Internationally acclaimed South African artist DJ Lag, known globally as the Gqom King, returns with his most electrifying project to date. His forthcoming mixtape Southside drops November 14, following the worldwide success of hits like “GQTech” with Ape Drums and “Woza.” Ahead of the release, DJ Lag unveils the mixtape’s third single, “WaWaWa”, featuring DJknator and Thobeka.
“WaWaWa” captures the pulse of a night out—cups raised, confidence high, and the crowd moving as one. Reuniting with Thobeka, whose vocals powered 2023’s “Yebo”, and teaming up with DJknator on production, DJ Lag delivers a high-energy anthem destined 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.”
Following his critically acclaimed sophomore album, Southside serves as an ode to the sounds and influences that have defined DJ Lag’s pioneering Gqom identity. Across twelve tracks, he blends elements of 3-Step and Afro-Tech with his signature Gqom energy, as showcased in his earlier singles and his highly anticipated collaboration with Vigro Deep on “Yey’Wena.” The project explores new creative terrain with club anthems like “WaWaWa” and “NgyaSindelwa,” songwriting-driven cuts such as “Shona Malanga,” and a revival of his Gqom-Amapiano hybrid sound on “NgyaGowa,” a sequel to last year’s “Hade Boss.”
Featuring party-ready bangers, infectious hooks, and rhythm-heavy beats rooted in his Durban heritage, Southside celebrates the sounds that shaped DJ Lag while propelling Gqom into bold new global spaces. The mixtape features collaborations with DJ Maphorisa, Vigro Deep, Sir Trill, Ape Drums, Jay Music, and more—each contributing to the project’s diverse and forward-thinking energy.
Widely recognized as one of Gqom’s founding architects, DJ Lag continues to bridge underground innovation and mainstream acclaim. 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 “The Lion King: The Gift,” and the multi-platinum hit “The Re-Up,” which has amassed over 20 million streams. Praised 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,” DJ Lag continues to push boundaries and expand the genre’s reach.
Currently on a globe-spanning tour, DJ Lag has brought his explosive sets to EDC Las Vegas, MTN Bushfire, Ultra South Africa, DC10 Ibiza, Rush Festival in France, Open Ground in Germany, Glastonbury, Fabric UK, Amsterdam Dance Event, Unsound Festival, and Rocking the Daisies, with upcoming performances at Rage in the City and Beneath the Baobabs.
“With Southside, I wanted to celebrate where I’m from while showing where the sound is going,” says DJ Lag. “It’s for the people who’ve been with me from the start, and for everyone discovering the movement for the first time.”
Southside arrives November 14 on all major streaming platforms.
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