The Gqom King Strikes Again
Internationally acclaimed South African producer and DJ, DJ Lag, is back with what promises to be his most electrifying project yet. Known across the world as the “Gqom King,” Lag will release his highly anticipated mixtape Southside on November 14, following the global success of tracks like “GQTech” with Ape Drums and the viral hit “Woza.”
New Single ‘WaWaWa’ Sets the Dance Floor Alight
Ahead of the full release, Lag has dropped the third single “WaWaWa” featuring DJknator and Thobeka, out October 30. The track perfectly captures the pulse of a night out—cups raised, confidence high, and the crowd moving as one.
Reuniting with Thobeka, who delivered the fiery vocals on 2023’s “Yebo,” and teaming up with DJknator on production, Lag serves up a high-energy anthem built for global dance floors.
“Thobeka always brings fire vocals, and DJknator added a fresh spark to the beat. I hope people vibe with it as much as we did,” says DJ Lag.
Thobeka adds, “Collaborating with DJ Lag is always a dream, and this one’s going to light up the dance floor.”
A Sonic Journey Through Durban’s Southside
Building on the acclaim of his previous album The Rebellion, DJ Lag’s Southside mixtape is a tribute to the roots and rhythms that shaped his signature sound. Across 12 genre-blending tracks, Lag fuses Gqom, 3-Step, and Afro-Tech, creating a sonic evolution that pushes South African electronic music into bold new territory.
From club-ready hits like “NgyaSindelwa” and “WaWaWa”, to melodic moments like “Shona Malanga”, and the return of his Gqom-Amapiano hybrid on “NgyaGowa”, the project showcases Lag’s versatility and forward-thinking production.
The mixtape also boasts major collaborations with DJ Maphorisa, Vigro Deep, Sir Trill, Ape Drums, Jay Music, and more—cementing Lag’s position as a trailblazer redefining the global sound of Durban.
A Legacy of Global Impact
DJ Lag’s influence extends far beyond South Africa’s borders. His accolades include:
- A Metro FM Award nomination for “Hade Boss”
- A SAMA nod for “Meeting with the King”
- A feature on Beyoncé’s GRAMMY-nominated album The Lion King: The Gift
- The multi-platinum hit “The Re-Up,” which has surpassed 20 million streams
He’s been hailed by Mixmag as “one of the best ambassadors for dance music in the world,” and by DJ Mag as “a pioneering force in Gqom’s global explosion.” Most recently, Lag earned another SAMA nomination for his latest project, The Rebellion.
Taking South Africa to the World
Currently on a worldwide tour, DJ Lag has brought his electrifying performances to EDC Las Vegas, Ultra South Africa, DC10 Ibiza, Glastonbury, Amsterdam Dance Event, and Rocking the Daisies, among others. Upcoming sets at Rage in the City and Beneath the Baobabs will continue his streak of dominating global festival stages.
“With Southside, I wanted to celebrate where I’m from while showing where the sound is going,” Lag explains. “It’s for the people who’ve been with me from the start—and for everyone discovering the movement for the first time.”
Southside Tracklist
- NgyaSindelwa ft. Zee Nxumalo, K.C Driller
- GQTECH ft. Ape Drums
- Wa’Wa’Wa ft. DJknator, Thobeka
- Native Sound ft. Jay Music
- Woza ft. Sir Trill, Sykes
- Yey’Wena ft. Vigro Deep, K.C Driller
- Shona Malanga ft. Argento Dust, Natasha MD, K.C Driller
- RSVP ft. DJknator
- WTF
- Detroit Rave ft. NovaBoy
- Beast
- NgyaGowa ft. DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, SjavasDaDeejay, 2woshort, K.C Driller, Stompiiey
