Kabza de Small

Last updated

Kabza De Small
Born
Kabelo Petrus Motha

(1992-11-27) 27 November 1992 (age 31)
Occupations
  • DJ
  • Record Producer
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
Years active2011–present
Labels
  • Piano Hub (current)
  • Bestbyfar Records (former)

Kabelo Petrus Motha (born 27 November 1992) is a South African DJ and record producer, popularly known as Kabza De Small. He is a major figure in the amapiano genre of house music. [1] [2] [3] Aside from his solo career, Motha is a member of the Scorpion Kings. Motha gained international recognition after the release of "Umshove", in 2018.

Contents

Kabza's third studio album I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust (2021), debuted number one in South Africa.

Forbes Africa ranked Motha number 18 on Forbes Africa 30 under 30. His accolades include ten South African Music Awards, two Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards, three AmaPiano Music Awards and one Sunday Times GenNext.

Life and career

Born and raised in Mpumalanga, later Motha, with his family, relocated to Pretoria. His musical career began in 2009. He was signed under Tyrique de Bruyne and released his first album Avenue Sound in 2016 under Bestbyfar Records. [4] Kabza established his own record label PianoHub. His breakthrough single "Umshove" featuring South African singer Leehleza was released in 2018. [5] On 1 October 2019, he released Piano Hub with DJ Maphorisa. The Extended play was certified 3× platinum in South Africa. [6] The Return of Scorpion Kings was released on 29 November 2019. [5]

On 31 January 2020, Scorpion Kings (Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa) announced Scorpion King Live, which was set to be 11 April, at Sun Arena, Times Square in Pretoria. [7] The concert was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, [8] and was rescheduled to 9 August. [9] [10]

His studio album I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust , was released on 26 June 2020. The album was certified double platinum in South Africa. [6] In December 2020, Kabza was listed as the most streamed South African artist by Spotify. [11] [12] That same month, Kabza announced collaborative studio album Rumble in the Jungle , and released lead single "Funu", featuring Afro-pop singer Tresor in February 2021. [13] Rumble in the Jungle, a collaborative studio album by Kabza de Small, DJ Maphorisa, and Tresor was released on 9 April 2021. [14] [15]

Motha was ranked at number 18 on Forbes Africa's 30 under 30 list in June 2021. [16]

In July 2021, he was featured on Rolling Stone magazine for his musical career. [17]

On 27 September, Kabza and DJ Maphorisa released "Abalele" featuring South African singer Ami Faku. [18] The song debuted number 4 on the Spotify charts and number 1 on the official South African Music Charts. [19] [20]

In early January 2022, he announced his album KOA II Part 1, on his Instagram account. [21] The album was set to be released on 16 June 2022. [22]

His studio EP Ziwangale was released on 22 April 2022. [23] Its lead single "Ziwa Ngale" featuring DJ Tira, DJ Exit SA, Beast, Mshunqisi, Young Stunna, and Felo Le Tee, charted number on iTune SA music charts. [24]

The other three songs, "Ebusuku" featuring Nkosazana Daughter, "Kabza" featuring Murumba Pitch, and "Mak'shoni" Langa" featuring DJ Maphorisa, Murumba Pitch, and Da Muziqal Chef, debuted at number 7, number 12 and number 26 respectively, on iTunes music chart. [24]

On 31 May, Kabza released 6 singles; "Khusela" featuring Msaki, "Bathini" featuring Young Stunna and Artwork Sounds, and "Isoka" featuring Nkosazana Daughter and Murumba Pitch, as part 1 of his album. [25]

KOA II Part 1 (pronounced King of Amapiano 2 Part 1) was released on 16 June 2022. [26]

The album debuted number 11 on iTunes top 100 chart, and "Khusela" peaked number 1 on Apple Music charts. [27]

In June 2022, Motha announced a 3 leg tour that ran from 24 to 26 June. [28]

In early October 2022, he announced he was working on his EP via Twitter, and released a lead single "K'shubile" with Kwesta featuring Masterpiece YVK. In November 2022, he worked with Afrika Memani on the Road To Private EP, which was released on the 4th of November. [29]

Scorpion Kings announced Summer Tour which includes 9 dates, it ran from 11 December at Cape Town until 25 February 2023, Gauteng.

Kabza reportedly working on joint extended play together with Ami Faku, announced on his Twitter account on 13 February 2023. [30] Release date and EP title are yet to be announced.

In May 2023, he collaborated with DJ Maphorisa to release a 25 track mixtape project titled The Konka Mixtape (Sweet & Dust) Album. [31]

In early July 2023, Kabza was reported as a producer of Drake's It's All a Blur Tour. [32]

"Isibusiso" featuring South African singer Mthunzi was released on 20 October 2023 as a lead single ahead of his extended play Isimo. The EP was released on 27 October 2023.

In April 2024, his show Redbull Symphonic with Ofentse Pitse and Symphonic Ochestra was sold out in 5 hours becoming the first artist to do so. [33] [34] It was held at Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg on June 8, 2024. [35] Following the success of his first show, Redbull Symphonic added second show which was sold out in 8 minutes broke second record for him, was held on June 9. [36] [37] [38]

"Kabza Chant" featuring Young Stunna, Nkosazana Daughter, Mthunzi, Nokwazi, Anzo, Mashudu, Marumba Pitch, and Tman X-Press was released on June 7, 2024. It debuted at number 1 on SA Spotify Daily Charts. [39]

Awards and nominations

All Africa Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2022"Adiwele"African Fans FavouriteNominated [40]
KOA IIAlbum of the YearNominated
HimselfArtist of the YearNominated

DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2020"Nana Thula"Favourite Song of the YearNominated
HimselfFavourite Rising StarWon
Favourite DJWon
2022"Asibe Happy"Favourite SongNominated [41] [42]
Scorpion Kings (Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa)Favourite music artist/groupNominated
Favourite DJNominated

South African Amapiano Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2021Scorpion Kings LiveAmapiano Album of the YearNominated [43]
Scorpion KingsBest Amapiano Male DJ ActWon
HimselfBest Amapiano Music ProducerWon
"Emcimbini"Best Amapiano CollaborationWon
2023"Abalele"Song of the YearCancelled cross.svgCancelled [44]
"Asibe Happy"Cancelled cross.svgCancelled
"Khusela" featuring Msaki Cancelled cross.svgCancelled
Best AmaPiano Produced SongCancelled cross.svgCancelled
Best Amapiano CollaborationCancelled cross.svgCancelled
"Asibe Happy"Cancelled cross.svgCancelled
KOA II Part 1Best AmaPiano Album/EpCancelled cross.svgCancelled
HimselfBest AmaPiano ProducerCancelled cross.svgCancelled
AmaPiano Artist of the YearCancelled cross.svgCancelled

South African Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2020 Scorpion Kings (DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, MFR Souls & Virgo Deep) Album of the Year Won [45]
Best Kwaito/Gqom/AmapianoNominated
The Return of the Scorpion Kings (Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa)Nominated
2021 Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)Album of the yearWon [46]
I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & DustNominated
Male Artist of the YearWon
Once Upon A Time in Lockdown (Scorpion Kings) Duo/Group of the Year Won
Best Amapiano AlbumWon
I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & DustNominated
2022 "Asibe Happy"Record of the YearNominated [47]
"Abalele"Nominated
Most Streamed Song of the YearWon [48] [49]
2023 Speak N Vrostaan (with Kwesta)Best Kwaito AlbumWon
KOA II Part 1 Best Produced AlbumWon
Best Amapiano AlbumWon
Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena (with DJ Maphorisa)Duo/Group of the YearWon

Sunday Times GenNext

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2021HimselfCoolest Local Club DJWon [50]

Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2021"Emcimbini"Most Voted SongNominated [51]

Metro FM Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2023 Khusela featuring Msaki Song of the Year Nominated
Best Amapiano SongNominated
"Mrholo Wayizolo" Kabza de Small & KwestaBest Kwaito/GqomNominated
Best duo/Group SongNominated
HimselfBest Male ArtistNominated
2024"Imithandazo"Song of the YearWon [52]
Best CollaborationWon
Best AmapianoWon
IsimoBest Produced AlbumWon
HimselfBest MaleNominated

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

EPs

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positions Certifications Album
ZA
"Kabza Chant" (featuring Mthunzi, Young Stunna, Nkosazana Daughter, Murumba Pitch, Mashudu, Anzo, Nokwazi, T-Man Xpress)20241Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positions Certifications Album
ZA
"Awesome God" (Artwork Sounds, Bee Bar featuring Kabza De Small)202324RiSA: Gold [54] The Gospel According To Artwork Sounds Chapter II
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

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RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE is an amapiano collaborative album by TRESOR, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small. It was released on 9 April 2021 and features guest appearances from local South African musicians such as Tyler ICU, Mas Musiq and the Cape Town band Beatenberg. The 14-track album is composed of TRESOR's vocals, which are combined from genres such as amapiano, Kwassa kwassa, rumba, salsa, bubblegum and Afrobeats. The album also alternates between Swahili, French, English, Zulu and Lingala.

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"Abalele" is a South African amapiano song produced by Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa, featuring the vocals of Ami Faku. It was released on September 17, 2021, and became a hit in South Africa, topping the Apple Music charts and becoming the country's fourth most-streamed song of 2021 on Spotify.

<i>I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust</i> 2020 studio album by Kabza de Small

I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust is a third solo studio album by South African DJ Kabza de Small, released through Piano Hub on June 26, 2020.

<i>KOA II Part 1</i> 2022 studio album by Kabza De Small

KOA II Part 1 is the fourth studio album by South African DJ Kabza De Small, released on June 16, 2022, through Piano Hub. The album features guest appearances from DJ Maphorisa, Ami Faku, Msaki, Young Stunna, Kwesta, Bob Mabena, Mhaw Keys and more.

"Imithandazo" is an amapiano song by Kabza de Small and Mthunzi from their collaborative studio album Isimo (2023). It was released on 27 October 2023 by Piano Hub under exclusive license from Sony Music Entertainment Africa, it features guest appearances from DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine, Young Stunna, and Umthakathi Kush with production handled by Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa, collectively known as Scorpion Kings.

References

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