Kings Will Rise does not seek to reinvent their empire, but to reaffirm it, proving that these kings ascend at will, and whenever they do, they lift the entire genre with them.
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Few partnerships have defined contemporary South African music quite like Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa— The Scorpion Kings — whose studio wizardry helped carry Amapiano from township dance floors to the global stage. Kabza De Small, born Kabelo Petrus Motha and often hailed as the “King of Amapiano” after the impact of his 2020 solo set I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust, built his reputation on hypnotic log-drum basslines, supple piano riffs, and a prolific run of projects that shaped the genre’s vocabulary.
DJ Maphorisa, born Themba Sonnyboy Sekowe, first made his name as a producer and DJ with House and Afro-Pop smashes as part of Uhuru, before adding international credits that include co-production on Drake’s “One Dance”. He brought pop instinct, label infrastructure, and cross-continental reach to the duo’s blend.
Together, they ushered in the Scorpion Kings era in 2019 with the back-to-back releases Scorpion Kings and Return of the Scorpion Kings, followed by a torrent of collaborative singles, arena-scale shows, and scene-defining records with frequent allies such as Daliwonga, Njelic, and Ami Faku. Their new album, Kings Will Rise, released under Kabza’s Piano Hub banner, distils that shared trajectory into a concise statement that threads legacy and present tense.
The record positions the Scorpion Kings as curators of Amapiano’s past, present, and near future, while reaffirming their long-standing chemistry as producers, arrangers, and cultural bellwethers for the sound.
Kings Will Rise opens with “Diphiri tsa Amapiano”, an unexpected curtain-raiser that leans into Madumane, DJ Maphorisa’s flamboyant alter ego. Bongo Flava–esque live drums, jubilant brass, and rhythmic guitar strums create a nostalgic live-band atmosphere that feels almost church-like. Madumane presides with measured yet lively vocals, switching between languages as he extols the Amapiano lifestyle, salutes his production partner, and closes with a playful “hallelujah” that seals the mood with a wink.
“Matswale” follows, a reimagining of Caiphus Semenya’s beloved 1996 classic. The duo take Semenya’s Zulu vocal and breathe new life into it with distinctly Amapiano textures. A lively bass guitar riff, dancing rhythm guitars, bright piano accents, and steady House drums provide a vibrant frame, while log drums and mallet patterns colour the climaxes. The result is soulful and seamless, so organic it feels as if the song had always existed this way.
On “iLanga”, rattling shakers and House-aligned drum patterns pair with a buzzing synth bassline and glowing pads, crafting a smooth and emotive soundscape. Phila Dlozi delivers an impassioned vocal performance in Zulu, his tone so clear and soaring that his high notes brim with raw emotion. As the instrumental swells with log drums, metallic percussive flourishes, and bright lead synths, the track dips and rises dynamically, allowing his voice to shine as the centrepiece.
“Bafo” ushers in a more percussive arrangement, softened by pulsing e-piano chords and an analogue bass synth. Njelic’s distinct gruff-but-buttery vocals carry an introspective tale of resilience and triumph, bolstered by layered backing harmonies. His Zulu lines brim with wisdom and uplift, contrasting with Tman Xpress’s higher-pitched, more relaxed delivery, which rounds out the song and provides balance in tone and spirit.
“Dakwa Njalo” builds on familiar sonic terrain, with staccato Rhodes chords, breezy guitar strums, plucky synths, and thumping log drums forming the canvas. Over this high-energy backdrop, Daliwonga pours his heart into lamenting verses about trust and fidelity, his piercing tenor rising above the steadily thickening arrangement. As the layers stack, the track reaches a euphoric climax before gently winding down.
With “Lalelani”, Kings Will Rise briefly tilts towards Afro-House. Filtered triple kicks, watery sound effects, and insistent percussion create a hypnotic atmosphere, complemented by buzzing saw synths and rhythmic guitars. Zaba, Njelic, and Dlala Thukzin trade verses with deeply expressive performances, their contrasting vocal timbres—grit, smoothness, and brightness—dancing atop the continuously evolving instrumental, which morphs and swells in trance-like waves.
Kings Will Rise closes with “Biri Marung (Remix),” a star-studded revisiting of their hit single. Its pounding Gqom-inspired kicks and sharp synth stabs remain intact, but Davido adds a playful intro, a charismatic verse, and scattered ad-libs throughout, injecting fresh energy. Familiar collaborators such as Focalistic keep the momentum alive, ensuring the album ends on an exuberant, dance-floor-ready high.
At this point, Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa are no strangers to their art. They release an astonishing number of records each year, sharpening their skills with every outing and honing their craft to a fine point, like the sting of their namesake scorpion. Their prolific pace also means we are no strangers to their sound, their work, or their style.
Yet, surprise is not a prerequisite for enjoyment here. What matters most is consistency, and that is what they deliver once again: more of the same high-calibre, expertly crafted Amapiano that has cemented their reign.
The tracklist takes a few unexpected turns, most notably with its playful opener, and later flirts with Afro-House near the close as a nod to the club scene. Still, the true core remains in that soulful, driving, instrumentally streamlined Amapiano heart. The production meets the duo’s usual standard — which is to say, par for their course, though theirs is a very high-end course indeed.
Grooves are tight and irresistibly catchy, while the instrumentation moves with soulful smoothness, constantly evolving and deepening in richness, texture, and feeling. The result is a captivating canvas that becomes utterly transfixing when paired with the remarkable vocal talent featured throughout. Delivered largely in Zulu, the performances carry sweeping, emotionally charged power, with expressive deliveries that verge on Oscar-worthy in their drama.
Cinematic melodies, contrasting vocal timbres, heartwarming group passages, and lush harmonies crown the already impeccable production, further polished by stellar engineering. The only real misstep might be Davido’s feature on the closer, but technically, Kings Will Rise holds together with impressive finesse.
Lyrically, Kings Will Rise is serviceable and at times touches poetic heights. Rough translations do not always reveal great depths of narrative or thematic exploration, yet this might not be the music’s central promise. What listeners are truly drawn to is the union of emotive vocalisation with expressive instrumentation — and in this, the Scorpion Kings are once again unmatched.
Kings Will Rise does not seek to reinvent their empire, but to reaffirm it, proving that these kings ascend at will, and whenever they do, they lift the entire genre with them.
Lyricism – 1.4
Tracklisting – 1.5
Sound Engineering – 1.6
Vocalisation – 1.6
Listening Experience – 1.5
Rating – 7.6/10
Yinoluwa “Yinoluu” Olowofoyeku is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative who finds expression in various media. His music can be found across all platforms and he welcomes interaction on his social media @Yinoluu.