Press Release: DJ Maphorisa and Jack Parow collab on new single, ‘Konings’, out 21 November

Nov 18, 2022 | Afrikaans rap, Amapiano, Collabs, Culture, Events, Hip hop, Kwaito, Music, Press Release

“Amapiano vocals are somewhat rapping in vernacular, so Afrikaans rap wasn’t going to be too difficult,” says DJ Maphorisa of his collab with Jack Parow.

Combine the best artist in the Amapiano music genre, Gauteng’s DJ Maphorisa, along with the best Afrikaans rapper out there, Cape Town’s Jack Parow, put them into a studio and see what comes out…

Distributed by Truth Collective for Monster Energy Africa.

While hard to imagine at first, DJ Maphorisa and Jack Parow succeeded in collaborating with two very unique music genres. Maphorisa is one of the leaders in South African-born Amapiano music. At the same time, Parow is arguably the best Afrikaans rapper in the country. The marriage of the two music styles was an unlikely pairing, but a massive success.

Amapiano (a Zulu word for ‘the pianos’) is a sound that came out of the locations ten years ago. 

“We call it ‘The Sound of the Kasi’,” said Maphorisa. It is described as a mix of deep house, throbbing basslines, and jazzy lounge music and is wildly popular. 

Gauteng DJ Maphorisa Afrikaans rapper Jack Parow collaborating Mzansi style.

At the other end of the spectrum, Jack Parow grinds out a version of heavy, at times coarse Afrikaans rap music that has broad appeal and is delivered in English and Afrikaans in equal bites. Parow is an entertainer and plays a huge part in letting South Africans laugh at his caricatures and themselves. 

Initially, a collab seemed pretty incompatible, but Maphorisa was all for it. 

“I actually thought that the idea wasn’t too far-fetched,” said Maphorisa. “Anyway, Amapiano vocals are somewhat rapping in vernacular, so Afrikaans rap wasn’t going to be too difficult.” 

Jack Parow follows the arrow.

“One thing about Amapiano that people should know,” he added, “is that it is dynamic. It can adapt.” 

Parow, on the other hand, felt the concept challenging at first. “It was probably a bit of a foreign concept to me at first because it’s never been done,” said Parow. “Still, I knew Porri and his style, and I knew we would make it work, and we did.”

‘Konings’ is to be released Monday 21 November 2022.

Check out DJ Maphorisa and Jack Parow on Instagram.

Or surf on down to Jack Parow’s website.

Or DJ Maphorisa Spotify.

 

 

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