Temple Boys unveil 'Ons is Hier': a powerful fusion of gqom and Kaaps identity

“Kry jou learners voor jy my wil ry” - if that line is not familiar, then clearly you’re not listening to Temple Boys enough.

These Ravensmead-born legends have been doing their thing since 2018, and now they’re back, bolder and more seasoned than ever, ready to serve us pure Kaapse vibes with their new album "Ons is Hier" (meaning “We Are Here").

With nine tracks that slap, they’re fusing the raw heartbeat of traditional gqom with their own signature sound, the same sound that’s made them pioneers in Mzansi’s urban music scene. But let me tell you, this album isn’t just for the party.

Yeah, we still crank their tunes on beach days (windows down, speakers up) or when you’re throwing down in your Aunty’s backyard for that backyard bachelorette. But this time? There’s more depth, but you can still jol (dance) to it.

"Ons is Hier" is a full-blown celebration of who we are - pride, community, defiance wrapped up in our Cape‑Flats spirit. It’s Temple Boys saying: “We see you. We feel you. We belong here, and we’re not going anywhere.”

And speaking of belonging: the language they rap in, the Kaaps (or Afrikaaps), is part of that fight. According to Professor Quentin Williams, director of UWC’s Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research, Kaaps is more than just slang that people tend to look down upon; it’s a legitimate linguistic identity.

He’s done serious work championing Kaaps, pushing for its recognition, and even leading the project to build a trilingual Kaaps dictionary. He also argues that using Kaaps in music is “multilingual activism” - giving voice to the streets, to people who’ve often been told their language doesn’t matter.

On this album, they’re joined by Professor, the khaki‑pants kwaito giant whose legacy bridges generations, proving Temple Boys have earned their respect on the national stage.

Let’s talk origin story: Dylin “Mr Gham” Adams, Terriano “Mr Areveerend” Duimpies, Ronin “Mr Stifler” Johannes, and Chadley “Mr Werkhom” Dick didn’t come up in some fancy studio.

Nicknames like these are a whole vibe in coloured communities. Sometimes they’re a shout-out to your personality, your hustle, where you work, or a joke that everyone in your circle gets.

“Mr Werkhom”? Yeah, you know he’s the one who’s always grinding, but what is it he's grinding? “Mr Areveerend”? There’s a story there, probably tied to his style or the way he moves in the community. It’s how we carve out our space, make ourselves memorable, and connect with the people around us.

The group didn't start off recording in studios with proper sound equipment, but recorded in bedrooms, dreaming bigger than the flats they grew up in. Since they formed in 2018 at Ravensmead High, they’ve built a community that’s grown to more than 2 million followers across social media and streaming platforms.

Their breakthrough came in 2020 with the single “Slat n Spat”, but it was “Saggies” in December 2022 that really put them on the map. The TikToks went wild, and even the late rapper AKA praised them,  trending after he danced to it with his daughter in a viral video.

"Ons is Hier" is a battle cry, a love letter, and a promise. Temple Boys are not just celebrating where they come from, they’re staking their claim. They have arrived. And now? They are here to stay.

Hoya! (the real ones know).