Hip-hop star Zuluboy believes he would have not been where he is today if it were not for the late Linda "Pro" Mkhize.

Zuluboy said Pro, who died on Wednesday after a severe seizure, had influenced his musical career.

According to a statement released by the family, the paramedics who had been called to the scene did their best to revive the 37-year-old without success. Pro was with his friends when he died.

Zuluboy, who was born Mxolisi Majozi, said he met the hip-hop legend when he launched his first album at the Bat Centre in Durban. "This is where I met Sipho Sithole [Native Rhythms boss] who gave me a chance. I called him [Pro] Khabazela. He played a big role in my career. We collaborated with him and Young Nation calling ourselves Three Zulus on the Mic."

Zuluboy defined Pro as one of the most gifted musicians. He said he was a natural, from conceptualising ideas to their execution.

Sean Vilakazi, one of Pro's cousins, said they grew up in Jabulani in Soweto. They were raised by their grandmother in the absence of their working parents.

Vilakazi said Pro's talent showed at a young age. "He was very artistic from a young age and good a drawing. His love for music, especially hip-hop, started at a young age."

The musician released albums such as Heads & Tales, DNA, Dankie San, Snakes & Ladders and Continua.

Pro started out with Saudi Western, which included Maggz, Morale, Tido, Zee, Sean Pages, & Omen.

Maggz, who worked a lot with Pro in their early years in the game, tweeted: "A dark day - lost a brother, friend, and kindred spirit today, brutally heart-breaking. R.I.P Pro.

Pro took rapping in African languages to great heights and will go down as one of the greatest and most influential hip-hop artists of his generation."

He is survived by his mother, Fikile, and father, Zwelakhe Kheswa, his wife, Ayanda, three-year old daughter Nonkanyezi and his brothers.