on the wrong note. They had used their mother's vinyls to craft the song without asking for Tabane's permission, he at first threatened to sue them but allegedly relented after listening to – and appreciating – the song. This bluster ultimately proved successful as the song, and its accompanying album The Journey, introduced them to a wider public, it reportedly went double platinum within three months of its launch, ultimately selling over 400,000 copies. It also earned the group awards such as the Metro FM award for Best Club DJ, and the South African Music Awards (Sama) award for Best Selling Release.
The brothers released The Journey Continues, their fourth album (after The Journey and their previous releases Revolution 1 and Revolution 2), in September 2003. Featuring popular tracks such as Zim Connection, a collaboration with Zimbabwean jazz musician Andy Brown, it also went double platinum, selling more than 100,000 copies by February 2004. It would garner them further acclaim, including another Metro FM award for Best Club DJ in 2004, and another Sama the same year, this time for Best Dance Album.
2004–2009: Fifth album and further recognition
Another Level, their fifth album, which was released in 2004, saw the DJ's team up with a number of collaborators including Jazz stalwarts McCoy Mrubata, Pops Mohammed and Jimmy Dludlu to create a fusion of house and Jazz that made the latter more accessible to young fans The album proved another commercial success, going over triple-platinum in units sold, whilst it also brought Revolution four nominations for the 2005 Sama's; Best Dance Album, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (for The Anthem) and Best Group or Duo, winning the latter.
For 2005 album Roots the duo enlisted the services of actress (notably appearing in Muvhango) and singer Maduvha, who they also signed to their record label Four Sounds Productions, penning the song Light of My Life. It was nominated for Best Popular Song of the Year at the 2006 Sama's while Revolution received their second successive nomination for Best Duo or Group though they didn't win either.
Revolution's 2006 album 4 u contained Feel the Music, a collaboration with former Boom Shaka member Theo Nhlengethwa who also signed up to their label, releasing the album Ngiyabonga, written and produced by the Mothiba brothers, in 2007. Later in 2007, Revolution were again nominated for a Sama award, for Best Urban Dance Album, while their protégée Maduvha's eponymous album (also produced by them) received a nod for Best Female Artist though they both lost.
The Book of Revolution, their ninth album came out in 2008 (Fusion was released the year before). Featuring eclectic partnerships with artists such as Antonio Lyons and Don Laka it was described as a "proudly Pan African fruit cocktail of stunning soul vocals, kwaai jazz grooves, glorious gospel anthems, fly slam poetic raps, and authentic maskandi filters" by critic Miles Keylock in a laudative review.