DJ Maphorisa has credited Cassper Nyovest with helping inspire South African artists to dream bigger when it comes to stadium concerts.
With the Scorpion Kings preparing for their biggest live show yet, Maphorisa took a moment to acknowledge the rapper’s influence on the local entertainment landscape.
Speaking during a Metro FM interview with Tbo Touch on 3 September 2026, Maphorisa praised Cassper for proving that South African artists could successfully headline major stadiums.
“Shout out to Cassper; he showed us it’s doable. So shout out to him.”
The recognition comes just days before Maphorisa and Kabza De Small take their Scorpion Kings Live experience to Johannesburg’s iconic FNB Stadium.
Scorpion Kings target FNB Stadium
The Scorpion Kings are scheduled to perform at FNB Stadium on 19 September, with this year’s event titled A Family Affair.
The show follows their successful 2025 performance at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, which attracted more than 50,000 fans.
Expectations are even higher this time around, with organisers anticipating a crowd of between 70,000 and 80,000 people.
The event is expected to bring together some of the biggest names in South African music, making it a major celebration of the country’s diverse music culture.
Cassper changed the stadium conversation
Maphorisa’s tribute highlights Cassper Nyovest’s lasting impact on South African live entertainment.
In 2017, Cassper famously took his Fill Up concept to FNB Stadium, drawing a confirmed crowd of around 68,000 people.
The achievement was significant because it demonstrated that a South African artist could headline one of the country’s biggest stadiums without depending on international superstars to attract a massive audience.
The rapper had already built momentum with earlier editions of the Fill Up series, helping establish stadium concerts as a realistic ambition for local artists.
Cassper responds to Maphorisa
Cassper appeared to receive the recognition positively, responding to Maphorisa’s comments with a heart emoji.
The brief exchange comes at a time when conversations around concert attendance, stadium shows and the commercial power of South African artists continue to attract attention.
More than anything, however, Maphorisa’s comments underline the influence one artist’s ambition can have on those who follow.
Cassper’s Fill Up movement helped raise expectations around what local musicians could accomplish on home soil.
Now, the Scorpion Kings are looking to build on that legacy from an amapiano perspective.
A new chapter for South African music
For Maphorisa and Kabza De Small, FNB Stadium represents another major milestone in the growth of the Scorpion Kings brand.
Their upcoming show is not only about amapiano. It also reflects the growing ability of South African artists to command some of the country’s biggest stages.
As the duo prepare for Scorpion Kings Live: A Family Affair, Maphorisa’s tribute to Cassper serves as a reminder of the artists who helped make these ambitions feel possible.
Cassper opened the door. Now the Scorpion Kings are looking to make their own mark.
