“On his second album, THE REBELLION, Lag embraces Afro tech, amapiano, drill and hip-hop, capturing in freeze-frame the metamorphosis of his signature sound—and the genre as it stands. Since the album’s lead single “Hade Boss”‘s first teasing on TikTok in December 2023, it’s been a viral hit, especially among South African students, some of whom wound up teaching Lag the choreography that appears in the music video. Log drums, shakers and wider sub bass on the preceding “Bamba” present a sleeker version of Lag’s rambunctious sound, providing a soft landing for Mr Nation Thingz’s slick flow. With the tempo down from Lag’s usual mid-120’s range to 113 BPM, slowed whomps, rattling snares and plunging synths make for a prime fusion of gqom and amapiano.” – Akili
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