Amapiano king Kabza De Small drops highly anticipated 'Bab'Motha' album
Widely regarded as the king of amapiano, Kabza is once again flexing his musical prowess with a project that blends star-studded collaborations, signature soulful beats and an expansive take on the ever-evolving genre.
Bab'Motha features some of the most recognisable names in amapiano, including Young Stunna, Nkosazana Daughter, Nobuhle, Sykes, DJ Maphorisa, Dlala Thukzin, Da Muziqal Chef, Kelvin Momo, Mdu aka TRP, Tracy and Thatohatsi, to name a few.
Leading the rollout was Kabza Chant 2.0, an anthemic track featuring Nobuhle, Nkosazana Daughter and Sykes that quickly became a fan favourite thanks to its rich production and emotionally resonant vocals. Another standout, Ngyozama, brings together Young Stunna, Nkosazana Daughter, Sykes, Tracy and Thatohatsi in a collaboration that underscores the genre's emotional and sonic depth.
Speaking to the inspiration behind the album, Kabza said: 'This album is about celebrating where amapiano has come from and where we are going. I worked with people who inspire me and who represent the sound of now. Bab'Motha is my way of giving back to the culture and to the fans who keep pushing this movement forward.'
The title Bab'Motha is a clear nod to Kabza's leadership role in the genre, reflecting his commitment to elevating not just his own sound but that of the entire amapiano movement through consistent collaboration and innovation.
With months of build-up and speculation, Bab'Motha is easily one of the most eagerly awaited South African music releases of the year. And with his unmatched ability to fuse street-level authenticity with international appeal, Kabza De Small has delivered yet another masterpiece.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
9 hours ago
- The South African
Not the first child: What happened to Tiffany Meek's newborn baby?
Tiffany Meek – the mother of Jayden-Lee Meek – lost her first child, a newborn baby boy, years before he was conceived. The circumstances of the infant's death have resurfaced amid her charges of murder, defeating the ends of justice and crimen injuria. Jayden-Lee's body was discovered just metres away from his doorstep on the morning of 14 May. He had suffered a blunt force head injury. In a TikTok video posted earlier this year, Tiffany Meek paid tribute to her firstborn son, Kaiyle Levi Dunn, who was born on 10 August 2012. Sadly, the baby boy died just two days later. 'Gone, but not forgotten', she captioned the clip. According to an affidavit, Tiffany gave birth to the baby when she was 18 years old. It's unclear what the infant's cause of death is. @tiffs_dunn One Sweet Day indeed. #foreverinmyheart👼💔 ♬ One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men Sometime later, Tiffany met and married Leandro Meek, and the couple welcomed Jayden-Lee in 2014. According to her statement, she has been separated from her husband since 2022. She is now in a relationship with another man. Following Jayden-Lee's death, Tiffany Meek and a group of family and friends held a memorial service, where they released balloons into the sky in memory of him. Holding on to her balloon a little longer, she could be heard saying a clip posted on social media: 'I know you're dancing with your brother. And watching over us every day because that is the type of child that you are'. She added: 'I'll miss you'. @renew_u #justiceforjayden ♬ original sound – ReneW🏳️🌈🌈🇿🇦 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
13 hours ago
- The Citizen
WATCH: Kelly Khumalo and Her Bodyguard Dynamic
Under fire yet unshaken, singer Kelly Khumalo made headlines again not for her vocals, but for the imposing presence of a close protection officer tailing her every move on stage. Kelly Khumalo during the Nuna Official Launch in South Africa at Houghton Hotel's Exclusive Sejour Restaurant on July 08, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Nuna is a global brand with Dutch roots and has been focusing on creating smart, helpful, and bold baby gear since 2007. (Photo by Gallo Images/OJ Koloti) South African songstress Kelly Khumalo stepped out on stage in full Empress mode this past weekend. She delivered a passionate live performance, accompanied by a heavily armed bodyguard positioned closely behind her throughout her set. Kelly Khumalo is now performing with a bodyguard? — m a s h è s h a 💨 (@_mashesha) July 21, 2025 Dressed in a fashionable ensemble and backed by a full band in Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal, the Empini hitmaker exuded star power. However, it was the looming figure of her close protection officer (CPO) that stole some of the spotlight. Fans posted the video online. It's speculated that the presence of onstage security could be due to a video post the singer put on her Instagram. Kelly Khumalo and bodyguard Picture X Her clapback on Instagram, following fresh accusations tied to the Senzo Meyiwa court case, has fans and critics on edge. Kelly posted a video clip captioned with a fiery statement: 'From being dragged in that dirty court to sketchy podcasts? You never seize to amaze me. It's quite simple, though; if you strongly believe that I am capable of what you are accusing me of, come and get me and stop playing games! ❗️Till then, BACK OFF! #EmpressFELIZWE 👏🏽🐆' Her post comes hot on the heels of viral claims made on MacG's Podcast and Chill by controversial former advocate Malesela Teffo. Teffo alleged in a no-holds-barred interview that Senzo Meyiwa's death was not the result of a robbery gone wrong. Instead, he said it was an accidental shooting by Kelly during an argument. The July 17th episode has since racked up millions of views. While the public remains sharply divided, Kelly's sister Zandie Khumalo has slammed the renewed accusations and stood by her sister. On the 2022 season of Showmax's Life With Kelly Khumalo, the star shared her growing concerns for her safety. 'Security for me is literally everything,' Kelly admitted in her video diary. 'My last gig in KwaZulu-Natal, I received a threat two days before that they were going to kill me.' The singer also revealed that planning her Gospel Explosion concert in the Vaal included coordination with law enforcement officials due to ongoing threats. 'I have my CPO, a close private officer; they are officers of the law, just private ones. So they can arrest you.' This isn't the first time Kelly has performed with heightened security. The dramatic visual of a guard shadowing her every move on stage sent a clear message: she's not backing down. As the pressure mounts and speculation around Senzo's tragic death continues, Kelly Khumalo is choosing the mic and muscle to defend her name.
The South African
14 hours ago
- The South African
Ellen DeGeneres: I moved to the UK because of Donald Trump
US television icon Ellen DeGeneres has made her first public appearance in the UK since relocating to the Cotswolds, revealing that she and wife Portia de Rossi decided to stay permanently the day after Donald Trump was re-elected as US president. Speaking at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham on Sunday in conversation with broadcaster Richard Bacon, the 67-year-old said the decision to move was deeply personal and political. 'We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis,' DeGeneres recalled. 'I was like, 'He got in', and we said, 'We're staying here.'' Ellen said the couple originally planned to split their time between the US and the UK but have since embraced full-time life in the countryside, calling it 'a simpler, more beautiful way of life.' DeGeneres is known globally for The Ellen DeGeneres Show and for voicing Dory in Finding Nemo . 'Everything here is just better – the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here,' she said. 'We saw snow for the first time in our lives.' The couple briefly kept sheep on their rural property, but they had to be rehomed after repeated escapes. De Rossi also relocated her horses to the UK. DeGeneres also spoke candidly about rising fears over LGBTQ+ rights in the United States, confirming she and De Rossi are considering renewing their vows in the UK if same-sex marriage rights are reversed. 'The Baptist Church in America is trying to reverse gay marriage,' she said. 'If they do that, we're going to get married here.' She expressed concern that Hollywood still remains hostile to openly gay actors, adding: 'If things were better, all these actors I know who are gay would be out – but they're not, because it's still a problem.' DeGeneres also revisited the toxic workplace allegations that led to the cancellation of her long-running talk show in 2022. 'I'm a direct person, and I'm very blunt, and I guess sometimes that means that… I'm mean?' she said, dismissing much of the criticism as 'clickbait.' The scandal resulted in the firing of three senior producers and an on-air apology from DeGeneres. She said the controversy left her deeply hurt. 'It's certainly an unpleasant way to end something I loved. I hate that people think I'm that [mean], because I know who I am – and I'm empathetic and compassionate.' While Ellen said she misses her talk show 'a lot', she's uncertain whether a similar format would work in the current media climate. 'I would love to do that again, maybe in the UK,' she said. 'But people are just not watching TV the same way anymore.' As for the future, Ellen says she's undecided but open to new projects. 'I do like my chickens… but I'm a little bit bored,' she joked. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
