Amapiano King says he is no late bloomer.

Smike Baloyi is the new kid on the block

The Village Voice

New kid on the block, the red hot music sensation dubbed Smile the Amapiano king whose debut album has caused a storm in the music scene says yes is no late bloomer.
The artist whose real names are Hlupheka Thomas Baloyi has released a debut album, also called Smike the king of Amapiano at the age of 56.

This has made many people regard him as a late bloomer, something that he shrugs off.
“Although I have just released the album now, I am not new to music. As early as 1988 while working at the Village Deep mine, I used to entertain people there. But I could not record my songs because recording was very expensive at the time,” says Baloyi, of Lombard Village in the Collins Chabane in Limpopo. His new album has surprised many people.

On Facebook, Twitter and other platforms, the album ha garnered hundreds of views. He was assisted in the instrumentation by Mahlori Khosa and the mixing was done by Israel Shirinda. Baloyi is the lead vocalist backed by Rodgers Chauke.