We can't mention Coca-Cola Pop Stars without thinking of its all-male group Ghetto Lingo. Ghetto Lingo, won the second season of Coca-Cola Pop Stars and although they were the winners, ironically enough, it's their female counterparts - Jamali that received greater success than them.
The entertainment industry has its beautiful and ugly side and if you're not careful, it's almost certain that the ugly side of it will swallow you up. You can easily go from being an overnight sensation to a nobody all in a short space of time. Unfortunately, life happened to male group Ghetto Lingo. Unlike Jamali, the men went from being the talk of the town to hardly being remembered at all.
The all-male group has since gone their separate ways but since they've come back together, we might be hearing a different sound from them.
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Martin Phike who was popularly known as the "cute guy with the hair" in the group might just be the reason Ghetto Lingo gets back into the studio together, but this time it might be for a different genre of music.
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Since separating from the group almost a decade ago, Martin has found his new calling in life and has chosen to live his life through Christ. Since he started his spiritual journey, the lingering question of what greatness Ghetto Ling could have achieved still lingered in his head and only in 2016, he found his answers.
"I spoke to the Lord once again and this time I got my answers," says Martin.
In the quest to keep looking young and fresh while serving the Lord, someone approached him at the gym and asked why he doesn't involve the other members of the group in a reality show? A reality show, that he has been in talks for a while now. The reality show will be called On the go with Martin Phike and believe it or not the journey in which the group comes together again will be featured on the upcoming reality show as well.
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Not much can be said at the moment about the show, but one thing is certain, we will see the group come together like never before. Many might wonder, that since Martin has found God and has become a well-known gospel sensation, how will this work with the other members of the group?
''I want the guys to tell their stories the best way they know how, I'm not forcing anyone to do gospel but the guys know that I can't be singing about abo mabhebheza anymore because I am not that guy anymore and we all agree that we will respect one another in this regard."
We might not get a full on gospel record but the guys will tell their life stories and like Martin, they will touch lives too.
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For those who forgot, here's a reminder of Martin's voice
The gospel industry in South Africa has seen significant growth in the last couple of years but still, lacks a bit more originality. Pastor Martin Phike says that if we can have artist write more original music then in the next three to five years, we might see ourselves doing even better than we are now. Having been recognised not only in the African continent but overseas too, the pastor certainly has hope for the South African gospel industry.
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Martin has been married to Khanyi Phike for almost a decade now and between traveling the world for his ministries, conducting business and being the fitness bunny that he is, it sometimes does get difficult and makes it almost impossible to balance out his busy schedule and family. When he does manage to get some downtime, then no one else will get his attention but his wife and two children.
One thing Martin would like to teach his young children is to not only follow your dreams but be original. If ever they choose to walk in their father's footsteps, then he wants them to know that they're individuals and were made perfectly in Gods image.
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Image credit: Instagram.com/@martin_pk