Kings (musician)

This article is about the musician. For other uses, see Kings.

New Zealand rapper (born 1991)

Kings

Birth name| Kingdon Chapple-Wilson
Born| North Shore, New Zealand
Genres| Hip hop
Occupations|

* Rapper
* record producer
* singer
* songwriter

Years active| 2010–present
Labels|

* Arch Angel Records - Independent

Musical artist

Kingdon Chapple-Wilson (born 1991), known professionally as Kings, is a New Zealand rapper, record producer, singer and songwriter. He has been producing music under his self-run label Arch Angel Records since 2018, and holds the record for longest-running No. 1 single in New Zealand for his 2016 song "Don't Worry Bout' It" [sic].

## Early life

[edit]

Kings is of Māori and Samoan ethnicity. His grandfather was artist and educator Arnold Manaaki Wilson. He has one daughter and they live in Auckland, New Zealand. He is 6 feet tall. His music studio is at Awataha Marae,[1] which was built by his grandfather. Kings began playing the guitar at age seven and first learned the skills of his trade from completing a foundation year course at MAINZ.[2]

## Career

[edit]

Kings started his career providing music production services for companies around the world for use in commercials, television and film. He pursued a solo career in the mid-2010s, collaborating with New Zealand electronic producers such as Dan Aux, General Lee, and Jolyon Petch.[3]

In 2016, Kings released his debut single "Don't Worry Bout' It".[4] The song became the biggest New Zealand single release that year and surpassed the record for longest running No. 1 on the New Zealand Singles Chart, previously held by Lorde, spending 33 consecutive weeks at the top.[5][6][7] The music video was filmed impromptu by Kings in Fiji and then edited on the plane ride home. "Don't Worry Bout' It" was certified double platinum and won the "Highest Selling New Zealand Single" and "Radio Airplay Record of the Year" awards at the 2017 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.[8]

Kings released his self-titled debut extended play (EP) in late 2016,[4] which also included the singles "What We Supposed To Do" and "Someday". Kings was named "Breakthrough Artist of The Year" at the 2016 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards,[4] as well as "Best Pacific Male Artist", "Best Urban Artist", "Best Producer" at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards. Kings was nominated for "Best Solo Artist" for the EP, at the 2017 New Zealand Music Awards.[9]

In late 2017, Kings independently released his debut album Chapter One.[10][11] The album featured the singles "We'll Never Know", "Domino" and "In the Sun".[12][13] Six months later Kings released his second album Two, in early 2018, which featured the singles "You Do" and "Temporary Me".[14] The single "Temporary Me" saw Kings make the finalist list for the 2018 APRA Silver Scroll Award. In 2021, Kings was featured on the New Zealand version of The Masked Singer as the "Monster". He was revealed in his fifth appearance.

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

Title  | Details

|

Chapter One |

* Released: 2017
* Label: Arch Angel
* Format: Digital download

Two |

* Released: 2018[15]
* Label: Arch Angel
* Format: Digital download

Lov3 & 3go |

* Released: 2018
* Label: Arch Angel
* Format: Digital download

Raplist |

* Released: 2021
* Label: Arch Angel
* Format: Digital download, streaming

### Extended plays

[edit]

Title  | Details  | Peak chart positions

|
|

[16]
Kings |

* Released: 2016
* Label: Arch Angel Records/Warner Music NZ
* Format: CD, digital download

| 32

### Singles

[edit]

#### As lead artist

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Peak chart positions  | Album

|
|
|

[16]
"Don't Worry Bout' It"[17] | 2016  | 5  | Kings
"Out Here Alive"[18]
(featuring Melodownz) | 2018  | —[A] | Two
"6 Figures"[20] | 24  | Lov3 & 3go
"D'ussé"  | 2019  | —[B]
"Flex"  | —[C] | Non-album singles
"Hit That (Or Nah)"  | —[D]
"R.I.P."  | —[E]
"Help Me Out"
(featuring Sons of Zion) | 2020  | 17
[25] | Raplist
"Teach Me How to Love"  | 2021  | —[F]
"One Man Up"  | —[G]
"Pohewatia"
(featuring Theia) | —[H] | Non-album singles
"Loved Up"
(featuring Haan808) | —
"Young 4eva"  | —[I]
"Light Up the Dark"  | 2022  | —
"LDN TYO"  | —
"Action Man"  | —
"Dad's Son"  | 2023  | —
"Man of the House"  | —
"Believe"  | —
"Rose"  | —

#### As featured artist

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Peak chart positions  | Album

|
|
|

Hot
[30] | NZ
Artist
[31]
"Real Ones"[32]
(L.A.B. with Kings) | 2022  | 11 | 19  | L.A.B. V
"Feelings"[33]
(Stan Walker featuring Kings) | 12 | 18  | All In

### Guest appearances

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Other artists  | Album

|
|
|

"Kei Aro Atu Koe / Don’t Worry Bout' It"[34] | 2019  | —  | Waiata / Anthems
"Mocking Bird"  | 2022  | Stan Walker  | All In

Notes

1. ^ "Out Here Alive" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 37 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[19]
2. ^ "D'ussé" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 37 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[21]
3. ^ "Flex" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 16 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[22]
4. ^ "Hit That (Or Nah)" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 19 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[23]
5. ^ "R.I.P." did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 36 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[24]
6. ^ "Teach Me How to Love" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 26 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[26]
7. ^ "One Man Up" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 28 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[27]
8. ^ "Pohewatia" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 18 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[28]
9. ^ "Young 4eva" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 24 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[29]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "WATCH: Meet the Musician Who Broke Lorde's Record". Vice. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
2. ^ "Us Two: Kings and his dad Anthony Wilson". Stuff. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
3. ^ Dann, Jennifer (29 May 2017). "Twelve Questions with Kingdon Chapple-Wilson, the man who topped Lorde". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
4. ^ a b c "The man who would be Kings". Radio New Zealand. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
5. ^ "Kings still on top of the NZ music chart, breaking pop music dominance records". Stuff. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
6. ^ "Don't Worry Bout' It | Music Video | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. NZ On Screen. Retrieved 31 August 2018.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: others (link)
7. ^ "Kings has had the No. 1 NZ single for 19 weeks, breaking Lorde's long-held record". The New Zealand Herald. 24 November 2016. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
8. ^ "Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards | Aaradhna and Kings win big at Vodafone Pacific Music Awards". www.nzmusicawards.co.nz. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
9. ^ "Finalists Announced For 2017 New Zealand Music Awards". UnderTheRadarNZ. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
10. ^ "Kings debut album Chapter One is out now". George FM. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
11. ^ "KINGS has just announced a new album and we're already frothing". George FM. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
12. ^ Flava. "Kings – 'We'll Never Know'". Flava. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
13. ^ "Kings – 'Domino'". The Edge. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
14. ^ www.zmonline.com, ZM |. "Kings – Temporary Me". ZM. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
15. ^ "Kings to Release New Album 'Two' This Friday • New Zealand Music Month, May 2018". NZ Music Month. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
16. ^ a b "charts.nz – Discography Kings". charts.nz. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
17. ^ "Kings – EP by Kings". iTunes. 25 November 2016. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
18. ^ Moses, Hussein (15 May 2018). "Kings Won't Stop Until He's the Best Artist Alive". Vice. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
19. ^ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
20. ^ "G Figures – Single by Kings". iTunes. 5 October 2018. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
21. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
22. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
23. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
24. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
25. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
26. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
27. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
28. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
29. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
30. ^ Peak positions for Kings' singles on the NZ Hot Singles chart:
* For "Real Ones":"NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
* For "Feelings": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
31. ^ Peak positions for Kings' singles on the NZ Artist singles chart:
* For "Real Ones":"NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
* For "Feelings": "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
32. ^ "L.A.B & Kings Release 'Real Ones' w/ Remix From QUIX". muzic.net.nz. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
33. ^ "Well my new single "FEELINGS" with the bro @kingsmusicnz is finally here…". Facebook. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
34. ^ "Waiata / Anthems". iTunes. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.