Scorpion Kings is the duo name for South African producers Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa. Together, they are credited with pushing amapiano from Pretoria taxi ranks onto stadium stages. Kabza De Small, born Kabelo Motha, brings the soulful piano chords and log drum grooves. DJ Maphorisa, born Themba Sekowe, adds the arrangement instincts and star-studded feature lists. As a result, their combined sound now fills venues like Loftus Versfeld and FNB Stadium.
Who Are the Scorpion Kings?
Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa formed the Scorpion Kings project in 2019. They built it as a joint outlet, separate from their solo careers. Kabza already carried the nickname “King of Amapiano” after his 2018 breakthrough. Meanwhile, Maphorisa had spent years as one of South Africa’s busiest hitmakers and A&R figures. Together, the pair turned into curators as much as performers. For example, they pulled young vocalists such as Samthing Soweto, Aymos, and Mas Musiq into the amapiano fold and gave each one a national stage.
The Sound That Defined the Duo
The Scorpion Kings catalogue rests on three pillars: warm piano melodies, deep sub bass, and the rolling log drum pattern that separates amapiano from house or gqom. Their tracks favor space over clutter. So, a single vocal hook or sax line gets room to breathe over a slow, hypnotic groove. This groove is built for long dancefloor sessions, not three minute radio bursts.
Scorpion Kings Discography and Key Releases
The duo’s catalogue spans studio albums, live recordings, and a steady stream of loose singles. The table below lists the releases that shaped their run, along with the tracks fans search for most.
| Release | Year | Notable Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| Scorpion Kings EP | 2019 | Amantombazane, Scorpion Kings, Dubai |
| The Return of Scorpion Kings | 2019 | Abuyile Amakhosi, Lorch, Sandton |
| Scorpion Kings Live at Sun Arena | 2020 | Trust Fund, eMcimbini, Malobola |
| Kings Will Rise | Recent | Matswale, iLanga, Bafo |
Beyond these projects, both artists keep releasing standalone singles. They drop these under the Scorpion Kings banner and under their individual names too. Recent examples include Piano People, Let Me Be (Ngiyeke), and Abantwana Bakho with Xduppy. Each one is still built on the same log drum foundation that made the duo famous.
Scorpion Kings Live Shows and Stadium Growth
Scorpion Kings Live has grown from club nights into one of South Africa’s biggest touring franchises. First, the duo filled Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria on 29 August 2025. Then, they took the Groove Room stage at ULTRA South Africa in Johannesburg on 25 April 2026. Next, their biggest milestone lands at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 19 September 2026, under the banner Scorpion Kings Live: A Family Affair. Because FNB is Africa’s largest stadium, the show marks a clear sign of amapiano’s reach beyond South Africa’s borders.
Maphorisa described the Loftus show as a turning point for the culture. Meanwhile, Kabza framed the FNB date as proof that every Scorpion Kings show is meant to grow the movement, not just the two of them.
Why Their Concerts Matter for Amapiano
A Scorpion Kings show doubles as a genre showcase. The duo brings out dozens of collaborators in one set. These range from Focalistic and Daliwonga to newer names like Young Stunna. So, amapiano vocalists get mainstream exposure they rarely find through streaming numbers alone.
How Scorpion Kings Changed Amapiano
Amapiano existed in township clubs before Kabza and Maphorisa arrived. However, the Scorpion Kings project gave it a commercial blueprint. Their 2019 breakout single “Amantombazane,” featuring Samthing Soweto and MFR Souls, showed labels that a slow piano groove with a gentle vocal could top charts. As a result, that formula now defines the genre’s biggest exports, including Tyla’s global crossover and Uncle Waffles’ international bookings.
For the fuller genre story, see Tubidy Africa’s guide on what makes amapiano South Africa’s defining sound. It breaks down the log drum, the piano chord progressions, and the club culture behind it. Also, the rise of women in the space is covered in our piece on South Africa’s top female amapiano artists.
Collaborators Who Grew Through the Project
Several artists built their early careers on Scorpion Kings features. These include Samthing Soweto, Aymos, Focalistic, and Young Stunna. In fact, Young Stunna’s 2026 record “Adiwele” still carries production input from both Kabza and Maphorisa. Similarly, Master KG followed a comparable path from local airplay to worldwide streaming with his global hit “Jerusalema,” which also came out of South Africa’s piano and gospel crossover scene. Read that story in our profile of Master KG, the artist behind Jerusalema.
Where Scorpion Kings Fit in African Music Today
Amapiano now shares festival bills and award nominations with Afrobeats. So, Scorpion Kings sit at the center of that crossover. Their catalogue frequently comes up alongside artists such as Burna Boy on pan African year end lists. For the wider continental picture, see our coverage of Burna Boy’s latest musical breakthrough, or browse the full genre landscape in our guide to African music genres.
Frequently Asked Questions
Scorpion Kings is Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa. The two South African producers formed the project in 2019 to release joint amapiano music, separate from their solo catalogues.
“Amantombazane,” featuring Samthing Soweto and MFR Souls, remains the duo’s breakout and most streamed release. It still opens most of their live sets.
Scorpion Kings Live: A Family Affair takes place at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 19 September 2026. This follows their 2025 Loftus Versfeld stadium show.
Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa produce amapiano, a South African genre built on piano melodies, deep bass, and log drum percussion.
No, they are two separate artists. Kabza De Small is Kabelo Motha, and DJ Maphorisa is Themba Sekowe. Scorpion Kings is the name for their joint project.