Kay Dope, born Khwezi Hlokoza on February 26, embarked on his journey into hip-hop in 2010, driven by the influences of his surroundings in Cape Town. Growing up immersed in a rich musical environment, he was exposed to various genres, including Hip-Hop, Rap, House Music, Jazz, and Kwaito. His close friendship with Brother Charlie, a fellow musician from the same township who was already active in the music scene and signed to L.A.M.A by Alcoholics Musicians, further fueled his passion. In 2012, Brother Charlie introduced Kay Dope to Lwanda and Thimza, schoolmates who were also musicians. The four artists—Kay Dope, Brother Charlie, Lwanda, and Thimza—decided to form a group called Detroit at the end of 2012. They released their first project, "Unexpected Arrival," in 2014 under the Purple Beats studio, owned by Aylo. Between 2012 and 2017, the group performed extensively across Cape Town townships, including Khayelitsha, Site C, Driftsands, and Langa. In 2019, Kay Dope established his own studio, Kay Dope Studio, where he released his first solo mixtape, "Undefeated," in 2020.