DJ Lag

DJ Lag is one of the pioneers of gqom, a form of tense, minimalist electronic dance music from Durban, South Africa. The genre originated during the early 2010s and emerged as a mainstream sensation in his home country around 2016, yet at this time, Lag was becoming more successful abroad, touring across the globe and having his music released by British record labels; his self-titled debut EP included his signature track, "Ice Drop." A few years later, he released EPs on Hyperdub and Diplo's Good Enuff imprint, and received major worldwide exposure through his appearance on Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack in 2019. On Lag's 2022 debut full-length, Meeting with the King, he fused gqom with the slower amapiano sound that had sharply risen in popularity during the previous few years. He expanded on this hybrid with 2024's The Rebellion.