Album: Kabza De Small – KOA II Part 1
KOA II Part 1, the sequel to Kabza De Small’s 2019 blockbuster album, I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust, is a cohesive collection of songs previously teased on social media and showcased during performances rendered across the globe. The amapiano titan enlists the talents of a diverse guestlist–including Ami Faku, Njelic, Nkosazana Daughter, and Mhaw Keyz–who each add different colours to Kabza’s rich sound which borrows elements from house, kwaito, jazz and other genres. Msaki’s eight-minute prayer is guided by electric guitar licks on “Khusela”, while “Bathini” is carried by ethereal Rhodes keys and damp synths which Young Stunna embellishes with his melodic raps. The log drum knocks the hardest on the grimy “Khuluma Imali” where lyricists Madumane and Toss go back and forth. For KOA II Part 1’s two-hour duration, Kabza De Small guards his throne with razor-sharp musicianship and an ear for talent.