Kabza De Small - Biography, Career Beginnings & Achievements and Songs

Kabelo Petrus Motha 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. Aside from his solo career, Motha is a member of the Scorpion Kings. Motha gained international recognition after the release of "Umshove" in 2018.

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, four Metro FM Music Awards, three AmaPiano Music Awards, two Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards, one Sunday Times GenNext, and one Dance Music Awards South Africa.

Early Life

Born on November 27, 1992, and originally from eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, the currently 32-year-old Motha moved to Pretoria with his family. He started his music career in 2009. After signing with Tyrique de Bruyne, he released his debut album, Avenue Sound, in 2016 under Bestbyfar Records. Motha later founded his own record label, PianoHub.

Career Beginnings and Achievements

Kabza’s breakthrough single, 'Umshove,' featuring South African singer Leehleza, was released in 2018. On October 1, 2019, he released 'Piano Hub' with DJ Maphorisa. The EP was certified 3× platinum in South Africa. 'The Return of Scorpion Kings' was released on November 29, 2019.

On January 31, 2020, Scorpion Kings (Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa) announced 'Scorpion King Live,' scheduled for April 11 at Sun Arena, Times Square in Pretoria. The concert was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak and rescheduled to August 9.

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

Motha was ranked number 18 on Forbes Africa's 30 Under 30 list in June 2021. In July 2021, he was featured in Rolling Stone magazine for his musical career. On September 27, Kabza and DJ Maphorisa released "Abalele" featuring South African singer Ami Faku. The song debuted at number 4 on the Spotify charts and number 1 on the official South African Music Charts.

Kabza appeared on the collaboration "Siyabonga" with DJ Zinhle, Nokwazi, and Black Motion, released on November 26, 2021. The song debuted at number 24 on both local and international streaming charts.

In early January 2022, he announced his album 'KOA II Part 1' on Instagram, with a release date set for June 16, 2022. His studio EP 'Ziwangale' was released on April 22, 2022. Its lead single "Ziwa Ngale," featuring DJ Tira, DJ Exit SA, Beast, Mshunqisi, Young Stunna, and Felo Le Tee, charted number 1 on the iTunes SA music charts.

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 numbers 7, 12, and 26 respectively on the iTunes music chart.

On May 31, 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. 'KOA II Part 1' (King of Amapiano 2 Part 1) was released on June 16, 2022. The album debuted at number 11 on the iTunes top 100 chart, and "Khusela" peaked at number 1 on Apple Music charts.

In June 2022, Motha announced a three-leg tour running from June 24 to 26. In early October 2022, he announced via Twitter that he was working on his EP and released the lead single "K'shubile" with Kwesta featuring Masterpiece YVK. In November 2022, he collaborated with Afrika Memani on the 'Road To Private' EP, which was released on November 4.

The Scorpion Kings announced their 'Summer Tour,' which included nine dates, running from December 11 in Cape Town to February 25, 2023, in Gauteng. Kabza was reportedly working on a joint extended play with Ami Faku, announced on his Twitter account on February 13, 2023. The 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. In early July 2023, Kabza was reported as a producer for Drake's 'It's All a Blur Tour.'

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

In April 2024, his show 'Redbull Symphonic' with Ofentse Pitse and Symphonic Orchestra sold out in 5 hours, becoming the first artist to achieve this. It was held at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg on June 8, 2024. Following the success of his first show, 'Redbull Symphonic' added a second show, which sold out in 8 minutes, breaking a second record for him, and was held on June 9.

"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 the SA Spotify Daily Charts.

Discography

Studio albums

Avenue Sound (2016)

Pretty Girls Love Amapiano (2019)

Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 2 (2020)

I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust (2020)

KOA II Part 1 (2022)

Rekere (2023) 

Collaborative Albums

Scorpion Kings EP (with DJ Maphorisa) (2019)

Piano Hub EP (with DJ Maphorisa) (2019)

The Return of the Scorpion Kings (with DJ Maphorisa) (2019)

Scorpion Kings Live At Sun Arena (with DJ Maphorisa) (2020)

Once Upon A Time In A Lockdown (with DJ Maphorisa) (2020)

Petle Petle EP (with DJ Maphorisa & King Deetoy) (2021)

Rumble in the Jungle (with DJ Maphorisa & TRESOR) (2021)

Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 3 (with Mdu aka Trp) (2021)

Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena (with DJ Maphorisa) (2022)

Speak N Vrostaan (with Kwesta) (2022)

The Konka Mixtape : Sweet & Dust (with DJ Maphorisa) (2023)

EPs

Ziwangale (2022)

Isimo(with Mthunzi) (2023)

Singles

2015 - "Heavenly Elements" (V.Soul, Kabza De Small)

2018 - "Let It Flow" (Spumante, Kabza De Small)

2018 - Never

2019 - Bamba la" (featuring Leehleza & Stokie)

2020 - "Funu" (Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Tresor)

2020 - "Why Ngikufela" (featuring Sha Sha & DJ Maphorisa)

2020 - "Lala Ngoxolo (Kabza De Small, Kelvin Momo featuring Mhaw Keys)

2021 - "Abalele" (Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Ami Faku)

2021 - "Siyabonga" (DJ Zinhle, Black Motion, Kabza De Small, Nokwazi)

2021 - "Asibe Happy" (Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Ami Faku)

2023 - "Nduma Ndumane" (Mawhoo, Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Da Muziqal Chef)

2023 - "Kelaphile" (Mr Brown, Kabza De Small featuring Deeper Phil & Mkeyz)

2023 - Nyuku" (LaTique, Chronical Deep, Kabza De Small)

2023 - "Ucingo" (Mashudu, Kabza De Small)

2023 - "uNonkosi" (Young Stunna, Kabza De Small featuring Deeper Phil & Mfundo Da DJ)

2023 - "Ungiphethe Kahle" (Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Nokwazi, Mawhoo, Mashudu, Lee Art)

2023 - "Moshomo" (Mr Brown, Kabza De Small)

2024 - "Kabza Chant" (featuring Mthunzi, Young Stunna, Nkosazana Daughter, Murumba Pitch, Mashudu, Anzo, Nokwazi, T-Man Xpress)

2024 - "Bang'bize" (Leehleza, Kabza De Small featuring Young Stunna)

2024 - "uKhome Lotto" (Dinho, Tumza D' Kota, Kabza De Small featuring Optimist Music ZA, A'gzo, Seun1401, El.Stephano)

2024 - "Yebo" (Jnr SA, Darque, Kabza De Small)

2024 - "Ngifa Nawe" (MFR Souls, Kabza De Small featuring MaWhoo, Bassie, T-Man SA, Shane907)

2024 - "3 Step to Funk" (Sponge 101, Soul Nativez, Kabza De Small)

2024 - "Hero To Zero" (Mkeyz, Kabza De Small)