Jack Parow: Biography
Born: 22 February 1982, Parow, Cape Town, South Africa
Real name: Zander Tyler
Occupation: Rapper, songwriter, performer
Also known as: Afrikaans rap pioneer, “King of Zef”
Zander Tyler, known professionally as Jack Parow, was born in the suburb of Parow near Bellville, Cape Town, in 1982. Raised in Afrikaans-speaking communities during a period of political transition in South Africa, he encountered early cultural influences through popular music circulating on radio and cassette. At the age of twelve he first heard American hip-hop through a Snoop Dogg recording, prompting early experiments in writing lyrics. Initially composed in English, his verses gradually shifted into Afrikaans, which provided a direct and resonant medium of expression.
Before his emergence as a recording artist, Tyler trained as a mechanic and worked in occupations including packing fish at the harbor and serving in the municipal cemetery division. His stage persona was developed in a lighthearted context following a viewing of the film Pirates of the Caribbean, after which he selected the name “Jack Parow.” The decision reflected both local reference and an element of theatrical exaggeration. Early support came from fellow Cape Town musician Watkin Tudor Jones, later known as part of Die Antwoord, who encouraged him to emphasize his distinctive Afrikaans performance style.
Public attention was drawn in 2009 with the release of the EP Cooler as Ekke, distributed on USB drives shaped as ice-cream cones. The title track circulated widely online, and its accompanying video surpassed one million YouTube views, a first for an Afrikaans-language release. His self-titled debut album appeared in 2010 and achieved gold and later platinum certification. Subsequent albums—Eksie Ou (2011), Nag Van Die Lang Pette (2014), Dis Hoe Ons Rol (2016), and Die Evangelie van Goeie Tye (2023)—extended his repertoire while retaining satirical and irreverent themes.
Collaboration formed a consistent feature of Parow’s career. He recorded with Die Heuwels Fantasties, Fokofpolisiekar, and Die Antwoord, contributing to a Cape Town alternative circuit that connected rock, rap, and electronic influences. His association with zef, a countercultural style marked by parody and excess, positioned him as a visible participant in debates about identity and taste in South African popular culture. Alongside musical work, he engaged in other ventures including authorship of an autobiography, Die Ou Met die Snor by die Bar (2015), the launch of a brandy line (2017), and appearances on television, which extended his presence in cultural commentary.
Family references appeared within this otherwise flamboyant persona. His daughter Ruby, born in 2012, became the subject of the song “Dis Befok” and contributed footage to its remix video, illustrating the link between his public image and private life. This combination of performance spectacle with personal narrative shaped his ongoing visibility in South African popular music.
Selected Discography
- Jack Parow (2010)
- Eksie Ou (2011)
- Nag Van Die Lang Pette (2014)
- Dis Hoe Ons Rol (2016)
- Die Evangelie van Goeie Tye (2023)
Key Associations
- Die Antwoord — early collaborators who encouraged his style
- Die Heuwels Fantasties — partners on “Die Vraagstuk” and other tracks
- Fokofpolisiekar — contemporaries in Cape Town’s alternative music scene