No gain saying DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small (aka Scorpion Kings) are arguably the deadliest music duo in South African music history.
The producers have matched themselves to release 5 of the most streamed and downloaded albums in South African history, becoming the biggest voice in the Amapiano genre.
Fakaza takes a deep look at their 5 albums, judging which has the edge over the others.
Note that none of their 5 joint albums was a flop by any stretch, and it will take your favorite artiste’s best album to come close to the numbers any of these project did.
5. Piano Hub
Piano Hub is the weakest of DJ Maphorisa and Kabza de Small’s collaborations but this doesn’t mean the album poor, it just didn’t slap like the others. The album’s biggest fault is lack of melodies and top-tier collaborations. Unlike the other album, this album features unknown artistes (at that time) like Bontle Smith, Vyno Miller and others.
Piano Hub despite its lack of different melodies houses Nana Thula (featuring Njelic). Nana Thula is one of the biggest Amapiano recordings till date and the storyline of the song connects with almost every black South African inhaling oxygen.
4. Once Upon a Time in Lockdown
Musically Once Upon a Time in Lockdown is our favorite project from all. The project was released in the middle of a pandemic and was a gift to their fans after the raving duo realised their Scorpion Kings concert wasn’t going to hold in April.
Once Upon a Time in Lockdown project is more diverse than every other Amapiano project by the Scorpion Kings and features varieties of sounds. Songs such as Want to Love You are not the classic Amapiano sounds with hip hop artistes Tshego and Kly taking the reign while fast rising artistes like Mahwoo took charge on Phumelela.
Due to external restrictions the project did not reach its peak as clubs and bars were not opened for songs like Mdantso to hit really deep.
3. The Return of Scorpion Kings
Unlike their lockdown release, The Return of Scorpion Kings reached its peak. Released just before festive, this ensures the hit singles off the project were well placed. Sandton, surprisingly is one the best performing song on the album but this doesn’t mean it’s the only charter on the project. Semi Tee, Kammu Dee and Miano assisted record Lorch is now an Amapiano classic. You can pick a song on this album, and it is a hit.
Where The Return of Scorpion Kings album failed is lack of time to blossom. The album wasn’t allowed to peak before it was followed up with the Scorpion Kings Live album which stopped some of the songs on the project from reaching its peak before listeners moved on. Overall, songs like Lorch and Sandton remain a party starter.
2. Scorpion Kings Live
Scorpion Kings Live was released at the end of January. The project was used to promote the Scorpion Kings Live concert which was meant to take place in Pretoria on April 11th, but pandemic shut that off just a month prior. The project is our second favourite of their monstrous streak and houses mayhems such as eMcimbini, Phoyisa, Hello.
The Scorpion Kings project was well packaged ahead of their concert such that every song on the album created problems just before coronavirus came through. Energy, Piki Piki (starring Cassper Nyovest) and Mi Amor with Qwestafuket also doing rounds. Mi Amor got a video treatment last week.
1. Scorpion Kings
The Scorpion Kings album is the first of many albums by Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa. The project dropped at a time when Amapiano was battling for identity. With Gqom still tearing clubs and pubs in the country and House retaining it’s position as the hallmark of South African music.
If Scorpion Kings wasn’t so good, Amapiano would have fallen apart before reaching its peak. The Scorpion Kings album was the body of work that solidified Amapiano into the big force that it is now in South African music, opening further doors for other established producers who were looking for more fans to listen to their production.
The project houses hit singles such as Amantombazane with MFR Souls and Samthing Soweto, Vula Vala with Nokwazi and Vigro Deep, Koko with Mhaw Keys, titled track Scorpion Kings with Mhaw Keys and several other club smashers.
