DJ Lag Drops New Mixtape “Southside” Cementing His Reign as the King of Gqom

Globally acclaimed South African producer and DJ, DJ Lag, is back with one of his strongest releases yet. His brand-new 12-track mixtape, Southside, is out now through Black Major x Ice Drop, and it’s a bold reminder of why he remains the undisputed King of Gqom.

Rooted in the raw, dark energy of Durban’s Southside, the project showcases Lag’s evolution into a world-class electronic artist — without losing the signature grit that helped shape South Africa’s club sound.

As one of the pioneers behind Gqom’s hard-hitting, bass-heavy movement, DJ Lag continues pushing boundaries. Following global bangers like “GQTech” with Ape Drums (Major Lazer), “Woza” featuring Sir Trill and Sykes, and “WaWaWa” with DJknator and Thobeka, he now fuses 3-Step, Afro-Tech, and Gqom into a fresh, futuristic club experience.

Southside builds on the success of his acclaimed albums Meeting With The King and The Rebellion, delivering a sound that’s both a homecoming and a major artistic leap. From the hypnotic “NgyaSindelwa” (Zee Nxumalo, K.C Driller) to the spiritual, melodic “Shona Malanga” (Argento Dust, Natasha MD), Lag crafts a cinematic journey through South Africa’s next club chapter.

One of the most hyped tracks, “Yey’Wena”, finally brings together DJ Lag and Amapiano heavyweight Vigro Deep — blending Gqom’s fierce percussions with Piano’s warm, melodic edge. Other big names on the mixtape include DJ Maphorisa, Sir Trill, Ape Drums, Jay Music, NovaBoy, Xduppy, and 2woshort — all aligned under Lag’s razor-sharp vision.

Speaking about the project, DJ Lag says:

“With Southside, I wanted to celebrate where I’m from and show how far the sound has come. It’s for the people who’ve been here since day one, and for everyone discovering Gqom for the first time.”

Lag’s resume needs no introduction: Metro FM Award nominee for “Hade Boss”, SAMA nods for Meeting With The Kingand The Rebellion, and a major credit on Beyoncé’s GRAMMY-nominated The Lion King: The Gift. His hit “The Re-Up” is multi-platinum with over 20 million streams.

He’s been praised by global tastemakers — Mixmag calls him “one of the best ambassadors for dance music in the world”, while DJ Mag hails him as “a pioneering force in Gqom’s global rise.” He’s currently on a world tour with electrifying performances at Glastonbury, Ultra SA, EDC Las Vegas, DC10 Ibiza, ADE, Fabric UK, Rage in the City, and more.

Southside marks a new chapter — connecting Durban’s underground pulse with global dance floors and reaffirming DJ Lag as one of SA’s most powerful musical exports.

TRACKLIST

1. NgyaSindelwa ft. Zee Nxumalo, K.C Driller
2. GQTECH ft. Ape Drums
3. Wa’Wa’Wa ft. Djknator, Thobeka
4. Native Sound ft. Jay Music
5. Woza ft. Sir Trill, Sykes
6. Yey’Wena ft. Vigro Deep, K.C Driller
7. Shona Malanga ft. Argento Dust, Natasha MD, K.C Driller
8. RSVP ft. Djknator
9. WTF
10. Detroit Rave ft. NovaBoy
11. Beast
12. NgyaGowa ft. DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, SjavasDaDeejay, 2woshort, K.C Driller, Stompiiey