Kabza De Small

Kabelo Petrus Motha (born 27 November 1992) is a South African DJ, record producer,and a record label owner 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 Seventeen South African Music Awards, five Metro FM Music Awards, three AmaPiano Music Awards, two Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards, one Sunday Times GenNext, and one Dance Music Awards South Africa.

Life and career Born and raised in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, later Motha with his brother Sphelele Xaki who is an Electrical engineer and philanthropist 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. Kabza established his own record label PianoHub.

His breakthrough single "Umshove" featuring South African singer Leehleza was released in 2018. On 1 October 2019, he released Piano Hub with DJ Maphorisa. The EP was certified 3× platinum in South Africa. The concert was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and was rescheduled to 9 August.

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. In December 2020, Kabza was listed as the most streamed South African artist by Spotify. 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. Rumble in the Jungle, a collaborative studio album by Kabza de Small, DJ Maphorisa, and Tresor was released on 9 April 2021.

Motha was ranked at number 18 on Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list in June 2021.

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

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

Kabza appeared on a collaboration "Siyabonga", with DJ Zinhle, Nokwazi, and Black Motion released on 26 November 2021. The song debuted number 24 on both Local and International streaming charts.

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

His studio EP Ziwangale was released on 22 April 2022. 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.

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.

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

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

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

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 4 November.

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. 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 of Drake's It's All a Blur Tour.

"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 Orchestra was sold out in 5 hours, becoming the first artist to do so. It was held at Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg on 8 June 2024. 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 9 June.

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

His studio album Bab' Motha was released on July 18, 2025. The album debuted number 9 on Spotify Top Global Album Charts, becoming his first album to top that chart.

In early March 2026, Kabza announced his upcoming studio album Tutu, via Instagram and released "Impilo" with Mkeyz as albums leads single. The album is scheduled for release on June 5, 2026. Business Ventures Motha launched a new recording label Tech Hub and announced labels first signee Jnr SA, in early July 2026.

Awards and nominations All Africa Music Awards

"Adiwele" African Fans Favourite

KOA II Album of the Year Himself Artist of the Year Dance Music Awards South Africa 2019 "Amantombazane" Best Amapiano Record DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards

"Nana Thula" Favourite Song of the Year

Favourite Rising Star Favourite DJ

"Asibe Happy" Favourite Song

Favourite music artist/group Favourite DJ South African Amapiano Music Awards

Scorpion Kings Live Amapiano Album of the Year

Scorpion Kings Best Amapiano Male DJ Act Himself Best Amapiano Music Producer "Emcimbini" Best Amapiano Collaboration

"Abalele"

"Asibe Happy"

Best AmaPiano Produced Song

"Asibe Happy" KOA II Part 1 Best AmaPiano Album/Ep

Best AmaPiano Producer AmaPiano Artist of the Year South African Music Awards

Album of the Year

The Return of the Scorpion Kings (Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa)

Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)

Male Artist of the Year

Duo/Group of the Year

I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust

"Asibe Happy"

Most Streamed Song of the Year

Speak N Vrostaan (with Kwesta) Best Kwaito Album

Best Produced Album Best Amapiano Album Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena (with DJ Maphorisa) Duo/Group of the Year

"Kulula" RiSA Audio Visual Music Video of the Year

"Nana Thula"

"Gangnam Style"

Best Collaboration

Motsweding FM Best Amapiano Album Radio 2000 Duo/Group of the Year SAMPRA Album of the Year

Best Amapiano Album

Best Engineered Album

Most Streamed Song of the Year

Remix of the Year Sunday Times GenNext 2021 Himself Coolest Local Club DJ Trace Awards

Best DJ

Best Producer Urban Music Awards

Artist of the Year

Best Album Best Collaboration

Best Amapiano Act Best Male Act Best Producer

Best Music Video Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards 2021 "Emcimbini" Most Voted Song Metro FM Music Awards

Song of the Year

Best Amapiano Song

Best Kwaito/Gqom Best duo/Group Song

Best Male Artist

Song of the Year

Best Collaboration Best Amapiano

Best Produced Album

Artist of the Year

Best Dance Song

Best Collaboration Song Best Viral Challenge Song of the Year

Best Male Artist

Best Produced Album

Song of the Year

Listicles +Name of publisher, name of listicle, year(s) listed, and placement result Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes202130 Under 30

Honors Musician of the Year- presented Bisquit: Kabza De Small — GQ South Africa (2024)

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) Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 3 (with MDU aka TRP) KOA II Part 1 (2022) Rekere (2023) Bab'Motha (2025)

Collaborative albums

Scorpion Kings EP (2019) Piano Hub EP (2019) The Return of the Scorpion Kings (2019) Scorpion Kings Live at Sun Arena (2020) Once Upon a Time in a Lockdown (2020) Petle Petle EP & King Deetoy) (2021) Rumble in the Jungle (2021) Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 3 (with Mdu aka Trp) (2021) Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena (2022) Speak N Vrostaan (with Kwesta) (2022) The Konka Mixtape: Sweet & Dust (2023)

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2026 — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications AlbumZA "Akulaleki" (Samthing Soweto featuring Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small) 2019Isphithiphithi "Awesome God" (Artwork Sounds, Bee Bar featuring Kabza De Small)2023 24 RiSA: Gold The Gospel According To Artwork Sounds Chapter II "Uzongenzani" (Nkosazana Daughter featuring Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa) — Uthingo Le Nkosazana "Noma Kanjani" (Sino Msolo featuring Kabza De Small, MaWhoo & Azana) — "Malume" (Elvirgo, Tallex Q featuring Makhadzi, Kabza De Small & Lxrd Mordecai) — "Bayabuza" (Pervader, Young Stunna featuring Kabza De Small, SLY)— "Expedition" (Poiżen featuring Kabza De Small, Jus Funo, Seraph im)—Lowkey "High Senses" (Deeper Phil, Chronical Deep, Latique featuring Kabza De Small)2024 — "Esgela" (Aymos featuring Eemoh, Kabza De Small) — "Vukani" (Pervader featuring Kabza De Small, SLY) — "Mbambeni" (Dench, SLY featuring Kabza De Small, TYCOON)— "Ngempela" (Mashudu, Shakes & Les featuring Kabza De Small, Murumba Pitch)— "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

Other charted and certified songs + List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications AlbumZA"Imithandazo" (Kabza De Small, Mthunzi featuring Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine & Umthakathi Kush) 20231 Isimo "Amazwe" (Kabza De Small featuring MaWhoo & Mthunzi) 7 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.