When Liquideep and Teargas ruled the airwaves: Zakes Bantwini's nostalgic tweet strikes a chord

Who can forget the time when Liquideep was playing in every corner of Mzansi, from backyard braais to the loudest taxis after school? The beats were smooth, the lyrics were deep, and let’s be honest, their songs were the soundtrack to many of our memories.

Recently, award-winning producer and musician Zakes Bantwini tweeted that he missed the music of Liquideep and Teargas. 

“Man, I really miss Teargas and Liquideep’s music,” the "Osama" hitmaker wrote, and just like that, he had the timeline in their feels. 

It was a time when tracks like "Fairytale", "Alone", and "Settle for Less" by Liquideep were playing everywhere – from family gatherings and high school dances to those long taxi rides home.

And who could forget "BBM"? The song arrived just as BlackBerry Messenger was at its peak, giving us the perfect anthem to go with our dramatic BBM statuses. Yes, those were the days.

Liquideep, made up of singer Ziyon and producer Ryzor, came onto the scene with their soulful house sound in the late 2000s. 

Their 2010 album "Fabrics of the Heart" became a national favourite, earning the group several South African Music Awards (Samas), including Album of the Year. 

Their music peaked in popularity between 2009 and 2012, a time when house music was deeply embedded in Mzansi’s cultural life: weddings, clubs, even your cousin’s mixtape CD.

Liquideep stood out for their emotional songwriting and international-quality production, helping to elevate South African house music on the global stage. 

At the same time, hip hop trio Teargas, made up of K.O, Ma-E, and Ntukza, was making waves of its own.

The group debuted in 2006 with "K’shubile K’bovu", followed by the critically acclaimed "Wafa Wafa" and "Dark or Blue". 

Their blend of social commentary, streetwise lyrics, and catchy hooks turned them into one of SA’s most influential hip hop acts of the time. 

Teargas earned several accolades, including Sama nominations and an MTV Africa Music Award nod.

With tracks like "Chance", "Party 101", and "Champions", the group gave voice to township youth and tackled real issues while still delivering club bangers.

Liquideep quietly disbanded a few years after their peak.

By around 2014, the duo had gone their separate ways. Ziyon continued with solo projects and collaborations, while Ryzor took a step back from the limelight.

Despite no official announcement, fans noticed the silence, and the absence was felt.

Teargas, on the other hand, took an unofficial hiatus around 2014 to 2015, following the release of their fourth album "Num8er Num8er".

Internal tensions and solo ambitions, especially K.O’s breakout as a solo artist, led to the group fading from the scene.

So yes, Bantwini wasn’t alone in his feels.

That tweet reminded us of an entire era, when BBMs were a thing, when love letters came with a USB full of downloaded tracks, and when music felt different.

And who knows, maybe one day, we’ll get a reunion. Until then, we'll keep pressing replay on the old favourites, because that era was golden.